❓ Question regarding newborns taken into care in WA during 2021, specifically those where housing was a contributing factor, following a media report about a vulnerable pregnant Aboriginal woman. The answer reveals 74 newborns were taken into care within a week of birth, with homelessness a contributing factor in 30 cases.
AnsweredQoN 615Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the article in The West Australian on 9 February 2022 entitled
“DCP crisis: Leaked emails show homeless pregnant woman was living in property
being visited by sex predator”, which details a case in late 2021 of a child
protection worker contacting an Aboriginal advocacy group for help with finding
housing for a heavily pregnant Aboriginal woman who was in overcrowded housing
with exposure to her sex abuse perpetrator, and I ask: (a) how
many newborns were taken into care in 2021; and (b) how
many of those newborns were taken into care with housing being a
contributing factor?
refer to the article in The West Australian on 9 February 2022 entitled
“DCP crisis: Leaked emails show homeless pregnant woman was living in property
being visited by sex predator”, which details a case in late 2021 of a child
protection worker contacting an Aboriginal advocacy group for help with finding
housing for a heavily pregnant Aboriginal woman who was in overcrowded housing
with exposure to her sex abuse perpetrator, and I ask: (a) how
many newborns were taken into care in 2021; and (b) how
many of those newborns were taken into care with housing being a
contributing factor?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2022
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
9 days
a) In 2021, a total of 74 children were taken into care within one week of birth. b) 30 children had homelessness recorded as a contributing factor to this decision. Homelessness alone is not a sufficient reason for a child to be taken into care.
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