On May 27, 2021, the Government of Alberta announced the Child and Youth Well-Being Review panel.
Please see this letter from the Panel Co-Chairs:
Albertans,
Over the last 15 months, our lives have all been impacted by the pandemic in some way as we have endeavored to protect our most vulnerable and our healthcare system. These sacrifices have been shared by our children and youth, who, at times, have been unable to see friends, attend school, or participate in their favorite sports and activities. Our colleagues, and ourselves, have heard from parents across Alberta who have expressed concern over the impact that the pandemic has had on our children’s social, mental, physical, and educational well-being.
On May 27th, 2021, we were pleased to announce the Child and Youth Well-Being Review. An expert panel, which we are honoured to co-chair, will consult with Albertans to better understand pandemic related psychological, social, educational, and physical impacts on children and youth under the age of 19. The panel will engage with a wide range of Albertans, including researchers, educators, health care professionals, mental health experts, parents and youth, and more. A review of existing literature and emerging data on these impacts will also be conducted to inform and support the work of this panel. Later this year, the panel will provide recommendations to government, to help support young people both now and into the future.
The expert panel is comprised of the following members:
• Dr. Kelly Schwartz, Associate Professor, School and Applied Child Psychology, in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary.
• Dr. Marcie Perdue, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Chinook’s Edge School Division.
• Dr. Jennifer Turner, Superintendent of Schools, Fort McMurray Public School Division.
• Carole Carifelle-Brzezicki, AHS Director of Indigenous Health, North.
• Dana Fulwiler, Assistant Instructor in the MAPP program at the University of Pennsylvania and Sessional Instructor in the B.Ed program at the University of Calgary.
• Nancy Mannix, Chair of the Palix Foundation.
We want to hear from you. You are invited to share your feedback on the well-being of children and youth and the impacts they have faced through an online survey. The survey is available until July 31, 2021 at https://www.alberta.ca/child-and-youth-well-being-review.aspx.
In the coming months, you will also have the opportunity to attend a town hall to provide additional feedback to the panel. Your important feedback will inform our path forward as we work to ensure the best future possible for our children and youth.
Sincerely, Matt Jones
MLA Calgary-South East
Rebecca Schulz
Minister of Children’s Services MLA Calgary-Shaw
