Gaps in child intervention played part in 2018-19 deaths of nine children: Alberta's child advocate

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Nine children receiving child intervention services within two years of their deaths in 2018-19 suffered under a system of limited assessments and lack of information sharing, concludes the latest report from Alberta’s Child and Youth Advocate.

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An investigative review released Tuesday by Del Graff examines the deaths of the nine — ranging in age from age 2 to 20 — over a 14-month period in 2018-2019. One child was receiving child intervention services when he died, while the eight others received child intervention services within two years of their deaths.

Systemic issues arising from the death of a child receiving child intervention services or those getting such services within two years of their death are investigated if the advocate believes it is warranted or if it’s in the public interest.

According to the review, all nine experienced similar challenges with service provision impacted by limited assessments, information-sharing, and collaboration among service providers.

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Seven of the nine young people were Indigenous, “highlighting the disproportionate number of Indigenous young people who come to the attention of child-serving systems,” Graff states in his review.

“Over the past 25 years, there have been many recommendations made through legal or political actions or commissions to various levels of government to address the inequities experienced by Indigenous people,” the review continues.

“Yet, there has been limited progress. In this time of renewed awareness of Indigenous experiences resulting from colonization, it is critical that progress is made towards meaningful reconciliation.”

While reviewing the lives and deaths of Whitney, Josh, Greg, Camden, Chara, Marino, Skye, Natalie, and Trevor  — all names in the report are pseudonyms for privacy reasons — common themes were identified.

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“Assessments did not appear to consistently consider parental capacity or the trauma history of the young person and their family,” the review states.

“Interventions were limited to addressing the presenting concerns. Furthermore, assessments appeared to be impacted by a lack of information sharing and collaboration among service providers.”

Whitney, Josh and Greg

Whitney, 2, Josh, 4, and Greg, 6, were First Nation children living with their maternal grandparents who had obtained guardianship of them. Whitney was described as a curious toddler, Josh a busy, talkative preschooler, and Greg a shy and soft-spoken kindergartener.

The children were exposed to parental substance use and family violence, and they experienced housing instability, food insecurity, and a lack of adequate medical care. Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Child Intervention Services (CIS) supported the family, while Greg and Josh also received services from school staff.

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About six months after child intervention involvement concluded, the three children died in an house fire, along with their grandparents.

Camden

Camden, 8, was a First Nation child and described a gentle soul who had a great sense of humour and liked to tease others. He lived with his paternal aunt, his guardian after his mother died when he was one year old and his father was unable to care for him. He was born with a heart condition and diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder when he was two years old.

Camden was exposed to family violence and caregiver substance use. He also had irregular school attendance. Staff from numerous services including education, AHS and CIS supported Camden and his family. He died of sepsis. He received services through an assessment within two years of his death.

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Marino

Marino, 16, was described as a shy, quiet, and kind young man who was involved in sports and an active member of a Dungeon and Dragons fantasy role playing group. He was living with his mother until the last two months of his life, when he moved in with his older sister.

He often missed school, was exposed to family violence and was prescribed antidepressants. AHS, CIS and other child-serving systems supported Marino and his family. He died of drug toxicity and had received child intervention services through an assessment within two years of his death.

Trevor

Trevor, 20, was a First Nation young man and described as sweet, quiet, and polite. He wanted to graduate from high school and own a roofing and drywall company, but frequent moves impacted his education.

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He was exposed to parental substance use, family violence, housing instability, gangs, and drug trafficking. Child-serving systems such as education, youth and adult justice, AHS and CIS supported Trevor and his family.

Trevor was a victim of homicide and the circumstances of his death are still being investigated by police. He had been receiving child intervention services through a support and financial assistance agreement.

Recommendations

As a result of the deaths, Graff makes two recommendations. The first is the ministries of Children’s Services, Health, Education, Justice and Solicitor General, and Community and Social Services, “should review and adjust quality assurance processes to include both qualitative and quantitative measures that regularly evaluate service delivery within their systems.”

The second recommendation is that the same ministries “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.”

The ministries should also offer service providers “ongoing, interactive, cross-systems training on the act.”

More to come. 

ajunker@postmedia.com