14-year-old Sask. girl's family demands accountability after fatal overdose
CTV
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died of a drug overdose says Saskatchewan's social services ministry failed in its duty to help her.
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died of a drug overdose says Saskatchewan's social services ministry failed in its duty to help her.
The girl's mother, Angela Severight, joined NDP MLA Meara Conway at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Thursday to share her daughter’s story — one she feels was cut tragically short because of the ministry’s lack of help.
"What I went through isn’t going to bring her back. I would like some accountability," she said, speaking to reporters.
Severight's daughter Stellayna died of a drug overdose last year, after getting caught up with drugs and gangs. Severight asked the government for support and had Stellayna taken into care.
Bonnie Ford, Stellayna’s outreach worker, said she found the girl in a drug house and notified the Ministry of Social Services that she was in danger. However, no one from the ministry went to look for her for 29 days, according to Ford. Stellayna later died of a drug overdose on May 29.
Ford, who has been a caseworker for 25 years, described the day she found Stellayna. Two other young girls were in the house and high on fentanyl, and she had to make sure they were still breathing.
Ford said Stellayna was in another room and was also high.
