Affidavit of Michael Bear - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

~ Availability of somebody that can come to communities and be able to
provide assessment for fetal alcohol and resources to support the
assessment
~ The issue of aboriginal suicides
~ Development of a protocol for assessing children who came to
hospital emergency rooms with feelings of depression, self-harm or
suicide — the protocol should include follow-up services and
informing the agency involved as to the safety of the child
~ Expand funding for out-patient treatment services
Fund family counseling through preventive programs
~ Training to recognize signs of drug and alcohol abuse
~ More youth addiction treatment beds
~ More effective community services between agencies
[187] These are only some of the recommendations referred to and are not
specifically quoted from the report, however, I do feel they give a sense of
some of the issues and concerns raised in this inquest and these issues are
obviously matters of long standing concern and not unique to this inquest.
(Phoenix Sinclair death)
[188] I wholly recommend the report and its conclusions for implementation
as of assistance in possibly preventing future tragic deaths such as we have
heard in this inquest.
[189] I particularly note the following in Ms Schibler's evidence as being
specific to this case:
~ A larger circle of care to be developed
"Recognizing that children need to be in a safe environment, I think it is
reallv important to know that while the whole philosophv in child welfare
supports or should support that the primary focus should be on
preservation of families, at no point should a child's safety and wellbeing
be compromised in order to have that happen."
~ Good risk assessment tools available
~ Nuclear family, extended family, community — to support the child
~ Resources for in-home supports, mentors, safety net for the child by
alternate caregivers
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