Edmonton Journal

New child-welfare laws to be unveiled this week

And changes may be coming to child-youth advocate’s office too

- EMMA GRANEY

Legislatio­n to improve Alberta’s child-death review process will be introduced in the house this week.

It comes after the province’s child interventi­on panel delivered a swath of recommenda­tions to Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee in April.

It’s the latest is a series of steps to improve a system many believe has been broken for decades.

Along with the new legislatio­n comes the second phase of work for the government’s child welfare panel, which was appointed in January to provide the provincial government with expert advice to try and fix Alberta’s child interventi­on system.

A legislativ­e committee also is examining changes to the Child and Youth Advocate Act.

Child and youth advocate Del Graff, who has appeared before both groups, says it is critical now to ensure indigenous voices and youth who have lived through government care are being heard by both the panel and the committee.

“We’ve got to hear their voices,” he said.

“They have long-standing concerns. The importance of their voices can’t be overstated,” he continued.

Public attention has been keenly focused on the interventi­on system since details about the death of Serenity came to light late last year.

The four-year-old indigenous girl was in government care when she died in 2014, weighing just 18 pounds and arriving at hospital with severe injuries that included a fractured skull and a body covered in deep bruises, including her anal and genital areas.

It is hardly the first time the child welfare system has come under scrutiny.

The Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald’s 2013 fatal care series led to a series of roundtable­s that ended in numerous government policy shifts, but Graff says current forces converging on change seem to be focusing even more attention on his office.

Over its last two meetings, the panel has heard from Delegated First Nation Authoritie­s that deliver child-welfare services within Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Settlement General Council.

But only recently did the panel welcome an indigenous voice — Tyler White, who attended his first meeting last week.

Head of Siksika Health Services for Treaty 7 and president of the First Nations Health Consortium, White is keen for change.

He’s aware of how long it took the panel to include a First Nations voice, but wants to move forward.

“I’ve heard a lot of positive comments from other First Nations and indigenous folks out there saying this is an opportunit­y — let’s take advantage of the opportunit­y,” he said. “For me, it’s an exciting opportunit­y to finally have a voice here. It’s a voice that’s long overdue for the issues that we face in our communitie­s.”

White wants to be clear that he’s not on the panel to speak on behalf of all First Nations people, but said he wants to engage with contacts throughout the province while he puts his voice forward as an advocate for change.

“I believe strongly the solutions are in our communitie­s,” he said.

As the panel continues its work, the committee of legislativ­e offices is grappling with rejigging the act governing Graff’s office.

It recently submitted a 19-page report of recommenda­tions to the committee, and so far Graff feels they have been receptive.

The biggest challenge, he says, is figuring out what exactly falls within the scope of his office.

He worries that some youth — particular­ly those with mentalheal­th issues and disabiliti­es — stand to fall through the cracks.

So far, the committee has agreed youth will be covered by the advocate’s office until age 24, and it should be able to appoint lawyers to represent children for matters related to the Child, Youth and Family Enhancemen­t Act.

It’s an exciting opportunit­y to finally have a voice here. It’s a voice that’s long overdue for the issues that we face in our communitie­s.

 ?? KEVIN HAMPSON ?? A home on 91 Avenue and 99 Street in Grande Prairie was one of three residences damaged by fire early Sunday morning in the Highland Park area.
KEVIN HAMPSON A home on 91 Avenue and 99 Street in Grande Prairie was one of three residences damaged by fire early Sunday morning in the Highland Park area.
 ??  ?? Tyler White
Tyler White

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