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

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 on Wednesday.

As of this past Monday, six children or youths 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.

Leya Moore, the manager of public relations with the Ministry of Social Services, said 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.

“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.”

Yesterday, @SKGov‘s Ministry of Social Services outlined troubling statistics regarding #Sask‘s youth deaths, either “in care,” or whose families were, or recently received assistance.

So far in 2020, 25 children have died under these criteria. 6 with a legal “in care” status. pic.twitter.com/HYL5HSo0Hx

– Brady Lang (@BradyLangSK) September 3, 2020

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 zero-to-five 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 families were 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 died in a hospital setting.

Of the 19 in total, one was one month old, 13 were between the ages of zero and five, one was in the six-to-10 age range, another was in the 11-to-15 range, and the remaining three were 16 to 21.

Eighteen of the 19 were of Indigenous status. Fifteen were boys and the remaining four were girls.

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