From:MarkKartusch

Sent:Tuesday,March10,20157:51PM
To:LindaGuerriero
ReplyTo:MarkKartusch
Cc:BonniePerrigard
Subject:RE:CBCNews:fifthestateSeekingInformation

Ms.Guerriero:

Iamrespondingtoyourrequestforfurtherclarification.WhileI
appreciatethatyouobtainedparentalconsent,asIoutlinedinour
previousconversation,theSocietywillnotbereleasinganyspecific
informationaboutaparticularsituationbutwillcertainlyrespondto
anygeneralquestionsyoumayhave.IbelieveIalsomentioned
previouslythisisanapproachmost,ifnotall,serviceagenciestake
regardlessofthesituation.Thisisbecausetheinformationwedeal
withisofapersonalandprivatenature.Weareattemptingto
safeguardtherelationshipwehavewithpeoplesuchthatwewouldnot
wantanyonetothinkthattheirprivateinformationcouldbemade
public.Whilesomeindividualsmightbeopentosharingtheir
personalinformation,weneverwanttobeassociatedwithhaving
providedspecificinformationaboutanindividualortheirfamily.
Ifanindividualorfamilychoosetosharethatinformation
themselves,thenofcoursethatistheirpersonaldecision.

Withthatsaid,andinresponsetoyourquestion,whichIwillreframe
tobehowareChildrensAidSocietiesinvolvedintheselectionof
placementsforchildren,thereareavarietyofwayswecanbecome
involved.

WheneverachildcomesintothecareofaChildrensAidSociety,the
Societywillsearchforthebestplacementmatchforthatchildbased
ontheinformationwehaveatourdisposalandthetypesofplacements
thatareavailable.Mostoftenthiswillmeanthatwelocatea
placementwiththechildskinorwithinourinternalfostercare
system.Ifthereisntanappropriatematchavailableforthechild
withkinorwithourinternalfosterfamilies,thenweturntooutside
providersforeitherfostercareorgroupcare.Inmostcases,
childrenareplacedwithotherchildrenwhetheritischildrenplaced
byothercommunityserviceproviders,otherchildreninthecareofa
ChildrensAidSocietyormostoften,withbiologicalchildrenalready
inthehomeofkinorfosterfamilies.
Theselectioncriteriafor
thechildsplacementinahomerevolvearound:

Thechildsneeds

Thechildsbehaviours

Geographicalproximitytofamilyandschool

Howthechildfitsinwiththeotherchildreninthe
kin,fosterorgrouphome


Timingandavailabilityofplacement

Whattheprogramofferstomeettheneedsofthechild

Whilewetryourbesttomeeteachcriteria,thatisntalways
possiblebecauseofwhatisavailableatthetimeandwethereforetry
tofindthebestfitbalancingallofthesefactors.Whenthereare
elementsthatcannotbemet,aplanisdevelopedtoaddressthem.
Anotheroptionistomovethechildonceabettermatchcanbefound,
however,theadditionalcomplicatingfactorsoftheprogressmadein
theinitialsetting,andtherisksassociatedofstartingoverina
newfacilitymustbeconsideredcarefullyinthedecision.
Themostfrequentsituationwhereweareinvolvedinsearchingfor
residentialplacementsforchildreniswhentheyhavecomeintothe
careoftheChildrensAidSocietythroughcourtorderhoweverthere
arecircumstanceswhereachildcanbevoluntarilyplacedintothe
careoftheSociety.Inthistypeofsituation,thefamilyis
involvedinthedecisionmakingprocessandtheagreementcanbe
terminatedatanypointbyeithertheparentsortheSociety.

Aswell,fromtimetotime,wemaybeaskedbyacommunityservice
providertoassistinlocatingaresidentialplacementforachildwho
isnotinthecareoftheSociety.Inthiscasewewouldfollowthe
sameprocessaswewouldintheothersituationsIveoutlinedand
providethebestoptionoroptionsavailable.

IfIcanbeoffurtherassistanceinansweringanyadditional
questionsthataregeneralinnature,pleasefeelfreetocontactme
again.

MarkKartusch
ExecutiveDirector


From:
RustyHick
Date:Tue,Mar10,2015at1:43PM
Subject:re.SeekinginformationfortheFifthEstate

DearMs.Guerriero,

ThankyouforyouremailcorrespondenceofMarch5,2015.

Fromtheoutset,IwanttosaythatourthoughtsandprayerscontinuetobeextendedtothePetrellafamily.

Likeanypublicschoolboard,wehaveanumberofstudentswithcomplexandchallengingneeds.Wework
cooperativelywithvarioussocialserviceagenciestosupportthesestudents.Astudentsdeathisa
tremendouslossforusall.

Whileweareveryreluctanttospeakopenlyaboutanystudentspersonalcircumstances,wewanttobe
respectfulofthePetrellasconsentinthismatter.

WithrespecttothequestionsyouhaveraisedregardingthetimeChazzspentasastudentwithourboard,
specificallyhistimeatC.R.GummowPSinCobourg,Icanclarifyseveralthings.

Chazzstimewithourboardwassadlyverybrief.HewasastudentatC.R.GummowPublicSchoolforjust
overthreemonthsofschool,fromApriltoSeptemberof2013.Priortothattime,hewasastudentwith
anotherschoolboardandafterthathewasenrolledinanumberofcareandtreatmentprograms.

InJuneof2014wewerenotifiedthatChazzmightbereturningtoourboardforthefollowingschoolyear.
Stafffromtheschool,andourSpecialEducationdepartment,wereworkingwiththefamilyduringthe
summeronpossibleoptionsforhisreentrytoourboard.

ThisworkonChazzsbehalfatthattimeinvolvedplannedsupportsatC.R.Gummow,wherehewouldhave
beenwelcomedinSeptember,aswellasotherpossibletreatmentoptionswithouragencypartners.

ThisplanningwascontinuingatthetimeofChazzstragicdeath.

Onceagain,ourheartfeltcondolencesgoouttothePetrellafamily.

W.R.(Rusty)Hick
DirectorofEducation
KawarthaPineRidgeDistrictSchoolBoard

ThisEmailcontainsconfidentialinformationintendedonlyfortheindividualorentity
namedinthemessage.Ifthereaderofthismessageisnottheintendedrecipient,or

theagentresponsibletodeliverittotheintendedrecipient,youareherebynotifiedthat
anyreview,dissemination,distributionorcopyingofthiscommunicationisprohibited.If
thiscommunicationwasreceivedinerror,pleasenotifyusbyreplyEmailanddelete
theoriginalmessage.


From:
SuzanneVilleneuve
Date:Wed,Mar11,2015at3:32PM
Subject:RE:CBCNews:fifthestateSeekingInformation
To:LindaGuerriero

On behalf of Cathy Paul:

Dear Ms.
Guerriero,
Thank you for your email and inquiries.
Due to privacy concerns
, we do not answer questions or provide any
information to the media about any individuals or families who are currently receiving treatment at Kinark Child and
Family Services or might have received treatment in the past.

Cathy Paul
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kinark Child and Family Services


From:
Lazarus,Aaron
Date:Fri,Mar13,2015at3:15PM
Subject:ResponsetoInquiry
To:"LindaGuerriero

HiLinda,

ThefollowingcanbeattributedtoPaulMcGary,ClinicalDirectorofMentalHealthandPinewoodCentre,
Child,YouthandFamilyProgramatLakeridgeHealth:

Thanksfortheopportunitytoprovidecommentaspartofthefifthestatesexaminationofaccessto
mentalhealthservicesforchildrenandyouth,andspecifically,ChazzRoccoPetrellasstory.

Losingachildisunfathomable,andweapplaudtheeffortsofChazzsfamilytoshinealighton
accesstomentalhealthforchildrenandyouth.Itisanimportantconversationweneedtohaveasa
communityandsociety.

AnytimesomeoneinthiscaseanadolescentarrivesatoneofourEmergencyDepartments,
theywouldfirstbeseenatTriagetoidentifyimmediateconcernsandlevelofrisk,andprovidedan
areatowaitforinitialmedicalassessmentbyanEmergencyDepartmentnurseanddoctor.The
doctorwouldassessforanymedicalcomplicationsandifconcernedthepersonisatriskofharming
him/herselforothers,orinabilitytocareforhim/herself,wouldusetheMentalHealthActtocertify
theindividualunderaForm1.

Oncethepatientisdeemedmedicallystable,theadolescentwouldbeassessedbyamemberof
theYouthCrisisInterventionTeam,andfollowing,consultationwithapsychiatrist.Thepsychiatrist
woulddeterminewhetherthepatientcontinuestomeetthecriteriaoftheMentalHealthAct,and
mayretaintheForm1andadmitthepatientonaninvoluntarystatus.Thepatientmayalsobe
admittedonavoluntarybasis.Alternatively,ifthecriteriaforretainingtheForm1arenotmet,our
clinicalteamwoulddischargethepatientwithrecommendationsforfollowupcarewithcommunity
providers.

Throughoutthisprocess,alleffortsaremadetoincludefamilymembersintheassessment,
treatmentanddischargeplanningprocess.

WithrespecttothespecificvisitreferencedinSeptember2013,theabovestepswerefollowed.

WewouldbepleasedtositdownwithCBCandthefifthestatetodiscusstheinhospitaland
communitybasedmentalhealthprogramsweoffertochildrenandyouth,andtosupportthe
Petrellafamilyseffortstobringawarenesstohowwecanallbetterhelpchildrenandyouth
experiencingmentalhealthchallenges.Itisanimportantpublicconversationtohave.

Letmeknowifthereisanythingelseyouneedforthisstoryorifyouwouldlikeanoncamerainterview.

Aaron

Aaron

Lazarus
Sr.Director,Communications

Excellenceeverymoment,everyday.
www.lakeridgehealth.on.ca
Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

LinkedIn

Service Coordination for Children and Youth

Ncrthumberland and Peterborouoh Counties

March 13,2015

Linda

Guerriero

Sentvio email: linda.guerriero@cbc.ca

'the fifth estate' CBC-TV

205 Wellington Street West
Toronto ON. M5V-3G7

Dear Ms. Guerriero,

Thankyou for your cofiespondence on March 5, 2015 and subsequent email on March gth.
Our brochure for Service Coordination for Children and Youth, sentto you previously, provides a
sy'nopsis ofthe Four County Flexible Fund. I've attached the Flexible FundApplication Guide and
Resources process, which includes our Eligibility Criteria and the Application Review Process.
Service Coordination for Children and Youth does not discuss case specific information with media,

regardingan individual who may have accessed our services.

Sincerely,

4*"fu

Service Co-ordinator/Executive Director

Enclosure
C.C. Chair, Board

ofDirectors

l,AD:cr

299 Aylmer St. Nofth, Peterborough ON KgJ

18 John Stel, Polt Hope ON

L1A2zz
a"tat!eg!Lrd@b9ll!9Lsa

7M4

iel 705 748 9770

1 888 880 5777
lax 705 748 9682

Youthdale Treatment Centres

227 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8

Executive
Offices
(416) 368-4896

March 13, 2015

Administration
Accounting
(416) 368-4896

the fifth estate CBC-TV

Youthdale
Intake
Inquiries
(416) 368-4896
Youthdale
Clinic
and
Evaluation
Centre
(416) 363-3751
Centre
for
Individual
and
Family
Therapy
(416) 368-4896
Youthdale
School
Programmes
(416) 368-4896
Youthdale
Treatment
Residences
(416) 368-4896
Tempus
Residences
(416) 368-4896
Youthdale
Rural
Programmes
(416) 368-4896
Youthdale
Psychiatric
Crisis
Service
(416) 363-3751
Emergency
Number
(416) 363-9990
Facsimile
(416) 368-3192
Crisis Fax
(416) 363-7945

Linda Guerriero

205 Wellington St. W.

Toronto, ON M5V 3G7
Dear Linda,

Youthdale was deeply saddened to hear the news about Chazz Rocco Petrella. It
is a tragedy whenever a young person loses their life due to struggles with mental
illness. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Chazzs family at this
difficult time.
While Youthdale has a strict policy to never comment publicly on the clinical
details related to individual patients, we are willing to address some of the policy
questions raised by the fifth estate.
Youthdale provides comprehensive, integrated mental health services to troubled
children and their families. Our clinical services include outpatient consultation,
residential treatment, and psychiatric crisis response. Youthdale is one of the few
organizations approved by the provincial government (Ministry of Children and
Youth Services) to provide emergency admissions to secure treatment for children
and youth under the age of 16.
Emergency admission to secure treatment in Ontario is governed by the Child and
Family Services Act, 1990 (CFSA). Under the section 124 of the CFSA, the legal
guardian of a child under the age of 16 may apply to the administrator of a
designated secure treatment program to have their child admitted for up to 30
days.
It is important to underscore that the 30-day admission limit is absolute under the
legislation. A body of case law backs up the legislative provisions and confirms
that secure treatment programs have no discretion to extend the period of
treatment beyond 30 days.
All children admitted into the Youthdale Secure Treatment Unit have significant
and complex mental health challenges that represent a risk to themselves or
others. Our focus is to medically stabilize each admitted child in order to
effectively transition them back into the community at the end of their emergency
treatment period.

Children accepted into the Youthdale Secure Treatment Unit are provided with
intensive clinical support and rigorous medical assessment. Our approach
includes provision of:
A structured and safe therapeutic environment
An integrative, diagnostic assessment of children and their support systems
Individual, group, and family therapy
On-site education
Support for the child, parents and professionals planning for the childs
continuing care in the community.
Throughout the period of admission the child is treated by an inter-professional
specialized team that could include child psychiatrists, neurologists, registered
nurses, psychiatric crisis workers and other clinical supports. When clinically
indicated, Youthdale also provides psychological needs assessments. These
assessments recommend additional psychological testing that could be
potentially beneficial to admitted children.
The results of the psychological assessment are communicated to the
community agency responsible for the ongoing care of the child. The community
agency then decides whether it is able to fund testing any additional testing at
Youthdale, or in the community upon the childs discharge from our program. It
is important to note, that Youthdale itself is not publicly funded to provide all
psychological testing recommended in the assessment.
Given the 30-day maximum treatment period, a significant focus of Youthdale is
to ensure that each admitted child is transitioned back into the community with
an appropriate level of support. We work closely with community agency
partners to develop transition plans and identify the ongoing supports required
by children and their families. Upon discharge, we return patients to the care of
a qualified community agency, which assumes responsibility for the ongoing
case management of the child.
We would like to thank the fifth estate for shining a light on the important issue
of child mental health. Youthdale has been working since 1969 to provide
needed support for youth struggling with severe mental health issues. Although
awareness of mental health challenges and their impact on children and families
has increased since that time, funding has struggled to keep pace with the
volume and complexity of need.
Sincerely,

Dan Hagler
President and CEO