Summary
Objective and Scope
Our audit assessed whether the department has adequate systems to deliver child and family services to Indigenous children and families in Alberta.
We focused our audit on department records and activities for the period of April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015. We also considered relevant new developments in policy and practice.
We examined department records, data and reporting. We reviewed relevant documentation at the department and interviewed staff at the department, at some of the department’s regional offices and at some Delegated First Nations Agencies.
Conclusion
The department has systems to provide child and family services to Indigenous children and families in Alberta. We believe this report demonstrates these systems need to be improved. We acknowledge the hard work being done throughout the system. Too often jurisdictional and other limitations have resulted in weak processes to meet the needs of Indigenous children. Put simply, Indigenous children in care experience less favourable results than non-Indigenous children.