On May, 10 2010 the mother sent an email to the Prime Minister in which she said:
My name is Ms X and I am writing this letter to you in regards to my daughter who is currently 8 years of Age and was Sexually Violated and Indecently Assaulted from her caregiver when she was approximately 4 and a half years old up to when she was returned to my care which was 3 years later.
This is very unfortunate that this ordeal has happened to my child but my main concern is that my daughter has some very disturbing issues due to her injury and there is no support from CYFS who were responsible for my child at the time of this incident.
I am very disturbed that my child had suffered this sort of treatment considering that CYFS said to me that they would protect my daughter better than myself, Yet I have 5 Children in total and none of them have ever ended up like this?
Because of the situation for you as New Zealand's Prime Minister I would like to know your views on my situation.
I hope I am not offending you in anyway, but I am very sad to see my daughter suffer from the trauma she has been through, which I hope you understand.
My daughter has been to the Evidential Video Unit and made a Video which I have not seen but have heard from the Detective and other sources which say that the Video that my Daughter has made is very detailed to the point that she knows things that no child should know at that age?
I have contacted CYFS in regards to Counselling for my child and they did pay for 12 Sessions for her and when I approached CYFS again for my daughter to return to Counselling CYFS had given me a letter to say that they were not prepared to pay for counselling as it is too expensive and there is not enough in the Budget.
Work and Income pay for her counselling now and I am disappointed that CYFS would treat my daughter this way.
I have contacted ACC in regards to making a claim for my daughter for these counselling fees for her to continue her counselling for a very long time as she has very sensitive issues around what has happened to her?
I currently have all 5 of my children in my custody at the moment and I am doing a great job looking after all my children too.
In your opinion Mr Keys do you think that my child is entitled to compensation for what happened to her for the past 3 years, because to be honest with you my daughter is going to be needing Constant Care and Protection as well as love and compassion from her loving siblings and myself of course. I have spoken and also looked up on the website in regards to compensation for my child for her the abuse she has suffered but ACC have made things clear that children are not Entitled to Lump Sum Compensation as She is too young. But please contact me as soon as you are available please. This Issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
My Family and I would like CYFS to sign my children off permanently and please let me and my family be together and try to give my daughter the support she needs.
I am very sorry Mr Keys But I have been seeking help everywhere for my child to get better and try to let go of the poison that is inside of her at the moment. I am sure you will agree with me about this problem because my child cannot even concentrate on School because all she thinks about is the abuse she has suffered and what effects this has on her when all she thinks about is doing silly things like what her caregiver done to her. So far the Police are doing an excellent job as the perpetrator has been in Court and we are awaiting the Jury date for the hearing.
Ms X
PS: If you have any Queries regarding anything you don't understand then please contact me.
• On June 17 2010, Social Development Mminister Paula Bennett replied:
Thank you for your email to the Prime Minister concerning the abuse suffered by your daughter whilst in the care of Child, Youth and Family. Your email, which I received on 11 May 2010, was referred to me for reply as the Minister of Social Development and Employment.
I was very concerned to read about the experiences your daughter has suffered. It must have been a shock to learn what had happened when you had a right to expect that Y had been in a safe environment. I commend you for the obvious love and compassion you have for her and your other children.
You asked about the lack of continuing support from Child, Youth and Family and said that you have contacted the service about further counselling for Y.
I was pleased to hear from Child, Youth and Family that since you wrote, the Family Court has reviewed the situation and decisions have been made that will see you provided with a good deal more help, both practical and financial. This assistance includes:
- That your social worker will watch over progress with updates from school, your doctor and the counsellor.
- Six additional counselling sessions are to be provided for you
- Your social worker will talk to you about which school holiday programmes are best for your children and arrange financial help for these.
- She will discuss sports or activities that might suit the children and look at financial help for those activities.
There will be an informal review in three months time to check progress and see how these arrangements are working out and a full review will then take place in six months time.
I sincerely hope that these arrangements will assist you and your daughter to begin to move forward.
