Alberta

In Alberta, the Ministry of Human Services oversees the delivery of child intervention services provided by 8 regional Child and Family Service Authorities (CFSAs), one of which is a Métis Authority, under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA). Seventeen Delegated First Nations Authorities (DFNAs) also provide services under CYFEA through agreements between the First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. The Child and Family Services Authorities Act (2000), regulated in 2004, was the result of a series of policy initiatives designed to increase services to families before they reach crisis, establish permanent homes more quickly for children in government care and strengthen the involvement of First Nation, Métis and other Aboriginal communities in planning for their children. A key feature of the reform was the implementation of the Alberta Response Model (ARM), a differential response system with two legislated streams of activity: family enhancement services and protection services. For more information, please see the information sheet on Alberta's child welfare system.

Alberta - Statistics

Child Maltreatment Investigations in Alberta, 2003* and 2008**

  2003 2008
Child population 752,005 775,175
Number of child maltreatment investigations 32,453 27,147
Incidence of child maltreatment investigations per 1000 children 43.16 35.02

Type of Child Maltreatment Investigation in Alberta, 2008**

  Number Rate per 1,000 children Percent
Maltreatment Investigation 22,761 35.02 84%
Risk Investigation 4,386 5.66 16%

Categories of Substantiated Child Maltreatment Investigations in Alberta, 2008**

Category of Maltreatment Number Rate per 1,000 children Percent
Physical Abuse 1,933 2.49 13%
Sexual Abuse 285 0.37 2%
Neglect 5,328 6.87 37%
Emotional Maltreatment 1,974 2.55 14%
Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence 4,883 6.30 34%

Placement in Child Maltreatment Investigations in Alberta, 2003 and 2008**

  2003 Number 2003 Rate 2008 Number 2008 Rate
No Placement 28,294 37.62 23,625 30.48
Informal Kinship Care 1,923 2.56 1,139 1.47
Formal Placement 2,230 2.97 2,383 3.08

Children and youth in out-of-home care in 2018

Children in care Child (0-17) population Rate per 1000
7,329 923,175

7.9

* MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., McCormack, M., Pitman, L., Forest, N., Banks, J., Shangreaux, C., & Perrault, E. (2005) Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (AIS-2003): Major Findings. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary. Retrieved from http://cwrp.ca/publications/884

** MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Feehan, R., Enns, R., Gail, J., Kitt, O., Thomas‑Prokop, S., Zelt, C., Daoust, G., Hutcheon, E., & Budgell, D. (2013). Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (AIS-2008): Major Findings. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary. Retrieved from http://cwrp.ca/publications/2758

§ Child welfare services fall under the jurisdiction of provincial and territorial authorities, making it difficult to compile statistics at the national level. The most notable variations between provinces include mandate variation by jurisdiction with respect to the age to which children are eligible for services, differences in the length of time a child can receive out-of-home care and the definition of out-of-home care.

Title Authors Yearsort icon Type
CYDL Data Byte 14: Hospitalizations of Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 13: Least and Most Advantaged Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2008 (AIS-2008): Major Findings
MacLaurin, Bruce
Trocmé, Nico
Fallon, Barbara
Sinha, Vandna
Feehan, Richard
Enns, Rick
Gail, Jordan
Kitt, Olivia
Thomas‑Prokop, Shelley
Zelt, Carolyn
Daoust, Gabrielle
Hutcheon, Emily
Budgell, Danielle
 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 15: Educational Experiences of Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 16: Offence Charges Among Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 17: Least and Most Advantaged Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 18: Corrections Involvement Among Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 19: Emergency Room Visits by Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
CYDL Data Byte 20: Least and Most Advantaged Albertan Youth

Child and Youth Data Laboratory

 2013 Report
Annual Report 2012-2013

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

 2013 Report
Last Namesort icon First Name Organization Province/Territory
Badry Dorothy University of Calgary Alberta
Bastien Betty University of Calgary Alberta
Bhatt Hitesh PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Blackadar Robyn PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Cankaya Ozlem PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Choate Peter W. Mount Royal University Alberta
Cui Xinjie PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Hodgins David C. University of Calgary Alberta
Izakian Hesam PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Jia Ruiting PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Kreitzer Linda University of Calgary Alberta
Lafrance Jean University of Calgary Alberta
Lalumière Martin Unviersity of Ottawa Alberta
Lamba Navjot (Jo) PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
MacLaurin Bruce University of Calgary Alberta
Nixon Kendra University of Manitoba Alberta
Piatt Carley PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Schopflocher Donald P. University of Alberta Alberta
Scott Allison PolicyWise for Children & Families Alberta
Strohschein Lisa University of Alberta Alberta