With this letter we are requesting your attention to, and support for some of Alberta’s most vulnerable, children who are in the government’s care.

In 2020, 31 children died while in Alberta’s child welfare system, under the umbrella of intervention services. More than half (19) of these deaths have not yet officially released the cause of death. Other causes of death include undetermined, accidental, suicide, or not investigated.  Of the 31 deaths in 2020, 21 of those were Indigenous children (Alberta Ministry of Children’s Services, 2020).

We are urging the provincial government of Alberta to review the child welfare system and make systemic and structural changes that address a range of issues that are tragically impacting Alberta’s youngest and most vulnerable members. We believe that this is an important social issue that requires public attention and collective action. 

Also, we are encouraging the provincial government of Alberta to increase funding for Children’s services. The underfunding of Children’s Services and the child intervention sector causes caseworkers to be heavily overloaded,  and this leads to a lack of support for families providing foster and kinship care.

We request that you advocate with other members of the provincial legislature to raise awareness about the needs and issues expressed above in support of children in care and their families. We need to work together to ensure the voices of families are heard, and that funding is increased to Children’s Services.

Sincerely,

Kristin Foley, Tammy Firth, Dana Selk, Robyn Healy, Rachel Van Ee

Dora Tam, Ph.D, MSW, BSW, RSW

 Professor

 Faculty of Social Work

 University of Calgary

 Phone: 1-403-329-2796

 Email: dtam@ucalgary.ca