SUMMARY
The Department of Human Services is responsible for providing child and family services in Alberta. It offers a range of services and programs designed to support families and communities in safeguarding and enhancing the well-being of children.
We conducted our audit to examine the systems and processes the department uses to deliver child and family services to Indigenous children in Alberta. We identified three areas where the department can improve its performance, thereby increasing the chances for Indigenous children who receive services to experience improved results. We found that the department should act to:
- improve its early supports and early intervention programming
- ensure its processes support a child-centred approach
- improve staff training in the area of intercultural understanding
AUDIT OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
Our audit assessed whether the department has adequate systems to deliver child and family services to Indigenous children and families in Alberta.
We focused our audit on department records and activities for the period of April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015. We also considered relevant new developments in policy and practice.
We examined department records, data and reporting. We reviewed relevant documentation at the department and interviewed staff at the department, at some of the department’s regional offices and at some Delegated First Nations Agencies.
We conducted our field work from August 2015 to June 2016. We substantially completed our audit on June 1, 2016. We conducted our work in accordance with the Auditor General Act and the standards for assurance engagements set out in the CPA Canada Handbook—Assurance.
We developed our criteria for this audit based on the entity’s accountabilities and responsibilities and applicable legislation.