Saskatchewan children’s advocate report shows concerns of violence, death and COVID

The 2020 Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth report highlights many issues that affect vulnerable youth including abuse and deaths, as well as the impact COVID-19 has had on children.

Lisa Broda released the report Tuesday. It states the pandemic has created challenges with child protection work, such as how to meet with children in care or interview them safely and confidentially. It also cites delays in family services case planning, home studies and transition visits.

As well, the report points to holes when it comes to educating children during the pandemic.

“(It involves) working parents unable to home-school their children, uncomfortable sending them to school, and having to send them to child-care centres that were not able to assist them with schoolwork,” the report states.

Students losing an entire school year, either by not attending or not getting the full year of instruction or course material due to online learning, was also a concern.

Children experiencing violence and even death is also highlighted in the report.

The report says it receives notification of deaths of, or serious injuries to, children who are receiving or would have recently received services from the Ministry of Social Services or a delegated First Nations Child and Family Services Agency.

In 2020, 38 children died who were in care or had recently received care.

Nine of those deaths were from suspected homicides. Two were from suicide, four were drowning deaths and two were from drug or alcohol toxicity.

In 10 deaths, the cause was either not available yet or deemed undetermined.

There were 35 critical injuries reported, including eight suicide attempts.

First Nations or Metis children and youth made up 92 per cent of the critical injuries reported.

In her report, Broda states: “At this time it is not possible to pinpoint any concrete factors that have led to this overall increase.

“Police-reported family violence against children and youth was already on the rise prior to the pandemic, with Saskatchewan having the highest rates among the provinces. However, it is hard to ignore a potential correlation with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant impact it has had on all facets of life, including causing additional stressors on families and communities.”