Some how I got on this site when I was recently trying to make a complaint to the local

ombudsmans office and also sharing with them the story which I eventually had printed

in our local news paper, the 'Burnaby NewsLeader,' this past Mar. 29th.

I'm very happy I did that for my daughter & 2 beautiful grandchildren since due directly 

to the paper telling my story my daughter has found a 3 bedroom townhouse & my grand-

childern and mommy are being able to come together as a family for the 1st time since the

birth of my grandson, Nov.,28th, 07.

Now the thing is I would like to change my info since it is no longer applicable but can't

figure out how.  Anyone out there know how?  Appreciate any suggestions and/or comments.

Glad I found this site.  Thanks. 

Hi LouieT, Am new to this site & this is my 1st time of commenting.

I really feel for you & relate a bit. Without going into my story too

much I will just say my ex & I with 2 young children about 13 yrs.

ago or so were in debt so bad that we were told by the appropriate

source that it would take us 50 yrs. or more to pay it off!. Our

marriage too was suffering big time due to the strain & desperation!!

By the way the debt problem is not the reason we eventually split.

We had to go to a Trusty and declare bankruptcy as a last

resort.  A very difficult experience but now I have excelent

credit but I'm not sure about him since he was the credit card

addict.  I really am glad we made that choose. I hope you

think about it & discuss it throughly with your partner for piece

of mind.  Good luck!  God bless.  Redwheelin50 

Your Request has been sent via a secure and confidential web connection.  You will be contacted within five working days by telephone, fax, or by Canada Post.  The Ombudsman will not reply by e-mail.

If you have problems connecting to the secure web form or to any of the printable documents, please contact: systems@ombudsman.bc.ca

The information you sent is shown below.  It may be beneficial to you to print this page for your personal records.

First_Name: Teresa
Last_Name: Chernoff
Address_Line_1: #19 - 7220 Edmonds Street
Address_Line_2:
Address_Line_3:
City: Burnaby
Province: B.C.
Postal_Code: V3N 1A6
Contact_Phone: 604-521-2763, Home
Alternate_Phone: -, Work
Fax: -
Best_Contact_Time: anytime of the day as I'm disabled
How_did_you_hear: Applying the search engine.

Contact_Restrictions

None

Authority_Complaint_is_about

Complaint towards Social Worker with CPS

Authority_Contacts_Client_Dealt_With

social worker- Alexa Ogilivie direct # 604-660-9740 main # 604- 660-9710

Complaint

This is in regard to my 2 grandchildren that have been in care since the end of Nov. 07. Jacinda Grove, my daughter has a lawyer but he doesn't have time to work with her. My daughter has cooperated with everything asked of her which is mainly to attend a 10wk. day program dealing with self-esteem issues, parenting etc. and then it was agreed between all parties at a mediation that her children would be returned. However the social worker has done nothing but playing games, not returning her calls and NOT cooperating nor doing anything to help. For instance my grandson, born Nov. 28th, 07 is in a home way out in Mission separate from his big sister, who is 5yrs. old. The agreement with all involved was for an arrangement for baby Brendan to be taken once a week to a convenient place for a visit and then have overnights start. The social worker complained to the lawyer that she had no one to pick him up etc. but the lawyer was not sympathetic to her plight and said that it was her problem. A visit with her baby has not been set up in over 4 weeks!! Once again the social worker does not communicate and this is causing terrible undo stress in all of our lives that love them. The program Jacinda is attending is almost over(one more week) but she still does not know what is going on. Lawyer trouble obviously also. Add the complication that my daughter about 4 weeks ago lost everything she owns to a fire!! She is homeless and has no place to live yet so will not be able to have her children back until she can get safe, affordable housing. Believe me, I've been making a noise to the media by submitting her story about the housing situation and refuse to quit until she has a home and her 2 beautiful children back which by the way is a long, sad story which never should have happened if the CPS didn't break the law by "shooting 1st and then asking ?'s" This has been a nightmare from day one. A friend of Jacinda's tried to speak as an advocate to this Alexa to no avail. Apparently the supervisor of Alexa is no help either and precious time is passing away. My granddaughter has been staying with so called family in Aldergrove which is another long, sad story! The children's needs come 1st? You could have fooled me! My 5yr. old granddaughter, Destiny cries for her mommy and now family have broken rules by not complying with regular visits and once more this Alexa does nothing about the lack of visits she has had with either of her children. Too me, this is a total outrage!! Please, please help us. I refuse to sit back and let my daughter fall between the cracks. She is desperate!!

Did_Client_Appeal_and_Result

NO

Reason_Actions_Unfair_to_Client

The story above obviously says this is way past being a matter of fair. This is a matter of human suffering! This is an outrage!

Outcome_or_Result_Sought

A different social worker assigned to my daughters case that is going to be available, do their job and work hard at following through the agreement/plan of returning the children to where they belong, with their mother!! PRONTO!

Urgent_Why

Yes, this matter is obviously in need of very urgent attention if we care about our CHILDREN. Who do these social workers think they are? GOD! God help us all if that is the case!!

To whom this may concern:  As a mother, a grizzly with a chainsaw type I'm sending my daughters story to practically anyone and everyone and refuse to stop until someone listens and helps her find safe, affordable housing for herself and 2 little ones.  This letter has gone to more then 25 different sources, ie: more then 6 different newspapers, MLA's, Bby. mayor, many advocate groups, Libby Davis, of course B.C. Housing and others. Thank you for listening.

My 26yr. old single mom of a 5 yr. old daughter & a baby boy not even 4 mos. old have been in care since the day my grandson was born, Nov. 28th, 07.  It's  a long  complicated story and better told by my daughter but she is attending a 10 wk. program in Abbotsford.  She has less then 3wks left in this program when she has been told she will have her children returned to her but here is the clinch. My daughter has been on the B.C. Housing list for 6 yrs. or more with nothing coming available. I realize it's not "first come first served, "  but she is in dire need of a affordable, safe housing for her and her children in order to have them returned to her.
In the past 13 mos. she has become homeless 3 different times due to uncontrollable circumstances.   
#1-  Jan. 2007 her basement suite in New West was flooded by sewage and health inspectors shut the house down.  She lost some furniture, clothes, bedding etc. due to the sewage, flooding into her one bedroom she shared with her little one.
#2-  Feb. 2007 the only place she could find was in an apartment building behind Highgate Mall which was rampant of crime and drugs.  She suffered greatly there but realized she had no choice unless she wanted to pitch a tent.  Well, April 07, a fire that started in the suite beneath hers destroyed much of her belongings and left her homeless once again.  The city put her up for 5 days in the Best Western at the time. She felt she had no choice but to except the suite offered her in the same disgusting building where she got robbed, had her place vandalized Etc.  Due to abuse from the male person in her life and the terrible environment of Housing ie: as I said before but locks on doors not fixed, threats, and verbal abuse from the management she had to pack it in and go to a transition house for a month.
#3- Oct. 2007 she finds an apartment for her daughter and unborn child in New Westminster.  She set up home despite the fact this was another building that management did not take care of ie: front door broken in, elevator not working
and she having a very difficult pregnancy living on the 3rd floor found this almost unbearable.   About 3 weeks
ago an electrical fire started in the empty suite beside hers and gutted her whole apartment.  She has been able to rescue the equivalent of maybe 2 suitcases of her belongings.  Everything is gone! We are all so grateful she and the kids weren't home at the time though. B.C. Housing is well aware of all these disasters  and  still claim yes she is at the top of the need list but NOTHING! My daughter in dealing with the so called Ministry have done absolutely nothing to help her.  A lot telephone tag, passing the buck and just simply too busy to care.  She hasn't even been able to see her baby in about 3 wks.  Of course she has a lawyer but he is too busy too!  My heart is breaking for my daughter and grandchildren who by the way were all born her in our wonderful city of Vancouver! I pray someone will please read this and get back to me. I refuse to let my daughter fall through the cracks anymore!  
Thank you.                                                                   Sincerely, Teresa Chernoff
                                                                                                     My home ph. #
                                                                                                     604-521-2763