Affidavit of Michael Bear - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

Provincial Placement Desk
[70] With respect to the placement that Tracia Owen was in prior to her
death, the inquest heard lengthy testimony from Ms Patricia Alphonso Cox
who was the Provincial Placement Desk Coordinator. The function of this
position is to be responsible for the selection, priorization, maintenance and
development of placements for children in residential and specialized
resources in Manitoba. After Tracia's difficulties at Kirkos House it was
obvious to Southeast Child and Family Services that assistance and support
was needed for Tracia and so a referral was made to the placement desk.
Once the Agency has made the referral to the placement desk the Desk's
function is to try and match this particular child (Tracia) and her needs to a
facility that would be best able to match those needs. Ms Cox's experience
with the resources, their philosophy, the approaches, the kinds of kids they
responded to (cultural and ethnically) is one of the keys to making the
appropriate match. This is done in collaboration with Tracia's Agency
worker.
[71] Besides the above factors and many others, there is the obvious hurdle
of availability of space and the priorization of someone like Tracia with
numerous other individuals in similar circumstances needing similar support
and care (300 referrals a year). The numbers needing such facilities greatly
outnumber the spaces available and therefore there is a constant comparing
and contrasting of each individual against each other to assess the greatest
need.
[72] Also the risk the child presents is extremely important and is
determinative of the greatest need. The risk denotes the safety of the child
and of others and therefore must take priority. Risk factors include risk of
extreme harm or death, risk of sexual exploitation or abuse, risk of gang
involvement, risk due to mental health issues and suicidal behaviour.
[73] The placement desk will also provide additional support to the facility
chosen if requested.
[74] As one can see many, many factors come into play in making the
determination of which facility is best able to answer the particular needs of
this particular child and obviously making the appropriate placement is more
of an art than a science.
[75] This having been said it should be obvious that the more information
whatever its nature or source would be important at least to consider in
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