Children's aid worker didn't know about teen's history of suicidal thoughts: inquest
A child welfare worker told a coroner's inquest Tuesday that had she known an Indigenous teen in her care had a history of suicidal thoughts and self-harm, she would have tried to talk to him about it.
Kim Loiselle was the child services worker with the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton assigned to Devon Freeman starting in late 2016 until he became a ward of the Crown in June 2017.
The inquest has heard that a residential program Freeman participated in shortly before going into the CAS's care documented his suicidal ideation, which included plans to hang himself.
Loiselle told the jury she didn't receive any records from that program, and having that information would have made a difference in how she approached the 16-year-old.
At times tearing up during her testimony Tuesday, Loiselle said she would have tried to broach the issue with Freeman -- particularly after learning he had tried to take his own life after running away from the Lynwood Charlton Centre group home in Flamborough in May 2017.
"I know that I would have tried to talk to him about it ... because then I would have seen a pattern of behaviour," she said.
The inquest has heard Freeman went missing from the group home on Oct. 7 and his body was found on the property more than six months later, in April 2018. An autopsy determined he died by hanging.
Jurors have heard police weren't told of Freeman's suicidal ideation, or his suicide attempt, when he was reported missing. No safety concerns were listed on the missing persons report, the inquest has heard.
Loiselle said she was on vacation when the May incident took place, and she learned about it by reading the case notes in Freeman's file on her return in early June.
The inquest has heard Freeman left the home without permission -- something he did regularly -- and when he returned days later, he told staff he had tried to hang himself. The teen said a friend had intervened and cut him down, jurors heard.
As a result, a plan was put in place to monitor him more closely for a time, they heard.
Without knowing his history, and seeing the safety plan put in place, Loiselle said she thought it was "an isolated incident," noting he "said he felt fine hours later ... and he always described that he was feeling in a good place."
In late June, Freeman became a ward of the Crown, and Loiselle handed over his case to another CAS worker, she said. The three of them had a meeting to go over his file and his plan of care, and the issue of suicide "did not come up," she said.
"That is a huge regret," she said.
Loiselle broke down in tears on the stand as she shared some of her memories of Freeman, who she described as a "great kid" who was fun to be around and polite. "He never let me open my own door," she said.
"He always had aspirations, he always wanted to do better, but just maintaining (what he had) was so hard," she said.
Freeman "knew what struggle felt like" and could empathize with others who also had it hard, often going out of his way to help, she said.
Earlier in her testimony, Loiselle said the CAS first became involved with Freeman's family after an incident with his grandmother, and he spent some time in foster care before moving to the Lynwood Charlton Centre.
Even if a family has been involved with children's aid for years, a new, separate file is created when a child is taken into care, she said. Records that may be in the family's file are not automatically transferred, and often those handling the child's file are unaware of what's in there, she said.
Workers "vigorously" request health, school and other records from various bodies, but those documents can take months to arrive, she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.