Appeal Panels
The Enhancement and Family Support for Children with Disabilities Appeal Panels are citizen's panels that provide an opportunity for persons affected by decisions of a director to gain access to a fair, impartial and independent review of decisions. The Panels are quasi-judicial appeal bodies that hold hearings on matters within their mandate to review.
The Enhancement Appeal Panel hears appeals under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Appeal Committee hears appeals under the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act. The Panel and Committee are collectively referred to as the Appeal Panels. Appeal hearings, for both Appeal Panels, are conducted by a panel of three which includes a chair and two members.
Information Sheet for Appeal Panels
Membership
Each Panel consists of up to seven Albertans with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are active members in their communities but are not employees of Children and Youth Services. The members are accountable, through the Appeal Panels' Chair, to the Minister of Children and Youth Services.
Click here to view a list of current Appeal Panel members.
Click here to view Application Package for Membership
What Appeal Panels Do
In accordance with the Acts, the Panels:
- hear appeals and make decisions that confirm, vary or reverse/rescind the decision of the director under appeal;
- ensure all parties involved in the appeal process have an equal opportunity to present their case;
- provide an impartial hearing that is unbiased, neutral and fair; and
- issue a written decision that provides their findings of fact and gives the reasons for their decision.
Who Can Appeal
- The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act provides an appeal process for any child, guardian of a child, foster parent, or other person who has had continuous care of a child for more than six months, and who is affected by a decision of a director.
- The Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act provides an appeal process for any guardian of a child who is affected by a decision of a director.
What Can Be Appealed
Under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Section 120 identifies the matters which can be appealed to the Appeal Panel.
Under the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act, Section 7(1) identifies the matters which can be appealed to the Appeal Committee.
How to Contact the Appeal Secretariat
The Appeal Secretariat assists the appeal process by providing support to the Appeal Panels and to those going through the appeal process.
For more information about the Appeal Panels and the appeal hearing process, please contact the Appeal Secretariat office at:
Children and Youth Services Appeal Secretariat
3rd Floor Sterling Place
9940 - 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2N2
Telephone: (780) 422-2775 or toll-free at 310-0000 then dial 422-2775
Fax: (780) 644-6880
