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Recommendations – Searchable List
The table below lists all OCYA recommendations in a searchable and sortable format.
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OCYA Recommendations as of March 31, 2023
| Report Name | Report Type | Recommendation Name | Report Release Date | Progress Reported by | Recommendation | Evaluation | Date of Last Evaluation | Progress As of Last Reporting Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 1 | Mar-23 | Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should examine the connections for each Indigenous child in the care of the Director, and identify tailored actions that build and strengthen connections with their family, community, and culture. | New Recommendation - Not Applicable | Mar-23 | New Recommendation - Not Applicable |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-23 | Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should publicly report on summary findings from their examination of all Indigenous children and their unique connections to their families, communities, and cultures within 12 months and provide ongoing annual updates. | New Recommendation - Not Applicable | Mar-23 | New Recommendation - Not Applicable |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-22 | Ministy of Education, Minstry of Children and Family Services, Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services, Ministy of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction | The Ministries of Health, Education, Children’s Services, Community and Social Services and Justice and Solicitor General should develop and publicly report on a coordinated action plan to address service gaps for young people with complex needs while longer-term initiatives are under development. This plan should include targeted activities and milestones that meet the immediate needs of these young people. | Ongoing - No Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates that these Ministries have met however is still awaiting a clear action plan that is publicly available. This recommendation requires collaboration, and a collaborative and coordinated response would be appreciated. This recommendation is assessed as no progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 1 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministries of Health, Education, and Community and Social Services should develop a process to coordinate seamless service delivery for young people with intellectual and behavioural challenges and their families. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | This evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the collaborative steps taken by these ministries and is pleased with these initial actions. As this a collaborative recommendation, further progress on this recommendation requires a coordinated approach across the ministries. This recommendation has been assessed at some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should report their progress to a Committee of the Legislature on recommendations made to them by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate was pleased when the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices invited Ministries to attend in person or provide written reports regarding OCYA recommendations. The Advocate is hopeful this or an equivalent process will continue on an annual basis and become more robust in the coming years. This recommendation has been assessed as some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction | The Ministry of Health should report their progress to a Committee of the Legislature on recommendations made to them by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate was pleased when the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices invited Ministries to attend in person or provide written reports regarding OCYA recommendations. The Advocate is hopeful this or an equivalent process will continue on an annual basis and become more robust in the coming years. This recommendation has been assessed as some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Education | The Ministry of Education should report their progress to a Committee of the Legislature on recommendations made to them by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate was pleased when the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices invited Ministries to attend in person or provide written reports regarding OCYA recommendations. The Advocate is hopeful this or an equivalent process will continue on an annual basis and become more robust in the coming years. This recommendation has been assessed as some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should report their progress to a Committee of the Legislature on recommendations made to them by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate was pleased when the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices invited Ministries to attend in person or provide written reports regarding OCYA recommendations. The Advocate is hopeful this or an equivalent process will continue on an annual basis and become more robust in the coming years. This recommendation has been assessed as some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-22 | Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministry of Children's Services should report their progress to a Committee of the Legislature on recommendations made to them by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate was pleased when the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices invited Ministries to attend in person or provide written reports regarding OCYA recommendations. The Advocate is hopeful this or an equivalent process will continue on an annual basis and become more robust in the coming years. This recommendation has been assessed as some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Kelsie: Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should strengthen policy and practice supports related to the role and involvement of First Nation designates to include accountability provisions when designates provide guidance on family and cultural connections. | Closed - Met | Sep-22 | Based on the policy changes implemented, we consider this recommendation “met.” |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Brooklyn & Cindi: Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministries of Children’s Services and of Justice and Solicitor General should develop a protocol that requires Child Intervention Services be informed prior to the release of an individual who has been incarcerated for family violence where the family was involved with Child Intervention Services. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | This evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the collaborative steps taken by these ministries and is pleased with these initial actions. Further progress on this recommendation requires an information sharing process that includes the requirements for notification. This recommendation has been assessed at some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 | Mandatory Review | Brooklyn & Cindi: Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should reassess the risk offenders pose and offer to safety plan with victims of family violence when offenders are released from incarceration. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | This evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates activities underway and would like to see the opportunity to safety plan provided to children and families impacted by family violence when the offender is being released from incarceration. Young people and those who care for them need to be aware of the risk the offender poses and have supports available to them to effectively plan for their safety. This recommendation is assessed as some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should review and adjust their quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. While the Advocate appreciates the actions taken, more information is needed about whether these actions are part of a plan for ongoing evaluation to inform program improvements and whether information of the evaluation activities will be publicly available. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Mental Health and Addicition | The Ministry of Health should review and adjust their quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems. | Ongoing-Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the actions taken and looks forward to a plan for how these actions will be ongoing and the results used for program improvement and publicly reported. This recommendation is evaluated at significant progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should review and adjust their quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems. | Ongoing-Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreaciates the actions taken and looks forward to a plan for ongoing evaluation that is used for program improvement and is publicly reported. This recommendation is assessed at significant progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Education | The Ministry of Education should review and adjust their quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems. | Closed - Met | Mar-23 | This recommendation was made to multiple ministries but requires individual action from each. Starting with this evaluation each ministry's progress will be reported individually and be considered separate recommendations. The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is pleased to see and thanks the Ministry of Education for their work done on this recommendation. This recommendation is met. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should review and adjust their quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. There was no progress update provided by the Ministry of Children and Family Services. The Advocate hopes that an update will be provided in the future that includes a plan for the ongoing gathering and use of qualitative information, and in particular young people's feedback. This remains at some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should collaborate and coordinate with Service Alberta to regularly communicate where to access reference and training materials to those responsible for providing services under the Children First Act. Furthermore, these ministries should offer service providers opportunities for ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. While the Advocate appreciates the steps being taken to make the Children's First Act available to their staff, there needs to be opportunities for interactive cross systems training. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Mental Health and Addicition | The Ministry of Health should collaborate and coordinate with Service Alberta to regularly communicate where to access reference and training materials to those responsible for providing services under the Children First Act. Furthermore, these ministries should offer service providers opportunities for ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act. | Ongoing-Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the ministry's actions taken such as the training provided and the community of practice developed as well as the Ministry's commitment to implementing cross-ministry training initiatives. This recommendation has been assessed at significant progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Education | The Ministry of Education should collaborate and coordinate with Service Alberta to regularly communicate where to access reference and training materials to those responsible for providing services under the Children First Act. Furthermore, these ministries should offer service providers opportunities for ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. While the Advocate appreciates that training and reference materials will be made available by the end of the year, there also needs to be opportunities for interactive cross-systems training. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Children and Family Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should collaborate and coordinate with Service Alberta to regularly communicate where to access reference and training materials to those responsible for providing services under the Children First Act. Furthermore, these ministries should offer service providers opportunities for ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. There was no progress update provided by the Ministry of Children and Family Services. The Advocate hopes that an update will be provided in the future that includes a plan for the ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training for service providers, both CFS and agency staff. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Strengthening Foundations: Assessment, Information-Sharing, and Collaboration | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-21 | Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should collaborate and coordinate with Service Alberta to regularly communicate where to access reference and training materials to those responsible for providing services under the Children First Act. Furthermore, these ministries should offer service providers opportunities for ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. While the Advocate appreciates the steps taken to train staff and provide information and training to agencies, this training needs to be ongoing, interactive and cross-systems. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Renewed Focus: A follow-up report on youth opioid use in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Jun-21 | Ministry of Mental Health and Addicition | The Government of Alberta, with leadership from the Ministry of Health, should establish a dedicated body such as a panel, committee, or commission to develop and support implementation of a youth opioid and substance use strategy. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the steps being taken to expand mental health services for young people and the cross Ministry collaboration underway. The Advocate is looking forward to a clearly outlined, youth opioid and substance use strategy and the implementation of this strategy. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020 | Mandatory Review | Teddy: Recommendation 1 | Mar-21 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should ensure that when no-contact conditions are imposed, information about the timely revision/ removal of the conditions is provided and explained to young people and their caregivers in simple language. | Closed - Met | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is pleased to see the actions taken and thanks the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency services for their work done on this recommendation. This recommendation is met. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020 | Mandatory Review | Libby: Recommendation 1 | Mar-21 | Ministry of Children and Family Services, Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction | The Ministries of Health and Children’s Services should host a forum or other event that engages relevant stakeholders to highlight the actions taken and results achieved in the first two years of the province’s five-year youth suicide prevention plan (Building Strength, Inspiring Hope: A Provincial Action Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2019–2024), as well as steps for action to be taken in the coming two years. The ministries responsible should include a written summary of proceedings so there is a document for future public reference. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is concerned with the continued high number of youth suicides. An alternative solution to address this recommendation was proposed by the Ministries of Mental Heath and Addiction and Children and Family Services, however the details have not yet been provided. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020 | Mandatory Review | Cooper: Recommendation 1 | Sep-20 | Ministry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should re-evaluate and revise policies and practice guidelines regarding file transfers to ensure they are being consistently interpreted and applied across the province. There should be a clear escalation process in place to resolve any difficulties with file transfers. | Closed - No Progress | Sep-21 | As the response from the Ministry of Children's Services has indicated that they do not agree with this recommendation, the Advocate is deeming this recommendation as not having been met. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020 | Mandatory Review | Roy: Recommendation 1 | Sep-20 | Ministry of Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should review and revise the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) policy to align with its legislation. FSCD policy should clearly indicate that children and families are able to utilize out-of-home placements up to the age of 18 years old, if needed. | Closed - Met | Sep-21 | The intent of this recommendation has been met. The review committee ensures that policy aligns with legislation to meet the needs of the child. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020 | Mandatory Review | Cora & Elliot: Recommendation 1 | Sep-20 | Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should strengthen its capacity to promote collaborative practice between community-based agencies to address the needs of vulnerable young people in the context of their families and communities. | Ongoing-Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is concerned that there have been no clear actions taken to promote collaborative practices between community agencies with the goal of providing coordinated services to meet the needs of young people and their families. This recommendation remains at some progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Rose: Recommendation 1 | Mar-20 | Ministry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should ensure that the level of intervention, services and supports provided to a young person is reassessed following a life-threatening experience. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-22 | As the Ministry of Children’s Services has indicated they will no longer provide further updates, this recommendation will be closed and remain at the last evaluated status. While there have been actions taken to address young people who had concerns related to substance use, the Advocate is concerned that there have not been actions taken to address other life-threatening circumstances. The Advocate will continue to monitor this issue, which may result in a future recommendation. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Allie: Recommendation 1 | Mar-20 | Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should have a process that ensures police agencies are using a defined case management system in all child sexual abuse investigations. | Closed - Met | Sep-21 | This recommendation has been met. The Advocate is pleased to see the thorough response from the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Lucas: Recommendation 1 | Mar-20 | Ministry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should increase the availability of whole family residential treatment programs, within the province, for young people and their families. | Closed - No Progress | Sep-21 | As the Ministry of Children's Services has indicated that they will not accept this recommendation, the Advocate is deeming this recommendation as not having been met. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Penny: Recommendation 1 | Mar-20 | Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Community and Social Services should ensure that the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program pays for services upfront and provides key workers, who help with accessing resources and supports, to families facing financial and social barriers. | Ongoing - Some Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is looking forward to seeing the new payment approach when it is implemented. The Advocate is hopeful that this approach is easy for families to use so young people get the services they need without delay. This recommendation is assessed as some progress. |
| A Critical Time: Emerging Adults Leaving Children’s Services Care | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Nov-19 | Ministry of Children's Services | Children’s Services should improve policy and practice guidelines and provide training and time for staff to support young people 18 to 24 years old as they move through emerging adulthood. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-22 | The recent progress update indicated that the Ministry of Children’s Services considered this recommendation met with the implementation of the Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP). The Advocate has not been provided access to policy-specific information about this program and is unable to make a determination about whether TAP meets this recommendation. The Advocate is very concerned about young people transitioning out of Children’s Services and will continue to monitor this recommendations and the implementation of TAP, based on publicly available information and advocacy involvement. Since the Advocate deems this recommendation as not met, it will be closed and remain at the last evaluated status. |
| A Critical Time: Emerging Adults Leaving Children’s Services Care | Special Report | Recommendation 2 | Nov-19 | Ministry of Children's Services | Children’s Services should clearly outline the supports and services young adults are entitled to receive under a Support and Financial Assistance Agreement (SFAA). Young people should be connected to adult services, as required, before their SFAAs terminate. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-22 | The recent progress update indicated that the Ministry of Children’s Services considered this recommendation met with the implementation of the Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP). The Advocate has not been provided access to policy-specific information about this program and is unable to make a determination about whether TAP meets this recommendation. The Advocate is very concerned about young people transitioning out of Children’s Services and will continue to monitor this recommendations and the implementation of TAP, based on publicly available information and advocacy involvement. Since the Advocate deems this recommendation as not met, it will be closed and remain at the last evaluated status. |
| A Critical Time: Emerging Adults Leaving Children’s Services Care | Special Report | Recommendation 3 | Nov-19 | Ministry of Children's Services | Children’s Services should provide emerging adults with access to adequate and safe housing options. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-22 | The recent progress update indicated that the Ministry of Children’s Services considered this recommendation met with the implementation of the Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP). The Advocate has not been provided access to policy-specific information about this program and is unable to make a determination about whether TAP meets this recommendation. The Advocate is very concerned about young people transitioning out of Children’s Services and will continue to monitor this recommendations and the implementation of TAP, based on publicly available information and advocacy involvement. Since the Advocate deems this recommendation as not met, it will be closed and remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Care in Custody: A Special Report on OC Spray and Segregation in Alberta's Young Offender Centres | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Sep-19 | Ministy of Justice and Solicitor General | OC spray should only be used in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is an imminent risk of serious physical harm to a young person or others. | Closed - Met | Sep-21 | This recommendation has been met with the policy revisions. |
| Care in Custody: A Special Report on OC Spray and Segregation in Alberta's Young Offender Centres | Special Report | Recommendation 2 | Sep-19 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Young Offender Branch should review and update their policies and standards to reduce the number of hours a young person can be segregated, ensure that they receive appropriate programming and supports, and improve conditions within segregation. | Closed - Met | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is pleased to see the new Secure Separation policy and standards place limits on how long and for what reasons Secure Separation can be used, and thanks the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services for their work on this recommendation. This recommendation is met. |
| Care in Custody: A Special Report on OC Spray and Segregation in Alberta's Young Offender Centres | Special Report | Recommendation 3 | Sep-19 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Young Offender Branch should develop an impartial complaints and review process for young people. An impartial multi-disciplinary committee that includes external stakeholders should hear complaints and reviews, and young people should have access to a supportive adult. | Ongoing-Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate appreciates the steps taken and is hopeful the policy will be expanded to include impartial external stakeholders and a comprehensive complaints policy. This recommendation remains at significant progress. |
| Care in Custody: A Special Report on OC Spray and Segregation in Alberta's Young Offender Centres | Special Report | Recommendation 4 | Sep-19 | Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services | The Young Offender Branch should monitor and publicly report all incidents of OC spray use and segregation annually. | Ongoing - Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The Advocate is pleased to see changes made regarding secure separation and that Administrative Placements will no longer be used. The Advocate looks forward to seeing the public reporting on the use of secure separation in the next annual reporting cycle. This recommendation is assessed as significant progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Aaron: Recommendation 1 | Sep-19 | Ministy of Children' Services, Alberta Health Services | Child Intervention Services and Alberta Health Services should implement a plan to raise awareness among frontline staff about the Joint Protocol for Complex Decision-Making. The protocol should be easily accessible within each system. | Closed - Met | Mar-20 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: October 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 | Mandatory Review | Whitebird: Recommendation 1 | Sep-19 | Ministy of Children' Services | Children’s Services should ensure that there is a process for ongoing evaluation of how policy changes, assessment tools and practice frameworks are being integrated into day-to-day casework practice. | Closed - Some Progress | Sep-22 | Information provided by Children’s Services was inadequate to determine whether the actions taken meet the intent of the recommendation. Children’s Services last progress update stated that no further updates will be provided, therefore, this recommendation will be closed and remain at the current evaluation status of “some progress.” |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 | Mandatory Review | Faith: Recommendation 1 | Jun-19 | Ministy of Children' Services | Child Intervention Services should amend their policy so that an Enhancement Agreement with Youth can be used, in exceptional circumstances, to support young people who live with their guardians. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-22 | As the Ministry of Children’s Service has indicated they will not provide further updates, this recommendation will be closed at the last evaluated status. The Advocate is looking for creative solutions to meet the needs of young people whose circumstances are extraordinary. The Advocate looks forward to this being included in a future legislative change. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 | Mandatory Review | Sophia: Recommendation 1 | Jun-19 | Ministry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should review and revise their policies so that the additional needs of substance-affected infants are identified and appropriate resources are provided. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-22 | As the Ministry of Children’s Services has indicated they will not provide further updates, this recommendation will be closed at the last evaluated status. More supports are needed for substance affected babies, and this need could be identified through the Foster Care Placement Scoring Chart. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 | Mandatory Review | Andy: Recommendation 1 | Jun-19 | Ministy of Children and Family Services | Child Intervention Services should include young people, who are living in a foster home, in the annual foster home assessment process. | Ongoing - Significant Progress | Mar-23 | The evaluation was delayed due to the provincial election. The advocate is hopeful that once the updated Caregiver Annual Assessment is implemented, it will include a process for obtaining and emphasizing the young person's voice. This recommendation has been assessed at significant progress. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 | Mandatory Review | Andy: Recommendation 2 | Jun-19 | Ministy of Children' Services, Minsitry of Community and Social Services | Child Intervention Services should coordinate with Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) to implement a system that monitors the numbers of children placed in respite at any given time in a foster home so that young people receive the care they need. Numbers of children should not exceed a caregiver’s capacity. | Closed - No Progress | Sep-21 | As the Ministry of Children's Services has indicated they will not provide further updates, this recommendation will be closed as unmet. The Advocate remains concerned about the lack of a system that monitors the numbers of children in a foster home at any one time. |
| Mandatory Reviews into Child Deaths: April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 | Mandatory Review | Jaxon: Recommendation 1 | Jun-19 | Ministy of Children' Services | Child Intervention Services should provide financial and organizational supports for front-line staff to have immediate access to a variety of subject matter experts, as needed. | Closed - No Progress | Sep-21 | As the Ministry of Children's Services has indicated they will not provide further updates, this recommendation will be closed as unmet. While 211 is a good general tool, it will not give case-specific advice to help caseworkers address the needs of young people and it does not meet either the intent or the goal of this recommendation. |
| 19-Year-Old Dakota | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Oct-18 | Ministry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should expand their proposed policy regarding escalation of complex case consultation and decision-making to include the definition of complex needs. Young people with complex needs should have access to experts and intensive resources to meet their needs. | Closed - Met | Sep-20 | This intent of this recommendation has been met with the implementation of the cross-ministry team for escalation. |
| Into Focus: Calling Attention to Youth Opioid Use in Alberta | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Jun-18 | Ministry of Education | Alberta Education and local school authorities should increase the level of health promotion and ageappropriate substance use education in curriculum from Elementary through High Schoool. | Closed - Significant Progress | Sep-22 | This recommendation was made in June 2018 and the new curriculum is in place for kindergarten to grade 6. We understand that implementation of the new curriculum may take some time and hope that age appropriate substance use education will be included for junior high and high school students. This recommendation will close at “significant progress.” |
| Into Focus: Calling Attention to Youth Opioid Use in Alberta | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Jun-18 | Ministry of Children's Services, Ministry of Community and Social Service, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | Child-serving ministries should have appropriate substance use intervention training to increase the capacity and knowledge among direct-service professionals to ensure young people get the right services at the right time. This should be part of the provincial youth strategy. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-22 | There has been no further progress toward creating a provincial strategy on opioids for young people during this six-month evaluation period. The importance of having a coordinated approach to addressing substance use among young people is reiterated in our report, Renewed Focus. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Into Focus: Calling Attention to Youth Opioid Use in Alberta | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Jun-18 | Alberta Health Services | Alberta Health Services should strengthen their substance use related interventions for young people. Special attention needs to be given to interventions specific to youth opioid use and to services for young people with co-occurring issues of mental health problems and/or cognitive disabilities. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-22 | There has been no further progress during this six-month evaluation period. The Advocate remains concerned that the needs of young people with mental health and cognitive disabilities have not been addressed in the response to this recommendation. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Into Focus: Calling Attention to Youth Opioid Use in Alberta | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Jun-18 | Alberta Health Services | Alberta Health Services’ Youth Addictions and Mental Health programs should have a more inclusive practice of involving families and significant individuals, with specific attention to substance use prevention and treatment for young people. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-22 | There has been no further progress during this six-month evaluation period. The Advocate is concerned that families and significant individuals are not being meaningfully involved in substance use treatrement for young people. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Into Focus: Calling Attention to Youth Opioid Use in Alberta | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | Jun-18 | Ministry of Health | The Ministry of Health should undertake a review of the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs (PChAD) Act and its policies, so the related services better meet the needs of young people and their families. | Closed - Met | Mar-21 | This recommendation has been met with the completion of the PChAD review. The Advocate looks forward to seeing how the implementation of these services better meets the needs of young people and their families. |
| Speaking OUT: Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young People | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should make certain that LGBTQ2S+ specific training and education is required for all employees who work directly with young people or make decisions that affect them | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Speaking OUT: Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young People | Special Report | Recommendation 2 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General create LGBTQ2S+ specific living options for young people. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General met the expectations of this recommendation in September 2017. The Advocate remains concerned about the Ministry of Children's Services' placements specifically intended for LGBTQ2S+ young people. |
| Speaking OUT: Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young People | Special Report | Recommendation 3 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should review and revise their policies and practices in relation to identity, safety, appropriate places to live, and services and supports for LGBTQ2S+ children and youth. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Speaking OUT: Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young People | Special Report | Recommendation 4 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should establish policy that guides decision-making for employees in their role as guardian, regarding consent for medical interventions and support services for transgender young people. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Speaking OUT: Special Report on LGBTQ2S+ Young People | Special Report | Recommendation 5 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should ensure young people in their care receive appropriate and inclusive sexual health information. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Beyond Trauma: Disrupting Cycles, Effecting Change | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-17 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should create and implement cross-ministry training for all child-serving ministries specifically related to the impact of trauma at every stage of childhood development so that appropriate interventions can be provided. | Closed - Met | Sep-18 | This recommendation has been met with the various training being provided on childhood trauma. |
| Beyond Trauma: Disrupting Cycles, Effecting Change | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should make certain that children and caregivers receive culturally appropriate, timely interventions that directly address the impact of trauma on the developing brain. | Closed - Met | Sep-18 | This recommendation has been met as noted by the information provided for Recommendation 1. |
| 16-Year-Old Dillon | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Community and Social Service, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education | The Ministries of Children’s Services, Health, Education and Community andSocial Services should establish or strengthen policies and protocols so information is shared and used to coordinate service plans for young people with complex needs. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. The Advocate recognizes the significant collaboration amongst the ministries in addressing the complex needs of young people. |
| 16-Year-Old Dillon | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should improve casework strategies that strengthen relationships and engagement to natural supports, with a focus on building long term networks for young people. | Closed - Met | Sep-18 | This recommendation has been met with "Family Finding". |
| 15-Year-Old Jimmy | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Oct-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should create provincial policies that are reflective of the needs and vulnerabilities of at-risk adolescents who ask for help. Child intervention staff should have a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing impacts of early childhood trauma. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Advocate remains concerned about the ongoing impacts of early childhood trauma. |
| 15-Year-Old Jimmy | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Oct-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should develop an appeal process designed specifically for adolescents who are denied child intervention services and supports. This process must be timely, fair and easily accessible. | Closed - No Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Advocate remains concerned about young people's ability to access child intervention services and supports. |
| 15-Year-Old Jimmy | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Oct-17 | Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should ensure that the Family Law Act guardianship application forms address how the applicant will fulfill the responsibilities outlined in Section 18 of the Family Law Act. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Advocate remains concerned about the lack of clarity on how the guardianship application forms address the responsibilities outlined in Section 18 of the Family Law Act. |
| 15-Year-Old Jimmy | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Oct-17 | Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should ensure that the application process for guardianship under the Family Law Act is standardized across the province. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Advocate remains concerned about standardization of the application process for guardianship under the Family Law Act across the province. |
| 17-Year-Old Donovan | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Oct-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should make certain that all frontline staff are aware of and use the existing protocol involving youth who have involvement with both Ministries. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 17-Year-Old Donovan | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Oct-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General | The Ministry of Children’s Services and the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should work together so that contact and relationships for youth are maintained with family—particularly for youth in custody outside their home community | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Three Young Children | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Jul-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services and community partners should implement intensive, sustained plans to specifically support young children who are returned to family after being in care. Additional care should be taken with children who have disrupted attachments or developmental challenges. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Three Young Children | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Jul-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should implement a research based framework that guides casework through the reunification process with families including ongoing risk assessment and robust after-care plans that provide the level of supports the family requires. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Three Young Children | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Jul-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should ensure that children are returned to their families with a continuity of health, education and social supports comparable to what they received when they were in care. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 15-Year-Old Levi | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | May-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should establish formalized procedures for the engagement and active participation of children in decision-making. There must be a record of how a child’s views were considered and what influence they had on the decision-making process. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 15-Year-Old Levi | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | May-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Education | The Ministries of Children’s Services and Education should develop processes for the early identification of children who may be at risk of homelessness. Community-specific strategies must be developed in partnership with all levels of government, to support and intervene with these children and their families. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| 18-Year-Old Peter | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Mar-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Children’s Services should ensure that policies regarding transitioning youth out of care are fully understood and implemented. The Ministry must provide information that demonstrates how these policies are implemented consistently across the province. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. The Advocate remains worried about the issue of young people transitioning out of care. |
| 19-Year-Old Ernie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Feb-17 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should develop processes to ensure that consistent services and supports are in place when young people transition from Child Intervention Services to the adult disability system. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 19-Year-Old Ernie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Feb-17 | Ministry of Community and Social Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that the voice of the young person is included in case planning. If a young person is unable to voice an opinion, caseworkers need to access all avenues to ensure that the young person’s rights, interests and viewpoints are considered. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| 4-Year-Old Marie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should: a) Implement a home study tool specifically for kinship care that is culturally relevant and addresses the unique kinship circumstances. b) Require the collection of collateral information in the completion of the home study from community professionals, who are familiar with the applicant, regarding the demonstrated ability of the kinship applicant. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| 4-Year-Old Marie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should: a) Require that policy be consistent with other information that indicates kinship orientation training is mandatory for kinship caregivers. b) Provide a continuum of culturally relevant, supportive services for kinship caregivers. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 4-Year-Old Marie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should: a) Require that caseworkers complete a child-specific assessment and resolution of risk factors prior to terminating guardianship. b) Implement policy that requires the same checks and balances when terminating guardianship as is currently required when bringing a child into care. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 9-Month-Old Sharon | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should require that child intervention caseplans include individual support plans for children that reflect an understanding of the impact of trauma on each stage of child development. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 9-Month-Old Sharon | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should enhance child intervention policies and procedures to address the complexity involved with family reunification. Planning should be child-centered and address the need for a child’s support, safety and stability. These plans must be monitored and adjusted over a period of time | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 17-Year-Old Onessa | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should: a) Review the relevant legislation and policy to consider an enhanced definition of child sexual exploitation; and, b) Provide assessment and interventions that are specific to young people at risk of Internet sexual exploitation. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Jul-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should establish a new relationship with Aboriginal communities based on increased levels of self-determination and support by: A) Establishing full and equal partnership between governments and Aboriginal communities in the development of authorities, resources, practices, and outcomes for Aboriginal child welfare; B) Ensuring Aboriginal communities are involved in the delivery of child welfare services to their children and families in both on reserve and urban communities. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 2 | Jul-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should review the child welfare legislation for the Aboriginal context by: A) Respecting the right of Aboriginal families to their own approaches for raising children and recognizing these approaches for their inherent strengths; B) Ensuring the child welfare system is supported by excellence in preparation, practice, and research in Aboriginal child welfare, using inclusion and diversity, cultural and traditional methods, and ceremonies. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 3 | Jul-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should provide the resources and support for Aboriginal communities to ensure delivery of child welfare services to their children and families by: A) Establishing a range of services from prevention, through intervention and aftercare for Aboriginal children and families who come into contact with the child welfare system; B) Completing band registration for First Nations children or Métis citizenship registration for Métis children as a priority for all Aboriginal children in government care so they receive the full range of supports and services to which they are entitled. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 4 | Jul-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should vigorously adopt and observe Jordan’s Principle for Aboriginal children and families involved with the child welfare system. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 5 | Jul-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should improve the effectiveness of child welfare service and program delivery by: A) Ensuring supports for Aboriginal children and families are delivered with a strength-based approach that reduces risks to child safety and well-being within an Aboriginal context; B) Establishing an Aboriginal authority for statutory services involving Aboriginal children and families; C) Identifying and adopting practice standards consistent with the interests of Aboriginal people | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 6 | Jul-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should support greater continuity of relationships for Aboriginal children and families in child welfare by: A) Ensuring Aboriginal children in care maintain connections with important individuals in their lives, with special consideration for siblings wherever possible; B) Increasing the use of kinship care for Aboriginal children by improving support for kinship caregivers; C) Improving communication with Aboriginal children in the child welfare system by providing them with information about their background and circumstances, and by considering their views in matters that affect them. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 7 | Jul-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | In partnership with Aboriginal stakeholders, the Ministry of Human Services should develop a multi-year plan for addressing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in care, and report annually on progress achieved. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Voices for Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta | Special Report | Recommendation 8 | Jul-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should monitor, evaluate, and report regularly to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on the state of Aboriginal children living in the province. | Closed - Some Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Apr-16 | Government of Alberta | A) The Government of Alberta should have a provincially funded suicide prevention strategy that supports the development and implementation of community-led strategies across the province. The strategy needs the capacity to adjust to accommodate the interests and needs of particularly vulnerable groups at elevated risk for suicide. B) Strategies to prevent Aboriginal youth suicide must be developed within the context, and in recognition of, the traditional values and cultural practices relevant to Aboriginal youth in the community. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Apr-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should act on ways to improve provincial services and systems to support holistic community-led strategies to address Aboriginal youth suicide. For example, the government should consider: • Can these services and systems be used or leveraged to help reduce risk factors among Aboriginal youth and their families? • Does the current operation of these services and systems present any barriers that make it difficult to access assistance for at-risk Aboriginal youth? • How might these services and systems be inadvertently contributing to risk factors among at-risk Aboriginal youth and their families? | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Alberta Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should ensure that supports are available to Aboriginal young people who have lost someone significant to suicide and that those services are deliberate and proactive. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the Enhancement Policy Manual Update (7.2.3). |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Alberta Human Services should review child intervention case practice to ensure that intervention is focused on the child’s needs. The impact on a child exposed to domestic violence, parental substance abuse and other forms of child maltreatment must be addressed early in conjunction with their caregivers’ treatment plans. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should ensure that case practice reflects a strength-based approach that focuses on the attachment needs of children while ensuring that their risk for harm is addressed. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 6 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Education | Alberta Education should develop and implement school-based suicide prevention programs. Consideration should be given to developing a peer support component. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 7 | Apr-16 | Alberta Health Services | Alberta Mental Health Services should ensure that cultural components are incorporated in treatment strategies for young people. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the various programs/initiatives noted in the AHS response. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 8 | Apr-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should ensure that mental health programs are more accessible, holistic and readily available in First Nations communities. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the various services and supports noted in the response. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 9 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education | The Ministries of Human Services, Education and Health, along with their service delivery partners, should require that professionals working with Aboriginal young people have enhanced suicide intervention training. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the suicide intervention training that is available to professionals. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 10 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education | The Ministries of Human Services, Education and Health, along with their service delivery partners, should require that professionals working with Aboriginal Peoples have adequate training regarding the pre and post-colonial history specific to Aboriginal Peoples so that they have a good understanding of the potential risks, strengths and needs within Aboriginal families. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the training that is available. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 11 | Apr-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Alberta Human Services should review the Delegation Training for Suicide Intervention Skills and ensure that it contains information about the need for culturally-relevant resources and how caseworkers can access them. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the Child Intervention Learning and Development (ChILD) Pathways revisions. |
| Toward a Better Tomorrow | Investigative Review | Recommendation 12 | Apr-16 | Government of Alberta | The Government of Alberta should support increased levels of self-determination of First Nations in Alberta through reconciliation processes in partnership with First Nations, federal and provincial governments. Consideration should be given to greater levels of self-determination regarding child intervention balanced with support as a protective factor for suicide prevention. | Closed - Significant Progress | Mar-21 | This recommendation is more than three years old. This recommendation is closed and will remain at the last evaluated status. |
| 10-Month-Old Lily | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Mar-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that ongoing support and mentorship is provided to frontline workers to assist in the creation and planning of protective support networks for children living with parents who have addictions. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the completed file review and the development of the consultation tool, both deemed to provide support and mentorship to frontline workers. |
| 10-Month-Old Lily | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Mar-16 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that those involved in support networks know what to do and who to notify when risk increases for a child. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the SOS Safety plans as described in the Ministry's recent response. |
| 17 Year-Old Makayla: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Dec-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services and its service delivery partners should ensure that: a) Young people involved with Child Intervention Services are assessed to identify the impact traumatic events have had on them; b) Case plans should detail interventions to directly address the identified trauma including resources required and expected outcomes; and, c) Interventions are reviewed on a regular basis and progress documented. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 17 Year-Old Makayla: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Dec-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services and its service delivery partners should ensure that placement moves for children and youth are planned. In situations where unplanned moves are unavoidable, mitigation strategies to address the impact of such moves are identified and documented. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 2-Year Old Teanna: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Dec-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure: a) Documented case planning for children that includes both immediate attachment and long-term relationship needs, in addition to the considerations identified in the Enhancement Act. b) Case planning reflects clear transition strategies that mitigate the impact of multiple placement moves for children. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 2-Year Old Teanna: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Dec-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure: a) That when a child has substantial medical and/or behavioural needs, the specific needs of the child are identified and documented, then matched to a care provider’s capacity and potential support requirements, which is also documented, before the child is placed. b) That there is regular and ongoing assessment of a care provider’s capacity to meet a child’s needs. If there are indicators that the child’s placement is in jeopardy, a timely re-assessment of the child’s needs and their care provider’s capacities must be completed and appropriate action taken. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 17-Year-Old Catherine | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Sep-15 | Alberta Health Services | Alberta Health Services should provide service coordinators for children with complex mental health needs and their families, who are accessing mental health services across multiple programs. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the project plans to streamline the AHS intake processes. |
| 17-Year-Old Catherine | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Sep-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Alberta Health Services | A) The Ministry of Human Services should intervene and strengthen their response when parents request help to keep their child safe because the parent is unable to. B) The Ministry of Human Services and Alberta Health Services should enter into a formal provincial agreement identifying how they will work collaboratively to serve young people with complex mental health needs when their safety is in jeopardy. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. The signed expression of commitment meets the intent of the recommendation to have a formal provincial agreement. |
| 17-Year-Old Catherine | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Sep-15 | Alberta Health Services | Alberta Health Services should review how young people attending hospitals are assessed for suicide risk and standardize best practices across the province. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the use of a new assessment tool in mental health units and emergency departments. |
| Six-Week-Old Nicole | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Aug-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should strengthen its capacity to provide relevant assessment, planning and intervention methods to effectively support parents with cognitive challenges. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Six-Week-Old Nicole | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Aug-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that the changing circumstances of children and families are continuously reassessed and reflected in child intervention caseplanning. Caseworkers need the support and training for reflective practice that shows clear assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation as a child and their family’s needs and circumstances change. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the Practice File Review and the noted results on supervisory consultations. |
| 8-Year-Old Ella | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Aug-15 | Ministry of Human Services | A. The Ministry of Human Services should establish training for all frontline child intervention caseworkers, specifically related to understanding children with disabilities and/or complex needs. B. The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that child intervention and FSCD workers are aware of the existing Program Coordination Protocol between Child Intervention Services and Family Supports for Children with Disabilities. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the training modules that are available to frontline staff on disabilities and with the Policy to Practice session on the Protocol. |
| 8-Year-Old Ella | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Aug-15 | Ministry of Human Services | The Ministry of Human Services should identify a continuum of placement options for children in care with disabilities and/or complex needs and ensure that adequate placement options and supports are available. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the Campus-based Therapeutic Care and Personalized Community Placements noted in the Ministry of Children's Services' response. |
| 8-Year-Old Ella | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Aug-15 | Ministry of Human Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that all caregivers are aware of and follow their policies, procedures and practices in the administration and monitoring of medications. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the Ministry’s monitoring of how caregivers manage children's medication. |
| 9-Year-Old Bonita: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | May-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should provide clear support for child intervention workers to intervene earlier when neglect is identified as a protection concern. Practical concrete response is required to address the factors that contribute to the neglect of children. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | The Ministry of Children's Services provided a thorough response which outlines a number of initiatives to address neglect and poverty. This recommendation has been met. |
| 9-Year-Old Bonita: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | May-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should engage stakeholders to identify issues and opportunities to address neglect in a manner consistent with best practice. Resources should be committed to help families living in poverty to alleviate child neglect concerns. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the noted ways staff receive training and support in understanding neglect. |
| 9-Year-Old Bonita: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | May-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | A) The Ministry of Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and/or protocol to work together so addictions expertise and consultation is provided to frontline child intervention workers who are working with families where addictions concerns are present. And, B) The Ministry of Human Services should dedicate resources to increase frontline workers’ knowledge of addictions and the impact parental addictions has on children. | Closed - Met | Sep-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| 16-Year-Old Sam | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | May-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services needs greater early intentional focus on assessment and intervention that includes an equal emphasis on children, siblings and parents. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the Standards File Review noted in the response. |
| 16-Year-Old Sam | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | May-15 | Ministry of Human Services | The Ministry of Human Services should find ways to teach children and youth about healthy relationships and attachment. Added supports should be provided to help young people when important relationships are disrupted by change. | Closed - Met | Sep-16 | The Ministry has provided further information on the Foundations of Caregiver Support which indicates that this initiative is intended to help young people with grief and loss issues and to assist young people to reconcile their relationships with family in a way that is safe and healthy for them. This recommendation has been met. |
| 16-Year-Old Sam | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | May-15 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should provide caregivers and caseworkers with the skills they require to engage with suicidal youth on an ongoing regular basis and encourage young people to develop, identify and practice positive coping skills. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the information added to the foster and kinship care handbooks and the updated Policy for Suicidal Child. |
| Baby Sadie: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-14 | Ministry of Health | Alberta Health should build on past and current efforts to implement the consistent use of electronic records for children across Alberta to facilitate adequate information sharing among medical professionals. This would allow indicators of child abuse to be easily accessed (flagged) and used to identify possible patterns. | Closed - Met | Mar-17 | This recommendation has been met given the significant transition to electronic medical records. |
| Baby Sadie: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-14 | Ministry of Human Services | Alberta Human Services should review their training for frontline staff specifically related to critical thinking, risk assessment and case analysis. Training should be strengthened and tailored for assessors and supervisors to ensure well-informed case analysis and case-planning for young people and their families. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met through a variety of initiatives (a review/revision of training, mandatory supervisory training, competency profiles) aimed at enhancing the analysis and assessment skills of frontline staff. |
| Baby Sadie: Serious Injury | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Nov-14 | Ministry of Human Services | Alberta Human Services should: (a) Ensure collaborative strategies are in place for every young person receiving child intervention services; and, (b) Include regular case conferences in the child intervention standards and monitor for compliance. | Closed - Met | Sep-16 | This recommendation has been met with the completed file reviews. |
| 15-Year-Old Tony | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should strengthen processes related to: • The search for meaningful relationships in an Aboriginal child’s life and ensure that the extended family of both parents is explored. • The ability of placement facilities to provide Aboriginal children in care continuous and ongoing access to traditional knowledge and activities. These processes should be documented and audited for compliance to ensure that Aboriginal children remain connected to their family, community and culture. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the various strategies and training noted in the response. |
| 15-Year-Old Tony | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should require a suicide risk inventory be completed for all young people, who have been identified as at risk of suicide, on a regular and ongoing basis – not just at the time of crisis. | Closed - Met | Mar-17 | This recommendation has been met with the Policy to Practice training session on youth suicide that identifies warning signs, who is at risk, and triggers and speaks to the need to check in on an ongoing basis. |
| 15-Year-Old Tony | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Nov-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services, with its service delivery partners, should review policy and practice in information sharing when a child transitions to a new placement. Emphasis must be placed on direct communication between day-to-day caregivers to support the continuity of successful treatment approaches. This means those caregivers who work directly with young people in their placements. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Baby Dawn: Bed-Sharing with Infants in Foster Care | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Aug-14 | Ministry of Human Services | The Ministry of Human Services should implement clear policy for foster parents providing direction not to bed-share with infants placed in their care. | Closed - Met | Sep-15 | This recommendation has been met with the policy that has been developed. |
| Baby Annie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | May-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should institute policy that is proactive in planning for children and families when a newborn child is expected into a family that is receiving intervention services. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the policy update which notes planning and assessment both up to and after the child's birth. |
| Baby Annie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | May-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should work with Alberta Health Services to implement a provincial, multi-service response model that enables collaborative and joint response to families with at-risk children who are involved with Human Services and Alberta Health Services. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the significant amount of planning and work that has been done for province-wide services in this area. |
| Baby Annie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | May-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services, Alberta Health Services | The Ministry of Human Services and Alberta Health Services should establish policy and protocols to ensure sufficient information sharing and a collaborative, timely (prior to discharge) response for infants at risk from Neo-Natal Abstinence Syndrome. | Closed - Met | Mar-21 | This recommendation has been met. The Practice Guidance for AHS Social Workers Working with Children's Services meets the need for communication sharing between the Ministry of Children's Services and Alberta Health Services. |
| Baby Annie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | May-14 | The College of Physicians & Surgeons,The Alberta College of Pharmacists | The College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Alberta College of Pharmacists should review the effectiveness of the Pharmaceutical Information Network (PIN) to detect and flag multi-doctoring and potential safety concerns related to codeine and benzodiazepine prescriptions, with a view to preventing fetal exposure to these medications. | Closed - Met | Sep-18 | This recommendation has been met. Benzodiazepines have been incorporated into the Triplicate Prescription Program data set. This allows for the CPSA to detect and flag multiple doctoring. |
| Baby Annie | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | May-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | (a) Child Intervention Services should review how parenting capacity assessments are conducted across the province and implement policy that ensures parenting assessments are done in a consistent manner and are comprehensive in nature. (b) Child Intervention Services should ensure that parenting norms unique to First Nations and other cultural groups are incorporated into parenting capacity assessments. | Closed - Met | Mar-17 | This recommendation has been met with the recent Policy to Practice session on Parenting Capacity Assessments. |
| 7-Year-Old Jack | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Jan-14 | Ministry of Human Services | The Ministry of Human Services should ensure the preservation or resolution of relationships are at the foundation of permanency planning for children: • Children need to be involved - at a level appropriate to their understanding - in envisioning how their significant relationships will look in their future. Attention should be given to grief and loss interventions where relationships are lost or ambiguous. • Transitions between parental care and placements within the system need to be deliberate and focused on a child’s need for consistent relationships. | Closed - Met | Sep-16 | This recommendation has been met with the Foundations of Caregiver Support training. |
| 7-Year-Old Jack | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Jan-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General should undertake a review of court delays for children in temporary care: • identify the number of children for whom court delays have impacted permanency; • identify the barriers that are causing court delays; • establish a plan to resolve this issue; and, • report on progress. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | The Ministry of Children's Services provided a very detailed response to this recommendation. Included in this response is a list of possible remedies to allow for timelier hearings. Based on this response, this recommendation has been met. |
| 7-Year-Old Jack | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Jan-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services needs to reinforce compliance to existing policy regarding regular caseconferencing with all stakeholders and service providers, ensuring that children are involved whenever possible. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met with the results of the review being disseminated. |
| 7-Year-Old Jack | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Jan-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The results of service delivery placement investigations should be better coordinated to ensure that: • Recommendations resulting from these investigations are documented and accounted for in the Human Services’ electronic database to ensure their resolution; • Results of placement investigations are centrally analyzed in order to identify key learnings that could enhance the strength of the overall system; and • The learnings identified from service delivery investigations are actively disseminated province-wide, with the goal of enhancing the safety and wellbeing of children in care. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recomendation has been met with the creation of the database which will assist in centrally analyzing and disseminating information |
| 7-Year-Old Jack | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | Jan-14 | Minsitry of Children's Services | The Ministry of Human Services should: (A) Review, clarify and communicate policy regarding the decision-making authority of the Director when a child in temporary care passes away. Including clear policy direction for decisions related to tissue donation; (B) The Ministry of Human Services should review case practice in relation to what parents are told when their child is in temporary care; specifically, the decision-making that might occur in the parents’ absence. Policy should be implemented to ensure consistent application across the province. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the fact sheets published on the Children's Services website |
| Kamil: An Immigrant Youth’s Struggle | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Nov-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Assessments should be undertaken with and informed by a comprehensive understanding of a young person’s cultural context, including their life history, background and relationships (both pre and post migration), to improve the effectiveness of intervention services.This recommendation has been met with the implementation of the training. | Closed - Met | Sep-16 | This recommendation has been met with the implementation of the training. |
| Kamil: An Immigrant Youth’s Struggle | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Nov-13 | Ministry of Human Services | The child intervention system should assess each young person holistically, including identification and assessment of their protective factors, and work proactively with supportive adults to maintain and strengthen these factors to improve the young person’s resiliency and well-being. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry reported the implementation of the Signs of Safety, which could facilitate the identification of protective factors and is based on supporting young people to make supportive connections. This recommendation has been met. |
| Kamil: An Immigrant Youth’s Struggle | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Nov-13 | Ministry of Human Services | The policy regarding approval of psychotropic medications should be amended to recognize and reflect the urgency of situations in which young people require these medications. In addition, there should be a requirement to communicate back to the mental health professional(s) when a recommended medication or therapy is not approved. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the development of the practice tool. |
| Kamil: An Immigrant Youth’s Struggle | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Nov-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Caseworkers should personally communicate with young people and their mental health providers to obtain thorough and accurate information to ensure that their client’s needs and interests are met. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the development of the practice tool. |
| Kamil: An Immigrant Youth’s Struggle | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | Nov-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Human Services should increase opportunities for child intervention staff to work in a more innovative, inclusive and collaborative environment to improve the quality of decision making for vulnerable children and youth. | Closed - Met | Mar-15 | The Ministry has indicated two large scale initiatives which provide increased opportunities for child intervention staff to work in more collaborative environments. This recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 1 | Jul-13 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Child Intervention Services should engage in comprehensive assessments to ensure a balance is struck between child-focused and family-centered approaches. It is vital that intervention services not only address the presenting issues in a family, but also fully examine and address the impacts those issues have had on children in the family. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | In reviewing all of the Ministry of Children's Services' responses to this recommendation, including the most recent one, this recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 2 | Jul-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Develop guidelines that will aid caseworkers in assessing the impacts of family violence and parental addictions on children, and which provide direction for supporting children who have been exposed to these circumstances. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry has indicated the use of a comprehensive family violence screening tool and further planned training. This recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 3 | Jul-13 | Minsitry of Children's Services | In developing support plans for children and their families, intervention caseworkers should ensure that comprehensive plans are in place to support and maintain a child’s cultural connections, recognizing that family, community and tradition are all important contributors to culture. | Closed - Met | Mar-19 | This recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 4 | Jul-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Kinship caregivers should be provided with specialized training and support plans which are both tailored to meet their individual and unique needs. The goal should be to ensure kinship caregivers have the resources they require to manage the unique challenges that come with their caregiving, such as dual loyalties, unrealistic expectations, changes in family dynamics and feelings of loss, guilt and shame. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry has developed and is delivering training as well, has made policy enhancements regarding kinship care support plans. This recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 5 | Jul-13 | Ministry of Human Services | Intervention workers should be provided specialized training to manage unique situations presented by kinship care arrangements. The goal should be to ensure caseworkers can effectively support kinship caregivers in providing protection, well-being, and a bridge to permanency for children in their care. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry has developed, delivered and made available the online session Understanding Kinship Care. This recommendation has been met. |
| Remembering Brian | Investigative Review | Recommendation 6 | Jul-13 | Minsitry of Children's Services | Alberta Human Services should review and amend policies and guidelines to bring about consistent practices among regions and ensure seamless, coordinated interregional delivery of intervention services. | Closed - Met | Sep-17 | This recommendation has been met given the policy has been reviewed and staff are being supported to improve consistency in the application of the policy. |
| Youth Aging Out of Care | Special Report | Recommendation 1 | Apr-13 | Ministry of Human Services | To meet the needs of Alberta’s youth transitioning out of our care the Child and Youth Advocate recommends that the Ministry of Human Services: • Ensures young people leaving care have affordable, safe, and stable housing options and the financial resources to support themselves independently. • Revise policy and practice to provide the support required by young people. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry has reported further initiatives aimed at ensuring young people who leave care have stable housing options. The Ministry has revised policy. This recommendation has been met. |
| Youth Aging Out of Care | Special Report | Recommendation 2 | Apr-13 | Minsitry of Children's Services | To meet the needs of Alberta’s youth transitioning out of our care the Child and Youth Advocate recommends that the Ministry of Human Services: • Dedicates and trains caseworkers to meet the unique needs of young people leaving care. • Identify caseworkers to serve this population, including dedicated time available for young people to access them. • Provide training to staff on the needs of this population and how to engage them. | Closed - Met | Mar-18 | This recommendation has been met with the commitment to develop a resource list and with the created practice specialists. |
| Youth Aging Out of Care | Special Report | Recommendation 3 | Apr-13 | Ministry of Human Services | To meet the needs of Alberta’s youth transitioning out of our care the Child and Youth Advocate recommends that the Ministry of Human Services: • Increases the awareness of caseworkers, caregivers, and service providers about resources for young people leaving care and support young people to access them. • Create greater awareness among caseworkers, caregivers, and agency staff about resources and programs that support transitioning to independence. • Build processes for a seamless transition from ‘in care’ to adult services that are appropriate to their needs. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | The Ministry has indicated further activity with the Policy to Practice session and the Transitioning From Care guide book. This recommendation has been met. |
| Youth Aging Out of Care | Special Report | Recommendation 4 | Apr-13 | Ministry of Human Services | To meet the needs of Alberta’s youth transitioning out of our care the Child and Youth Advocate recommends that the Ministry of Human Services: • Ensures young people leaving care have supportive adult relationships. • Work with young people and caregivers so young people develop the relationships and relationship skills they require for independence. • Wherever possible, ensure that young people are able to effectively address their interests regarding family relationships. | Closed - Met | Mar-16 | This recommendation has been met with the development of the mentorship program and the various training opportunities available on the relational needs for youth. |
| Youth Aging Out of Care | Special Report | Recommendation 5 | Apr-13 | Ministry of Human Services | To meet the needs of Alberta’s youth transitioning out of our care the Child and Youth Advocate recommends that the Ministry of Human Services: • Supports young people leaving care with access to counseling and/or mental health services and those that require it are transitioned to the adult system. • Provide counseling to young people who require it to address the trauma surrounding coming into care and related issues. • Work with Alberta Health Services to provide services that meet the mental health needs of young people. | Closed - Met | Sep-14 | There has been an announcement for significant increased support for mental health services. This recommendation has been met. |
