The term “child welfare” may be more familiar to you than “child intervention services”, however child intervention services makes the child’s well being a priority. The focus is on supporting families to be healthy and make sure that children grow up in safe and nurturing homes.

Parents and guardians are responsible to care for their children, but sometimes they are not willing or able to provide a safe and secure home for their child. If this happens, it is the job of Alberta Children and Youth Services to step in for the safety and well-being of a child when:

• A child has been abused or is at risk of abuse by the parent or the parent does not protect the child from abuse;
• A child has been neglected by the parent;
• A child has been subjected to cruel and unusual treatment or punishment by the parent or the parent fails to protect the child from cruel and unusual treatment or punishment;
• A child’s parent is dead and we are aware that no arrangements have been made for the care of the child; or,
• The parent’s whereabouts are unknown.

Alberta Children and Youth Services only deals with cases where abuse is caused or allowed by a child’s parent or guardian. If you suspect a child is being abused by someone other than a parent or guardian, please call your local police.

Child intervention services are provided in Alberta at local offices in 10 Child and Family Services Authorities and 18 Delegated First Nation Agencies. You can find your local office on this website.

If you suspect a child is being abused, call 310-0000 to get the telephone number of your local office or call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-387-5437.