11-year-old dead by suicide, 1 of 13 who’ve died in Alberta child welfare system so far this year

WARNING: Video contains content that may be disturbing to viewers. Discretion is advised.

As a family buried an 11-year-old Cree boy who killed himself while in the care of Alberta Children’s Services, the urgency for one of his family members to get custody of her own daughter back from the system has increased to desperation.

“The system is a beast,” said the family member, who can’t be identified because of Alberta child protection laws.

Dejai Baptiste’s family member says he spent nine of his 11 years of life in foster care. She says she was informed that on March 3, he left his Calgary foster home and killed himself.

The province of Alberta tracks and posts the number of children and young adults who’ve died or been seriously injured while receiving services from child welfare agencies. Statistics show Dejai is one of 13 young people who have died in the system already this year, including three infants.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/9540213/11-year-old-dead-by-suicide-one-of-13-whove-died-in-alberta-child-welfare-system-so-far-this-year/

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