Sadly, Jordan slipped through the cracks in the support system. Many journalists have seemed to delight in skewering the Catholic Children's Aid Society and its social workers for their role in the tragedy, as though that will prevent similar deaths. But this isn't the first inquest into a baby's death, and it most certainly won't be the last. In fact, the harsh realities that have emerged in Toronto in the past five years virtually guarantee more such deaths. The number of families referred to Metro Children's Aid has increased by 24 per cent in the past two years.
Workloads are far above the level at which anyone can perform adequately.
It's difficult enough when there is family stability to ensure that all children are treated well, but put them in chaos and the lives of the frailest are being gambled away. When there are so many families with small children who do not have their own affordable place to live, it's plain as day that the threat to family breakdown increases and the health of young children is more at risk. The lineup to get into children's mental-health facilities is interminable. The numbers have since been reduced, but the criteria have expanded, so workloads remain far too high. Cut back systems this close to the bone and there will be no second chances, and no strong safety net, for people like Jordan.