Feb 7, 2017
Ernie was one month old when he suffered a severe brain injury and was admitted to hospital.
Three months later, he was placed into foster care, where he stayed until he aged out of the system and moved to a group home for adults with disabilities.
Eighteen months later, the 19-year-old First Nations man was dead.
The case of Ernie (a pseudonym) is the subject of the latest report by Alberta’s child and youth advocate, Del Graff.
Graff is charged with investigating the deaths of children and youth who have received child intervention services, and making recommendations to improve the system.
Graff’s reports usually stick to child services and related supports.
This one branches out into the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program, pointing to a lack of consistency for young people transitioning from child intervention to the adult disability system.