Growing number of youth deaths in government care prompt advocate to seek budget increase

Alberta could be on track for another record year for deaths as youth continue to die while being involved in the child welfare system.

New data from the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate shows 56 children and young adults died in the first eight months of the 2022-23 fiscal year. Terri Pelton, office advocate, has also received notifications of seven young people who were seriously injured.

The data comes as Pelton's office received reports of 77 deaths and seven serious injuries to young people in the last fiscal year.

"I'm sad to let you know that these trends are continuing," Pelton told a legislative committee on Friday in Edmonton.

The advocate is tasked with reporting on the deaths of any child or young adult who has been involved with the province's child intervention system during the previous two years.

Her reports capture some tragedies that are not included in provincial government reporting on child deaths.

The advocate said in the previous year, her office saw a 62 per cent increase in the number of deaths that needed a mandatory review.

On Friday, she asked the committee for a six per cent budget increase, to run a $16.2-million operation next year. It would include a new full-time investigator and an Indigenous knowledge keeper to help offer culturally appropriate services.

"This sharp increase is placing a significant strain on our resources," Pelton said.

Forty-eight of the 63 young people who died or were reported injured so far this year were Indigenous — a disproportionate representation that has existed as long as the government has collected data.

The province has taken some action on 13 of 24 recommendations the office has issued during the past year. However 11 recommendations remain unmet, particularly relating to a crisis of opioid poisonings, Pelton said.

The most critical action, according to a spokesperson from the advocate's office, is for the provincial government to establish a dedicated panel or commission to develop a youth opioid and substance use strategy.

Children's Services Minister Mickey Amery was unavailable for an interview on Friday. His office said they would have more information available next week.

Pelton is pushing for the government to be more transparent about the progress on her recommendations.