In 2016, the Auditor General examined whether the Department of Children and Family Services had adequate systems to deliver child and family services to Indigenous children in Alberta as they make up approximately 70 per cent of children receiving intervention services from the department. The findings resulted in three recommendations.
Two of these three recommendations have been implemented. Specifically, the department has implemented processes to ensure a child-centered approach and to strengthen intercultural understanding.
One recommendation has been repeated: Enhance early support services—Improve reporting on effectiveness of early support services.
While the department has made progress in designing culturally informed services and frameworks, it has not yet implemented consistent, outcome-based performance reporting to demonstrate whether these services are achieving intended results.
“Early support services and prevention programs are critical in reducing the need for child intervention services and for enhancing child, youth, and family resiliency,” said Auditor General Doug Wylie. “Without clear performance reporting, it is difficult to assess whether these services are making a measurable difference.”