Child and Youth Advocate’s latest reports highlight critical issues impacting young people

November 20, 2024

Edmonton, Alberta

Terri Pelton, provincial Child and Youth Advocate, has released the Annual Report of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) and Calling for Change: Investigative Reviews Consolidated Report, both for the reporting period of April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

This year’s annual report provides a summary of OCYA major activities during the past year and an overview of the status of the office’s recommendations to government.

“While we have seen some positive changes for young people involved with the child intervention system, I remain particularly concerned for those in government care whose needs are more substantial due to mental health and substance use concerns, histories of trauma, lack of connection and support, and unstable placements,” said Pelton. “We must prioritize providing a full spectrum of services, supports, and placement options to meet the needs of these most vulnerable young people.”

The Calling for Change report makes five new recommendations to government around three prevalent themes that the OCYA identified through reviewing the circumstances of 47 young people who had passed away and 1 who was seriously injured:

• The importance of resilience and community level supports.
• Ensuring young people know what mental health and substance use programs and services are available to them.
• Supporting young people involved with the child intervention system in transitioning to adulthood.

“Most people have their parents to support them, but for those of us who have been in government care, we have the transition to adulthood program,” said Autumn, 24. “You can’t stop at just listening to youth input, there needs to be continuous improvement.”

Under the Child and Youth Advocate Act, the Advocate has the mandate to review the circumstances of a young person who passed away or was seriously injured while receiving designated services, or who passed away within two years of receiving services through the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act or the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act. The intent of a review is not to find fault with specific individuals but to identify key issues and meaningful findings.

The Calling for Change report: https://www.ocya.alberta.ca/adult/publications/investigative-review/

The OCYA annual report: ocya.alberta.ca/adult/publications/annual-reports/

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.

Media inquiries:

The Child and Youth Advocate will be available for media interviews on November 20 and 21. Upon request, young people with lived experience in the child intervention system may also be available for interviews.

Stephanie Shantz
Manager, Communications
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate
780-218-9429
stephanie.shantz@ocya.alberta.ca

NT5