18 Alberta youth die while receiving child intervention services [Video]

Data from Alberta’s Ministry of Children and Family Services shows 89 per cent of young people who died while receiving child intervention services this year were Indigenous.

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Advocates and front-line workers are urging the Alberta government to take immediate action to protect at-risk children and implement long-term child welfare reforms.

Between April 1 and Aug. 31, 18 children, youth, and young adults died while receiving intervention services in Alberta. Sixteen were Indigenous.

Of those who died, eight were in care, two were not currently in care and eight were receiving post-intervention support, which can be accessed by young adults over 18 who have previously been involved in child intervention.

Nearly all the deaths are still under investigation with the cause of death listed as pending in the report from Children and Family Services (CFS). One death is listed as accidental, …