Current Problems:
Exploring Theme: "Child and Youth Advocate Reports"
Updates on this page: 37
October 30, 2024
Manitoba Advocate Releases 2023-24 Annual Report, Notes Concerning Trends
NationTalk: TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND NATIONAL HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, Winnipeg, Man. Today, Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth Sherry Gott released an annual report summarizing the office’s work during the 2023-24 fiscal year including trends in advocacy, research, quality assurance, public education, youth engagement, serious injury reviews and investigations, and child death...
October 22, 2024
Why Are So Many Alberta Indigenous Youth Receiving Government Support Dying?
Almost 90 per cent of those deaths this summer were Indigenous young people. Audra Foggin, associate professor of social work at Mount Royal University, says no one should be surprised at the high number of deaths among Indigenous youth. Photo via MRU. The Tyee: Data from Alberta’s Ministry of Children and Family Services shows that 89...
October 22, 2024
GNWT Releases Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services
by ahnationtalk on October 22, 2024 October 21, 2024 NationTalk: Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler tabled the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services (CFS) in the Legislative Assembly earlier today. The Annual Report provides a detailed summary of services delivered in the Northwest Territories (NWT) between April 1, 2023, and March...
July 23, 2024
New report finds excessive workloads preventing B.C. social workers from properly caring for province’s most vulnerable young people.
NationTalk: VICTORIA – A new report issued today by the Representative for Children and Youth finds that over 80 percent of social workers working in the child welfare system say they are unable to properly do their jobs because their caseloads with the Ministry of Children and Development are too high. “Social workers in this...
July 19, 2024
How One Boy’s Death Could Change Child Welfare in BC
‘This story broke our hearts.’ A landmark report underlines the urgency for overhauling a system that failed families. [Editor’s note: This story contains depictions of child abuse and violent death.] The Tyee: How does an 11-year-old boy with tousled dark hair, sparkling eyes and an infectious grin go from loving soccer and Archie comics to...
July 17, 2024
B.C.’s ‘massive error’ part of web of inaction that could have saved boy: advocate
APTN News: The Canadian Press – An 11-year-old Indigenous boy who died after being tortured by the extended family members approved to be his caregivers was failed in a myriad of ways, a report by British Columbia’s representative for children and youth shows. The boy’s death is not an outlier, Jennifer Charlesworth said in her...
July 16, 2024
New report highlights series of significant missteps resulting in a child’s death – Representative for Children and Youth calls for both urgent and transformative change in systems of care
NationTalk: VICTORIA – In a report released today, British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) is calling for a collective commitment to “stop tinkering at the edges of an outdated system that does not work for too many children and families” and embark instead on both specific and larger transformative changes that will ensure...
May 17, 2024
The situation remains critical for children in Nunavik according to the Commission des droits
NationTalk: Montréal – Inuit children and families are still not receiving the social and youth protection services to which they are entitled, according to a report published today by the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse. Although programs and initiatives have been established in recent years, child protection is...
May 7, 2024
Nova Scotia Must Do Better for Kids in Its Care – AG
NationTalk: For release May 7 – Nova Scotia’s Department of Community Services needs to do a better job of overseeing the health, safety, and well-being of the hundreds of kids in its care. “The weak oversight of children in child and youth care homes and temporary emergency arrangements could put an already vulnerable population at...
April 9, 2024
Child and Youth Advocate releases update on investigative reviews into child deaths and serious injuries
Among the 47 young people who passed away, 35 were Indigenous. Terri Pelton, provincial Child and Youth Advocate, has provided an update to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on her office’s investigative reviews spanning from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Reviews were completed and publicly released for 47 young people who were...
November 29, 2023
Office of child and youth advocate reports 81 total deaths in 2022-’23
“This represents a massive 29.4 per cent increase in deaths of children in care over last year. This is an outrage” Published Nov 28, 2023 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 3 minute read The Tyee: Edmonton Journal – Published Nov 28, 2023 • Last updated 9 hours ago Alberta’s child and youth advocacy agency released its annual report Tuesday revealing a...
November 2, 2023
MLA presses for more youth shelters in Nunavut
Adam Arreak Lightstone points to hundreds of referrals to family services case workers for child abuse Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone makes a call in the legislative assembly Tuesday for more child emergency centres in Nunavut. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier) By David Lochead NationTalk: Nunatsiaq News – A Nunavut MLA is calling for more safe havens...
October 20, 2023
BC United, Greens Call for Children’s Minister to Resign After Damning Audit
A Tyee report sparked calls for accountability, not ‘bland, programmatic apologies. The Tyee: Opposition parties are calling for Minister of Child and Family Development Mitzi Dean to resign after a Tyee report revealed a damning audit showing consistent failures to meet ministry standards for protecting children. The audit found no evidence or documentation that social work teams...
October 18, 2023
Exclusive: Audit Reveals Major Failures in MCFD Region Where Boy Died
Review shows kids in care went months without visits from social workers and a lack of training and screening for foster parents. The Tyee: The Tyee has obtained a second damning audit of a region where one Indigenous child died after horrific abuse in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The...
June, 2023
MEMENGWAA WIIDOODAAGEWIN (Butterfly Project): Honouring Eishia Hudson (June 2023)
Advocate makes four findings and issues four recommendations to address provincial public service gaps and systemic barriers that affect children, youth, and young adults in Manitoba.TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, Winnipeg, Man., June 22, 2023 ––The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) released Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin(Butterfly Project), a special report...
June 22, 2023
Manitoba child advocate releases report on fatal police shooting of Eishia Hudson
By The Canadian Presshttps://player.vimeo.com/video/838841432?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: The Canadian Press – A review by Manitoba’s children and youth advocate has determined a First Nations teen fatally shot by police had been unable to get consistent help from various government systems. In her latest report, called “Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin” or “Butterfly Project,” Sherry Gott looked at the circumstances of...
June 22, 2023
Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin (Butterfly Project): Manitoba Advocate Releases A Special Report To Honour Eishia Hudson
NationTalk: TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, Winnipeg, Man., June 22, 2023 –– The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) released Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin (Butterfly Project), a special report in honour of Eishia Hudson, who died as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a member of the Winnipeg Police...
May 30, 2023
Nunavut’s child protection system is in ‘crisis’ says auditor general
Territory didn’t follow up on reports of harm to children says Karen Hogan. APTN News: The government of Nunavut is failing in nearly every area associated with protecting vulnerable children, says Auditor General Karen Hogan in a scathing report issued Tuesday. “This audit report describes a crisis. It is a call for change. We are urging the...
April 27, 2023
Missing: Why are children disappearing from B.C.’s child welfare system?
Sixty-five per cent of the young people reported as lost or missing were Indigenous; Indigenous females (40 per cent) were found to be over-represented among the young people reported as lost or missing NationTalk: Stories of children and youth who are lost or missing from the child welfare system continue to emerge as an area...
April 13, 2023
Child welfare agencies failed to ensure safety of Indigenous girl at risk of human trafficking, Ombudsman finds
NationTalk: (TORONTO) Multiple child welfare organizations failed to ensure the safety of a vulnerable Indigenous girl who repeatedly went missing while she was supposed to be receiving supervised services from a foster care agency, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé’s latest investigation has found. In his report, Missing in Inaction, Misty’s Story, released today, the Ombudsman examines what...
March 28, 2023
This crisis is impacting younger children,’ Terri Pelton writes in new report
WARNING: This article contains details of self-harm. 14 of the 18 youths were Indigenous CBC News: Four months after child intervention workers withdrew services, 13-year-old Wren died from a drug overdose. The Alberta girl, who loved to hike, camp and swim, had a traumatic upbringing marked by family violence and addiction. She began harming herself...
March 1, 2023
Child and Youth Advocate releases Summary Report: 10 Years of Investigations
NationTalk: Edmonton…Terri Pelton, Alberta’s Child and Youth Advocate, has released a summary report of investigation statistics and trends over a 10-year period, beginning with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate’s (OCYA) independence from government. This summary report focuses on 634 serious injuries or deaths of young people between April 1, 2012 and March...
January 17, 2023
Manitoba still hasn’t acted on some recommendations to protect kids, advocate says
Toronto Star: WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth says the province has still not fulfilled some key recommendations aimed at protecting young people. Sherry Gott says the government has made progress in the number of recommendations partially or fully implemented, but among the outstanding ones are ideas from the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry report...
December 12, 2022
Children’s advocate questions B.C.’s ability to overhaul foster-care system after death of Cree teen
The Globe and Mail: B.C.’s independent Representative for Children and Youth is skeptical about the provincial government’s will or ability to successfully overhaul the foster-care system, saying a coroner’s inquest into the suicide of Cree teen Traevon Desjarlais-Chalifoux showed inadequacies flagged for more than a decade remained unaddressed while kids in care suffered. Jennifer Charlesworth...
April 29, 2022
Unacceptable Delay in Establishing Inquiry for Innu Children: Inquiry officially launched
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Innu Nation today announced the launch of the Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System. The Commission of Inquiry has been ordered as a Part II Inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act, 2006. The Provincial Government and the Innu have...
March 29, 2022
Discriminatory practices in Indigenous child Welfare funding
NationTalk – British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) is calling upon the provincial government through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) to end discriminatory funding practices and adopt Canadian Human Rights Tribunal principles for Indigenous child welfare funding in B.C. in a report released today. The report, “At a Crossroads: The...
November 4, 2021
“Finding the Way Back”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – “Finding the Way Back: An aggregate investigation of 45 boys who died by suicide or homicide in Manitoba” between 2009 and 2018 is a special report structured to reflect the wisdom of the medicine wheel, with four chapters representing the four directions and stages of life: childhood, adolescence,...
October 28, 2021
The Overlap Between the Child Welfare and Youth Criminal Justice Systems:
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – AMC remains concerned regarding the continued lack of supports in place to ensure that youth in care successfully transition after aging out of the Child Welfare system in Manitoba. First Nations children and youth make up approximately 80% of the number of children in care in this province. With the...
June 24, 2021
Unacceptable Delay in Establishing Inquiry for Innu Children
The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, in collaboration with the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs tabled the “Report on Child Welfare Services to Indigenous Children, Youth and Families 2019-20”. This report is in response to Recommendation 33 of the Office of the...
June 10, 2021
Unacceptable Delay in Establishing Inquiry for Innu Children
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Innu Nation today announced the appointment of retired Provincial Court Judge James Igloliorte as Chief Commissioner for the Commission of Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System. The Chief Commissioner will be joined by Anastasia Qupee of Sheshatshiu, former Grand...
March 11, 2021
Still Waiting: Investigating Child Maltreatment after the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – released a new special report, “Still Waiting: Investigating Child Maltreatment after the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry” that examines the lives of 19 children who died after being severely maltreated while under the age of five. Roughly seven years after the final report from the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry “Still Waiting”...
March 2, 2021
Infant Mortality and Youth Suicide
The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) and the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba – submitted a report that discusses “the international and national human rights framework as it relates to structural inequalities and Indigenous children’s right to continuous improvement of health with a particular focus on infant mortality and youth suicide...
January 19, 2021
Detained: Rights of Children and Youth under the Mental Health Act”
CityNews 1130 – BC Child and Youth Advocate report “Detained: Rights of Children and Youth under the Mental Health Act” found involuntary detentions of B.C. youth rose 162 per cent between 2008 and 2018. In fact, B.C. is the only province in Canada where a capable, involuntary patient has no right to make psychiatric treatment...
November 19, 2020
“Are They Listening?”
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) – In 2018, without involvement or engagement of First Nations in Manitoba or the AMC, the Province of Manitoba unilaterally passed “The Advocate for Children and Youth Act” that expanded the scope and authority of MACY. As part of their expanded mandate, the MACY is now able to publicly report...
November 13, 2020
“Are They Listening?”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – Issued “Are They Listening?” her first public compliance report summarizing the provincial government’s responses to the Advocate’s recommendations issued in 2018 and 2019. “While there is movement, it is disappointing to note that over a period of two years, only two recommendations for service improvements have been implemented...
June 15, 2020
Unacceptable Delay in Establishing Inquiry for Innu Children
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Newfoundland and Labrador – issued a Statement of Concern – “Unacceptable Delay in Establishing Inquiry for Innu Children in the Child Protection System”. The Innu are still waiting three years after the Provincial Government made a commitment to establish a formal Inquiry into the treatment of Innu children in...
March 25, 2019
Child and Youth Protection in Nunavik
The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse raised concerns about the lack of progress on the implementation of recommendations from their 2007 report on child and youth protection services in Nunavik, a follow-up report in 2010, in 2014 and again in 2016. In March 2018, the Commission presented these...