The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is an independent office of the Alberta Legislature. It represents the rights, interests, and viewpoints of children and youth receiving designated government services. Child and Youth Advocate releases update on investigative reviews into child deaths and serious injuries. Investigative reviews of 48 young people who passed away or were seriously injured were completed in 2023–2024 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 48 young people who were receiving child intervention services at the time of or within two years of their death, and for one young person who was receiving child intervention services when they were seriously injured. Investigative reviews for an additional 15 young people are on hold due to police investigations and court proceedings. Among the 48 young people who passed away, 35 were IndigenousÂ
Investigations Summary for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024
83 total notifications of death and serious injury received in 2023–2024
- Notifications were received for 68 young people who passed away and 15 who had been seriously injured
- Investigative reviews for notifications received are completed and publicly released within one year of notification of the young person’s serious injury or death
Investigative reviews for 48 young people completed and publicly released in 2023–2024
- 47 deaths; one serious injury
- 35 out of the 47 young people who passed away were Indigenous
- At the time of their passing or serious injury, 12 of the young people were in care, 20 were receiving child intervention services, and 16 had received services within the previous two years
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