Affidavit of Michael Bear - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

INTRODUCTION
A very brief synopsis of Tracia Owen's life in the child care system
may be helpful prior to a review of the testimony given. Brief, because
hundreds of pages of documents were filed, although all was not referred to,
in order to document the Agency's contact with Tracia Owen. Although this
synopsis will not cover all the efforts made, it is hoped it will provide some
sense of the environment in which Tracia Owen was living.
The family in which Tracia Owen was born had a history of
dysfunction largely due to alcoholism, parenting issues and domestic
violence. Because of this history a community health nurse in Little Grand
Rapids in a letter dated March 27, 1991,prior to Tracia's birth, warned of
the dangers associated with Tracia being raised by this family without
substantial changes by them with respect to substance abuse issues. As a
result, Tracia was apprehended but then began the years of placement in
foster homes, extended family and group homes hoping that improvement by
the parents would result in her being returned to them. Although both the
parents went for treatment for alcohol abuse, the successes were short-lived.
When incidents occurred Tracia was picked up and placed in a foster home
until the parents were once again able to provide some care. Although
Tracia, for the most part, was kept in the Little Grand Rapids community,
either in foster homes or group homes for the first twelve years of her life,
the constant movement from place to place coupled with safety risks had to
have a serious toll. As might be expected, Tracia began acting out and
became involved in gasoline sniffing,
This resulted in Tracia being placed in Kirkos House in Winnipeg in
September 2003 for substance abuse treatment. While at Kirkos House,
Tracia continued to be out of control — running away, skipping school,
aggressive behaviour and threatening suicide. Her acting out behaviour
culminated in her threatening staff with scissors as a result of being denied
privileges. She was discharged from Kirkos House January 7, 2004.
Upon discharge she was placed in a foster home awaiting another
placement. In January 2004 she was moved into a four bed group home in
Winnipeg. But Tracia continued to have difficulties — absent without leave,
out on the streets at night and behavioural problems.