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Canada
Alberta
British Columbia
"Child Protection" Statistics Centre
Statistics have been used to support our position at various places of our web site. For the ease of reference, statistics related to the "child protection" industry are summarized below. Please click the purple headings to view details and the blue links to view the context where these statistics are used in our web site.
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Age Distribution of Removed Children (2002-2009) (used in Financial Incentives to Special Interests and Burden on Taxpayers)
The table below contains the age distribution of children removed in the undermentioned fiscal years (April 1 to March 31). Data were obtained from MCFD by way of an application through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The age median in these years are within the range of 4.5 and 5.5. This means the age of half of the total removed children population is within this range. The age group that has the highest frequency of removal is consistently under 1 year of age in these six fiscal years studied. Incidentally, children of in these age range (5.5 and under) are the most preferable in the adoption market. "Child protection" activities create human inventory to supply the adoption market.
2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 Age # of removal # of removal # of removal # of removal # of removal # of removal 0 489 440 520 643 661 626 1 229 199 228 267 223 259 2 205 201 195 243 239 194 3 222 167 212 209 187 150 4 180 182 222 221 158 141 5 185 156 178 163 164 147 6 174 155 180 174 131 152 7 181 157 166 183 125 130 8 169 170 189 173 124 146 9 166 161 152 176 154 140 10 155 127 157 145 135 125 11 159 154 138 164 150 158 12 152 143 149 155 152 145 13 174 145 145 153 138 152 14 175 163 151 151 165 125 15 172 143 139 107 125 116 16 111 70 79 84 81 68 17 55 37 23 42 34 34 18 5 6 7 5 5 5 19 1 1 total 3,358 2,977 3,230 3,458 3,151 3,014 age median 5.5 5.5 5.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 -
Age Distribution of Removed Children (2002-2009) and Adopted Children (2001 - 2006) combined (used in Adoption and Child Removal)
adoption stat Age Distribution of Removed Children in B.C. Age Distribution of Adopted Children in B.C. total 3,358 2,977 3,230 3,458 3,151 3,014 506 avg. 176.7 148.9 170.0 182.0 165.8 150.7 26.6 Age 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Age 2001/02 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 0 489 440 520 643 661 626 80 < 2 88 65 16 147 1 229 199 228 267 223 259 42 2 to 5 173 90 79 199 2 205 201 195 243 239 194 38 6 to 11 533 146 132 645 3 222 167 212 209 187 150 31 > 12 67 32 30 316 4 180 182 222 221 158 141 34 5 185 156 178 163 164 147 23 6 174 155 180 174 131 152 25 7 181 157 166 183 125 130 27 8 169 170 189 173 124 146 28 9 166 161 152 176 154 140 27 10 155 127 157 145 135 125 24 11 159 154 138 164 150 158 23 12 152 143 149 155 152 145 22 13 174 145 145 153 138 152 23 14 175 163 151 151 165 125 22 15 172 143 139 107 125 116 21 16 111 70 79 84 81 68 9 17 55 37 23 42 34 34 5 18 5 6 7 5 5 5 2 19 1 1 
Source:- age distribution of removed children in B.C. is from MCFD's reply of a Freedom of Information application;
- age distribution of adopted children in B.C. is from Adoptive Families Association of B.C..
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Open Child Protection Reports By Duration (1998 - 2008) (used in MCFD Tactics Introduction)
Open "Child Protection" Reports By Duration (source: MCFD's "Statement on Open Protection Reports")
The following briefly summarizes how protection reports fit into the child welfare system.
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Intake
Intake is the first decision point in child welfare case management. It is the process of receiving, gathering and assessing information in order to determine the appropriate response under the CF&CS Act. Intakes can either be protection reports regarding child maltreatment or requests for family and youth services.
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Protection Reports
Protection reports are calls the ministry receives from the public about children possibly at risk. Calls are assessed by ministry staff against child safety criteria and then staff choose a response that fits the childs assessed need. Possible responses to a child protection report include initiating an investigation, initiating a family development response (it is less invasive and more collaborative than a traditional investigation), or deciding not to pursue an investigation. At a minimum, the protection report remains open until the completion of the investigation or family development response.
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Investigation
An investigation is opened when the social worker is concerned that a childs safety or health may be in immediate danger or the child may be vulnerable to serious harm because of age or developmental level. An investigation is closed when the social worker determines whether or not the child is in need of protection. The majority of investigations are initiated from protection reports; however, there are cases when a child protection investigation is the appropriate response to request for family support services or youth services or to a family development response.
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Family Development Response (FDR)
This response to a child protection report occurs when an assessment identifies that the risk of harm can be managed through the provision of intensive, time-limited support services. It includes a strengths-based assessment of the familys capacity to safely care for a child, and provision of support services.
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Requests for Family and Youth Services
A family can approach the ministry and receive information about and referrals to support services (e.g., Big Brothers, counselling), and when required, arrange for support services through written, goal-oriented agreements. A request for youth services is like a request for family services, except it pertains to one young person in the family. It involves screening, assessment, short-term planning and utilization of youth support services, such as youth-family mediation, mentorship, safe housing and outreach services.
Data on open protection reports by duration from May 1998 to May 2010.
- Summary of Critical Injuries and Deaths of B.C. Children and Youth "In Care" of MCFD since 1 June 2007 (used in Impacts on Children, Families and Society)
According to "Representative's Report - Critical Injuries and Deaths: Reviews and Investigations" published quarterly by the Representative of Children and Youth, the number of critical injuries and deaths of B.C. children and youth who were "in care" or receiving reviewable services are listed below:Report #
Report Date
Period Between
Critical Injuries Reported and Selected for Review
Deaths Reported and Selected for Review
1 Nov. 7, 2007 June 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2007 69 (59) 26 (3) 2 Feb 26, 2008 Oct. 1, 2007 and Jan. 31, 2008 46 (15) 31 (4) 3 July 9, 2008 Feb. 1 and May 31, 2008 48 (10) 26 (2) 4 Nov. 4, 2008 June 1 and Sept. 30, 2008 50 (24) 27 (2) 5 March 18, 2009 Oct. 1, 2008 to Jan. 31, 2009 44 (13) 13 (5) 6 July 9, 2009 Feb. 1, 2009 to May 31, 2009 49 (17) 30 (4) 7 Nov. 12, 2009 June 1, 2009 Sept. 30, 2009 49 (15) 34 (2) 8 March 15, 2010 Oct. 1, 2009 Jan. 31, 2010 43 (9) 25 (0) 9 July 7, 2010 February 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010 35 (8) 27 (2) 10 November 4, 2010 June 1, 2010 to September 20, 2010 34 (12) 32 (2) 11 March 15, 2011 October 1, 2010 January 31, 2011 41 (20) 35 (2) 12 14 July 2011 1 February 2011 31 May 2011 123 (97) 23 (5) 13 17 November 2011 1 June 2011 30 September 2011 142 (54) 28 (3) Total 773 (353) 357 (36) (n) where n denotes the number of cases of critical injuries and deaths while children were in care of MCFD (including Aboriginal children or youth).
[The above table was last updated on 23 December 2011.]
- Children Living with Grandparent(s) with no Parents Present 2006 B.C. Stats (used in Financial Incentives)
- Section 35 Presentation Hearings Judicial Decisions between 1999 to 2001: 98% in favour of the Ministry under the Child, Family and Community Service Act (used in Challenges on Human Rights, Natural Justice and Civil Liberty)
March 31, 1999 March 31, 2000 March 31, 2001 (A) Child Returned Under Supervision Order 196 208 205 (B) Total number of discharged from MCFD's "care" 630 567 456 (C) Guardianship transferred to relative (FRA) 31 29 14 (D) Total Number of Children "in care" of MCFD 9,813 9,523 9,956 (a) chance of child be in the custody of MCFD [100% - (b) - (c) -(d)] 97.69% 97.51% 97.80% (b) chance of child be returned to parent under supervision order (A)/(D) 2.00% 2.18% 2.06% (c) chance of child be returned to parent 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% (d) chance of child be placed in the custody of a person other than a parent (C)/(D) 0.32% 0.30% 0.14% chance of discharge other than supervision order (B)/(D) 6.42% 5.95% 4.58% chance of discharge from MCFD [(A)+(B)]/(D) 8.42% 8.14% 6.64% (source: computation extracted from 2006 B.C. Budget published by Taxwiz Accounting & Consulting Inc. in February 2006, reproduced with permission)
- Death of Children in Foster Care Worldwide published by Suncana personal data of individual victims from 1990 to the present (used as a stand alone page under Empirical Data menu tab)
- Children Involved with the Ministry: Fatalities of Children receiving "services" and "in care" published by the Ministry of Children and Family Development from 1996 to 2010 (used in Impacts on Children, Families and Society)
- Negative Impacts on Children
- Behavioral: 41.2% of children (age 12-17) in care appear in youth court versus 6.4% of general population, Source: Table 1 of Kids, Crime and Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes Joint Special Report published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 23 February 2009 (be mindful that children under age 12 are not chargeable of any criminal offence per Criminal Code in Canada)
- Educational: 24.5% of children in care graduate versus 74.4% of general population, Source: Table 5 of Kids, Crime and Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes Joint Special Report published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 23 February 2009
- Economical: 88.6% of children in care receive income assistance by the age of 19 versus 29.5% of general population, Source: Table 7 of Kids, Crime and Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes Joint Special Report published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 23 February 2009
- Suicidal Tendency: children in care are nearly three times more likely to consider suicide and nearly six times more likely to have attempted suicide at least once than youth who have never been in care, Source: Growing Up In B.C. published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 18 October 2010
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Well Being:
- Aboriginal children and children in care are less likely to experience success in school.
- Children in care are more likely to engage in risky behaviour, such as using tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
- Children in care are more likely to have gone to bed hungry.
- Youth in care consistently talked about the challenges they face in everyday life, such as creating and maintaining long-term relationships, having no-one to see them graduate, not having adult support or financial means to encourage them to do well in school or apply for post-secondary education.
Source: Growing Up In B.C. published by B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Office on 18 October 2010 (all the above used in Impacts on Children, Families and Society)
- Foster Homes
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Foster Homes by Geographic Areas in British Columbia (total 3,255 in 2011)
Foster Homes by Geographic Areas in British Columbia (total 3,255 in 2011)
(sorted by descending order)Surrey 224 Mission 77 Courtenay 47 Smithers 27 Trail 20 Powell River 10 Central Okanagan 166 Cowichan 77 Vancouver Island North 45 Terrace 27 Fernie 18 Queen Charlotte 9 Greater Victoria 146 Richmond 72 Burnaby 41 Nelson 26 Ladysmith 18 Enderby 9 Kamloops 137 Vernon 66 Penticton 41 100 Mile House 25 New Westminster 17 Revelstoke 9 Chilliwack 129 North East 64 North Van 38 Southern Okanagan 25 Summerland 16 West Van-Bowen Island 9 Abbotsford 124 South Van 57 Howe Sound 35 Downtown Eastside 24 Westside 16 Kitimat 9 Langley 119 Alberni 54 Saanich 34 Hope 23 Agassiz-Harrison 16 Creston 8 Sooke 104 Campbell River 53 Quesnel 33 Merritt 23 Prince Rupert 15 Central Coast 8 Nanaimo 99 Cariboo-Chilcotin 52 South Surrey/White Rock 32 Peace River South 23 Grand Forks 15 Bella Coola Valley 8 Maple Ridge 92 Delta 51 Midtown 31 Castlegar 22 Nechako 12 Fort Nelson 8 Coquitlam 89 Sunshine Coast 51 Qualicum 27 Armstrong-Spallumcheen 22 Burns Lake 12 City Centre 8 Prince George 79 Salmon Arm 47 Peace River North 27 Cranbrook 21 Lillooet 11 Windermere 8 North Thompson 6 Princeton 6 Golden 6 Source: How Many Foster Families in Your Community? (Foster Family Month 2011 published by MCFD)
Implications of These Data
- The average foster home annual income from foster fees paid by MCFD (using 2007/08 fiscal year figure, the most current information at our disposal) is $112,538,403/3255 = $34,574.01. This is a fairly good income in view of the fact that many, or perhaps even most, of these foster parents have no other job skills.
In MCFD's FAQ on foster care web page, foster care is not employment. It is hard to find a community service that pays a steady and government-guaranteed income over $34,000 a year. We will leave it to our browsers to decide whether running a foster home is a business or a community service.
- If there are 5,900 foster kids (provided in the heading of the aforesaid source document), the average number of kids warehoused per foster home is 5,900/3,255 = 1.81.
- According to page 21 in the report "Residential Review Project Phase One Findings Report" published by MCFD in June 2011, the total number of children in government care was 10,181 in 2010. The rest are likely classified in group homes (a common warehousing facility less well known to the public) or with relatives.
- It appears that there is a negative correlation between the number of foster homes in these geographic areas and the average household income in the area, namely more foster homes in poorer areas. This is consistent with our observation and can be confirmed by running a regression analysis if the average household incomes in these areas of the same time period are available. The result will likely agree with our view that poorer people are more attracted by MCFD's financial incentives to become foster parents. This will in turn lend support to our theory of financial motivation.
- Increase in Foster Home Monthly Rates (1 October 1991 - 2009)
The family care home monthly rate includes a payment to meet the costs of the day-to-day care of the child (the family care rate), and an additional payment to specialized homes to meet their operating costs. The family care rate (effective March 1, 2007) is $757.67 for a child 0-11 and $866.11 for a child/youth age 12-19.
Foster Family Care Rate Increases
The family care rate is the payment made to foster families to pay for the day-to-day care of the child.
Since 1992 the cost of living in BC, according to the consumer price index has increased 27.5%. The family care rate has increased six times since October 1, 1991. Additional increases were made on April 1, 2008 and April 1, 2009.
Date % Increase Monthly Rate for age 0 - 11 Monthly Rate for age 12 - 19 October 1, 1991 3.75% $326.22 $423.41 October 1, 1993 77% $613.00 $704.00 December 1, 1994 2% $625.26 $718.08 January 1996 2% $637.77 $732.44 January 1, 2001 10% $701.55 $805.68 March 1, 2007 age 0-11 age 12-19 $757.67 $866.11 8% 7.5% April 1, 2008 age 0-11 age 12-19 $780.40 $887.76 3% 2.5% April 1, 2009 age 0-11 age 12-19 $803.82 $909.95 3% 2.5% - MCFD foster care rates for different categories of children (2007 - 2009)
Levels of Care
Restricted foster homes are usually relatives or family friends who have a significant relationship with the child.
Regular foster homes provide care for up to six children of varying ages and needs. The foster family has not previously known these children.
Specialized family care homes provide supervision and care for children with physical, mental, behavioural or emotional needs. Every challenging foster child has a care plan, which outlines the type of care required to meet their circumstances. Specialized family care homes provide three different levels of care.
Level One
Level Two
Level Three
Basic Monthly Family Care Rate (per child)
All foster homes receive the basic monthly rate to cover the direct costs of care for each child.
2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $757.67/mth $780.40/mth $803.82/mth Age 12 - 19 $866.11/mth $887.76/mth $909.95/mth
Restricted and Regular Care Levels
Restricted homes - are an approved family who provide care to a child in care who is known or related to them, most commonly the caregivers are members of the child's extended family. This type of family care home has been recruited because of their connection to the child concerned and is only available for a specific child or sibling group.
Regular homes - are an approved family who provide care for up to six children in care of varying ages and usual developmental needs. Unlike restricted family care homes, the child placed in the home is not normally known by the caregiver.
Specialized Care: Level One
Specialized Level One homes - are an approved family who provide care for up to six children in care who have multiple developmental needs and who may have some challenging behaviours.
Level One Specialized Care Payment (per child)
2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $396.56/mth $427.11/mth $458.02/mth Age 12 - 19 $396.56/mth $427.11/mth $458.02/mth
Specialized Care: Level Two
Specialized Level Two homes - are an approved family who provide care for up to three children who have more complicated developmental needs, and who may have more complex health needs and/or challenging behaviours that interfere with his or her quality of social interactions and daily functioning. May also provide specialized assessment and intervention services as a member of the child's care team.
Level Two Specialized Care Payment
Note: the payment for a second or third child placed in the home is based on a declining payment structure to reflect the decrease in service received with each additional child in the home.
One Child 2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $1,078.94/mth $1,109.49/mth $1,140.40/mth Age 12 - 19 $1,078.94/mth $1,109.49/mth $1,140.40/mth
Two Children 2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $1,845.76/mth $1,906.86/mth $1,968.68/mth Age 12 - 19 $1,845.76/mth $1,906.86/mth $1,968.68/mth
Three Children 2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $2,508.54/mth $2,600.19/mth $2,692.92/mth Age 12 - 19 $2,508.54/mth $2,600.19/mth $2,692.92/mth
Specialized Care: Level Three
Specialized Level Three homes - are an approved family who provide care for a maximum of two children in care. Level three family care homes care for children who have similar needs to those children placed in level two homes. Children being cared for in level three homes require the most extensive daily care, including health related care such as tube feeding, and interventions related to mental health concerns, including behaviours that may pose a risk to self or others that require additional support and supervision. May also provide specialized assessment and intervention services as a member of the child's care team.
Level Three Specialized Care Payment
Note: the payment for a second or third child placed in the home is based on a declining payment structure to reflect the decrease in service received with each additional child in the home.
One Child 2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $1,755.20/mth $1,785.75/mth $1,816.66/mth Age 12 - 19 $1,755.20/mth $1,785.75/mth $1,816.66/mth
Two Children 2007 2008 2009 Age 11 & under $2,990.20/mth $3,051.30/mth $3,113.12/mth Age 12 - 19 $2,990.20/mth $3,051.30/mth $3,113.12/mth
Relief/Respite Care
Some foster homes provide relief or respite care for the ministry. Relief/respite rates for restricted and regular foster parents are $10.00 more than the regular daily rates.
Relief/Respite Per Diem Rates Effective March 1, 2007 Age 11 & under Age 12 - 19 Regular & Restricted homes $35.26 $38.87 Level 1 homes $52.09 $52.09 Level 2 homes $64.84 $64.84 Level 3 homes $87.38 $87.38
Level 1 rate includes extra $10.00/diem.
Relief/Respite Per Diem Rates Effective April 1, 2008 Age 11 & under Age 12 - 19 Regular & Restricted homes $36.01 $39.59 Level 1 homes $53.83 $53.83 Level 2 homes $66.58 $66.58 Level 3 homes $89.11 $89.11
Level 1 rate includes extra $10.00/diem.
Relief/Respite Per Diem Rates Effective April 1, 2009 Age 11 & under Age 12 - 19 Regular & Restricted homes $36.79 $40.33 Level 1 homes $55.60 $55.60 Level 2 homes $68.35 $68.35 Level 3 homes $90.89 $90.89
Level 1 rate includes extra $10.00/diem.
- MCFD payments to B.C. Foster Parents (fiscal year 2001/2 - 2007/8) (source: Freedom of Information application)
Fiscal Years Fees to Foster Parents 2001/2 $111,162,004 2002/3 $103,214,901 2003/4 $107,647,676 2004/5 $111,417,309 2005/6 $111,335,900 2006/7 $106,746,212 2007/8 $112,538,403
- Inter-jurisdiction Foster Home Statistics Comparison (sources: indicated per blue link in the table below)
To give an indication of how high the number of B.C. foster children in comparison with other jurisdictions, related statistics (as at the time indicated in the table) with those of Hong Kong and Japan are listed below. Sources of data are linked in blue text in the table below. They include:
- Social Welfare Department, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;
- Foster Parents in New Role as Population Slumps by Suvendrini Kakuchi;
- Ministry of Children and Family Development, British Columbia, Canada;
- British Columbia Stats;
- U.S. Department of State;
- Maps of World.
Hong Kong
(2010)Japan
(2006)British Columbia
(2010)No. of Foster Homes 951 3,222 3,255 (2011) No. of Children in Foster Homes 932 32,700 10,181 (page 21 of the linked report) Population 7,097,000 127,000,000 4,530,960 No. of foster children per capita 0.000131 0.000257 0.002247 No. of foster children per 1,000 persons 0.131 0.257 2.247 No. of children per foster home 0.98 10.15 3.13 Be mindful that social workers in Hong Kong and Japan have no power to remove children from their families. The number of children in care per capita in B.C. is over 17 times higher than that in Hong Kong. Does this mean that our parents are 17 times worse than those in Hong Kong? No. This is an indication of how successful service providers in the child protection industry are in creating a demand of their services in a regime where government has the power to remove children.
(a,b,c used in Foster Home; d not used in this web site; e used in Flaws of CFCSA)
- Aboriginal People
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Ratio of child removal in British Columbia between Native and non-Native groups in 2001: 10 times higher (used in MCFD & Native Indians)
March 31, 1999 March 31, 2000 March 31, 2001 (A) Aboriginal Children "in care" of MCFD 2961 3078 3534 (B) Total Number of Children "in care" of MCFD 9813 9523 9956 (A)/(B) 30.17% 32.32% 35.50% (C) Aboriginal Population in BC in 2001 170,025 (D) Total Population in BC in 2001 3,160,565 (E) Non Aboriginal Population in BC in 2001 (D)-(C) 2,990,540 (F) Aboriginal Children "in care" of MCFD per capita (A)/(C) 2.08% (G) Non Aboriginal Children "in care" of MCFD per capita [(B)-(A)]/(E) 0.21% Ratio between Aboringial and Non Aboriginal Groups (F)/(G) 967.91% Data source:
- Child and Family Services Statistical Report 1998-1999 to 2000, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
- Statistics Canada, Census of Population in 2001
- Child removal in British Columbia between Native and non-Native groups from 2002 -2008 (used in MCFD & Native Indians)
Ethnic Breakdown of Removed Children in British Columbia
2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 non-Aboriginal 1,830 54% 1,634 55% 1,716 53% 1,827 53% 1,650 52% 1,644 55% Aboriginal 1,528 46% 1,343 45% 1,514 47% 1,631 47% 1,501 48% 1,370 45% total 3,358 2,977 3,230 3,458 3,151 3,014 Source: MCFD reply to Freedom of Information application
- 2006 B.C. household structure statistics with geographic breakdown (used in Financial Incentives to Special Interests and Burden on Taxpayers)
Table: Private households showing children of all ages, by household structure, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations - 20% sample data
Source: Statistics Canada
Abbreviations: CA (B.C.) is Canada (British Columbia)
- The average foster home annual income from foster fees paid by MCFD (using 2007/08 fiscal year figure, the most current information at our disposal) is $112,538,403/3255 = $34,574.01. This is a fairly good income in view of the fact that many, or perhaps even most, of these foster parents have no other job skills.
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Intake