(File photo/ CKOM News Staff)

By Brady Lang

Social Services data shows 25 youth died while receiving care in 2020

Sep 4, 2020 | 10:38 AM

Information obtained from Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services shows troubling statistics when looking at youth deaths involving those either in provincial care, or whose family was in receipt of social services assistance.

The Ministry of Social Services released the statistics to 650 CKOM Wednesday.

As of Monday, Aug. 31, six children or youth who were in the care of the ministry, or a First Nations Child and Family Services Agency (FNCFS), have passed away in 2020. An additional 19 deaths were recorded for children whose families were in receipt of social services or were in the past 12 months from the ministry or FNCFS.

Manager of public relations with the Ministry of Social Services, Leya Moore stated that it works with very vulnerable children and youth, including some who are “medically fragile,” and may experience complex health challenges.

“Anytime a child experiences a critical injury or passes away while in care or in receipt of services, we work with other service providers involved with the child or youth such as medical health professionals to engage with the family, and connect them with counselling and other supports in their home community,” the email reads.

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“When a child who was in our care, in receipt of services, or was in receipt of services within the previous 12 months from our ministry/ FNCFS agency experiences a critical injury or passes away, our ministry conducts a thorough review.”

The internal reviews are shared with the Advocate for Child and Youth and the Coroner’s Service.

The reviews are completed as part of the ministry’s “commitment to continuous improvement,” to determine whether the death or injury could have been prevented, according to Moore.

By the numbers: Ministry

The ministry said information on the sixth death was not included in its quarterly report. However, it broke down the previous five, involving a legal status of “in care.”

All five of the children are Indigenous, with four of five in the care of the ministry. The remaining was in the care of the FNCFS.

Two of the five deaths occurred within the 16 to 21 age range- both boys, along with another two in the 11 to 15 age range- both girls. The remaining death was a boy in the 0 to 5 age range.

Two of the five were placed in a “Place of Safety,” which the ministry defined.

“When a child is assessed to be in need of protection and their safety cannot be immediately ensured in the family home, an extended family member or another person who is willing and able to provide temporary and safe care may be approved as a Place of Safety for the child,” the ministry email reads.

As for the deaths involving children whose family was in receipt of services, or who were in the past 12 months with the ministry or FNCFS, 19 children have passed away in 2020.

Thirteen of the youth passed away in a hospital setting.

Of the 19 in total, one was one month old, 13 were in the 0 to 5 age range, one in the 6 to 10 age range, another in the 11 to 15 age range, and the remaining three were 16 to 21.

18 of the 19 were of Indigenous status. 15 were boys, the remaining four were girls.

Six of the deceased children’s families were involved with the FNCFS, the other 13 with the ministry.