Baby Annie

BABY ANNIE: An Investigative Review OFFICE OF THE CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCATE OF ALBERTA APRIL 2014 2. OFFICE OF THE CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCATE Under my authority and duty as set out in the Child and Youth Advocate Act, I am providing the following Investigative Review concerning the passing of an infant who was, at the time, receiving services from the Government of Alberta. [...] Section 9(2)(d) of the Act states that, “…the Advocate may investigate systemic issues arising from a serious injury to or the death of a child who was receiving a designated service at the time of the injury or death if, in the opinion of the Advocate, the investigation is warranted or in the public interest”. [...] Investigative Reviews Section 9(2)(d) of the Child and Youth Advocate Act provides the Advocate with the authority to conduct investigative reviews and states: “The Advocate may investigate systemic issues arising from a serious injury to or the death of a child who was receiving a designated service at the time of the injury or death if, in the opinion of the Advocate, the investigation is warran [...] Risk assessment involves the gathering of information and the application of critical thinking to consider a child’s safety and well- being in the short-term and the long-term. [...] Phase one is expected to include the Ministry of Human Services, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, along with their stakeholders and partners.53 Even with the authority provided under the Children First Act, and the support of an Information Sharing Strategy, there is a need for Alberta’s systems and service providers to change their approach.