Closing the Gap Between Vision and Reality: Strengthening Accountability, Adaptability and Continuous Improvement in Alberta’s Child Intervention System

In July of 2009, the Minister of Alberta Children and Youth Services (ACYS) announced the formation of an independent Panel to review the child intervention system in Alberta. The Panel was asked to make recommendations to the Minister about how to continue the evolution and enhancement of child intervention services by building on existing strengths and opportunities in Alberta in three principal areas: accountability, adaptability and continuous improvement. The mandate of the Panel was not to review child intervention services themselves, but rather the “system” by which the Ministry provides these services. More specifically, the Panel was tasked to review the structures and processes that underpin the organization and delivery of child intervention services in Alberta.