In Alberta, child welfare and child protection services are provided by the Alberta Children's Services, a department of the Provincial Government.  Many First Nations in Alberta are delegated to provide similar services to First Nations children and families living on reserves. These agencies can take a child away to safety if they decide that the child is in danger and it is necessary to protect the child.

Child protection agencies have the power to keep a child away from his or her parent, or parents, if the child is deemed to be in need of protective services.  Examples of when this may occur include allegations of:

• physically, sexually, or emotionally abused

• not given proper food, clothing or health care

• not supervised properly or left alone for long periods of time

If the agency decides that your child is in danger, they will decide what is necessary to protect the child. They may offer family services, such as counseling, parenting classes, or the help of a parent-aide.

If you and the agency cannot reach an agreement about how to ensure the child’s safety, the agency can apply to court for a guardianship order, on either a temporary or a permanent basis. If a case goes to a hearing, the judge will hear the evidence about your child’s care and the judge will decide what is best for the child.

It is strongly recommended that counsel be consulted whenever child welfare issues are raised.  Contact a lawyer at Dimnik & Company as soon as possible.

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