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Office of the Child and Youth Advocate
August 7, 2009

Child and Youth Advocate Initiates Investigation

The Child and Youth Advocate, Darlene Neville, announced today that she will conduct an investigation, pursuant to Section15.(1)(a) of the Child and Youth Advocate Act, of the services provided by Child, Youth and Family Services, Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority, to the families of a 13 year old boy and a five year old girl who died as a result of a fire in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in June 2008.

Ms. Neville acknowledged that during January 2009 staff in her office received a referral from a concerned citizen in Happy Valley-Goose Bay regarding the child protection services provided to the13 year old boy and his family prior to the fire. Neville confirmed that staff in her office had originally taken no action in response to this referral, and that she had not been informed of the referral having been received. Neville stated that it was during a June 2009 meeting with Yvonne Jones, Leader of the Official Opposition, that she first learned of the January 2009 referral to her office relating to the provision of child protection services to the 13 year old boy and his family.

Neville stated that after being informed of the existence of this referral, she requested and received documentation from Child, Youth and Family Services in Labrador regarding the services provided to these families. She has now personally reviewed that documentation and determined that an investigation by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is required.

Ms. Neville stated that as certain staff in her office concluded in January 2009 that the referral regarding the provision of child protection services to the 13 year old boy and his family did not warrant any action or follow up, it would be inappropriate for those staff members to now undertake an investigation of the same referral. Ms. Neville stated she has today written the Management Commission of the House of Assembly seeking assistance with respect to the conduct of this investigation. She confirmed that she will personally conduct the investigation until such time as the Management Commission can respond to her request for assistance.

On Monday, August 3, 2009, notice of the intention of the Child and Youth Advocate to conduct an investigation, as required by the Child and Youth Advocate Act, was provided to the Chief Executive Officer, Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority, Boyd Rowe; to the Deputy Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, Sheree MacDonald; and to the Acting Deputy Minister of Health, Don Keats.

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Media contact:

Shirley Prior
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate
709-753-3636

2009 08 07                                                     9:45 a.m.
 


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