The province’s Child and Youth Advocate has released two investigative reports on the struggles of children while in the care of government, just prior to her retirement.

Jackie Lake Kavanagh is stepping down from the position at the end of the month.

The reports, titled “No Time to Spare” and “Blanket of Insecurity”, dive into the difficult situations two separate children faced while under the protection or care of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development.

“No Time to Spare” outlines the importance of timely intervention in the life of a child.

It surrounds a child who was born into a family where violence, unstable housing, and mental health and addictions concerns were present.

The boy was placed in a Kinship Care Agreement, but numerous issues arose between the birth mother and the caregiver, who was a former foster parent of the birth mother.

The relationship was described as complex and contentious, and the report found that Child Protection did not provide positive intervention in a timely manner.

The report recommends that the Department include an assessment of the nature of the relationship between the caregiver and birth parents as part of the Kinship Home Agreement, as well as numerous improvements in training that ensures that caregivers are equipped to deal with complex family dynamics.

“Blanket of Insecurity” details the case of a child who was born eight weeks premature and with medical complications, to an unstable and violent living situation.

The child experienced significant instability, moving multiple times in his first year.

His parents’ relationship was violent, leaving the mother to seek help from a crisis shelter, before she became involved with another man who had been previously charged with sexual offences against a young boy.

The child displayed unexplained injuries and sexualized behaviours.

He was placed in kinship care, but that was terminated as he missed many medical appointments for neurology and cardiology.

CSSD also believed his medication was being sold or misused.

After the mother began attending all visits and the quality improved, she completed recommended programs and counselling, and eventually, the child was returned to her care.

Child and Youth Advocate, Jackie Lake Kavanagh recommends that the Department review its commitment beyond financial support with kinship placements, identify steps to mitigate risk once a kinship agreement is terminated and identify various ways in which the monitoring and verification process within kinship agreements can be improved.

Jackie Lake Kavanagh calls her retirement a “bittersweet” moment, calling her time as Child and Youth Advocate a highlight of the many opportunities she has been presented with over the length of her career.

She says choosing to retire has been “the hardest decision” of her entire life.

She offers her thanks to her dedicated team, along with the people and organizations that work hard for children and youth every day.

Lake Kavanagh’s replacement is yet to be named.