No documented suicide assessment for Cree teen who died in B.C. group home, review finds
A review done after the death of a Cree teen at his Abbotsford, B.C. group home found a failure to document suicide assessments and major delays in writing a treatment plan, a coroner's inquest heard Wednesday.
The review by Child Welfare and Aboriginal Services was done after 17-year-old Traevon Desjarlais took his own life in September 2020. His body was found in the closet of his room four days after he was reported missing.
The review found that while the social worker for the teen was addressing Desjarlais' concerning behaviors around headbanging, and had outlined steps to ensure his safety – there were other missing pieces in his treatment plan.
“We did not find any documentation in the records that outlined what the suicide assessment was, or what the risk plan was, or who that was provided to,” said Tricia Meyers, acting executive director in the provincial office of the Child Welfare and Aboriginal Services branch. Despite this, she said the lack of documentation didn’t necessarily mean the assessment wasn’t done.
Meyers also said that an evidence-based treatment plan provided for the youth was not documented for four months after services began.
She also said there have been several other reviews done involving other children where important documentation also was not found.
Changes have been made since Desjarlais' death, according to Meyers, including ongoing training for workers and the introduction of a more standardized form for suicide risk assessment which is to be rolled out in the coming weeks.
The inquest also heard from James Wale, B.C.’s deputy director of child welfare for the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
He said a new short-term stabilization program is being piloted in B.C. next year.
“Short-term stabilization will be designed for youth with complex needs where the staff have clinical training, where there’s wrap-around support and where there’s a focus on working with the parents or relatives,” he explained.
Youth would stay in these homes for three to nine months, but the goal is to return youth to where they were before if at all possible, he said.
He also said his department is working on a new tier of family care homes for youth with higher needs. These homes will provide extra support and service and it's hoped they may allow a young person to stay in a family care home.
Wale said 70 per of children in care in B.C. are Indigenous.
“It’s a horrible tragedy that happened to Traevon,” he said, adding that his takeaway from the inquest is the importance of a child’s need to belong to their family, community and culture.
“That’s what I heard from the testimony, that Traevon felt alone, despite people being there for him,” Wale said.
He was the last witness at the inquest.
The coroner’s jury can not make findings of fault, but can make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.