Functional responsibility:
The Ministry of Children’s Services is responsible for the provision of social services to children and families. These services include administration of adoption programs, including administration of the post-adoption registry, child protection, guardianship and foster care, licensing of day care providers, administration of child financial support programs, family violence prevention programs, family and community support services, relations with aboriginal and Metis organizations in regards to the delegation of authority for children’s services to these communities, services to children with disabilities, and services to children involved in prostitution.

The Minister of Children’s Services is responsible for the administration of the Child Welfare Act, Adult Adoption Act, Child and Family Services Authorities Act, Family and Community Support Services Act, Protection Against Family Violence Act, Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act, Social Care Facilities Licensing Act, and the Social Care Facilities Review Committee Act.

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor of the Ministry of Children’s Services was the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The child welfare, day care, and family and community support services functions of the former ministry were split off in 1999 to form Children’s Services.

Administrative relationships:
The Ministry of Children’s Services reports to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Children’s Services. A number of semi-independent agencies report to the minister, including the Social Care Facilities Review Committee, the Office of the Children’s Advocate and the eighteen Child and Family Services Authorities (CFSAs) that oversee community based child and family social services and programs. More information on these agencies may be found in their respective sous-fonds descriptions.

Administrative structure:
The Ministry of Children’s Services has two principal components. The first is the four core offices of the ministry:

• the Communications Office, responsible for public relations and providing communications planning support to ministry staff;
• the Accountability and Program Support Division, responsible for monitoring the performance of service providers in terms of accountability and adherence to legislation and ministry guidelines and standards, providing support to CFSAs, and program development and administration for all program areas;
• the Strategy and Support Services Division, responsible for policy and program development for the child welfare and family services system and business planning for the ministry as a whole, as well as providing legal advice and legislative planning and support, financial, and information management support services to the ministry; and
• the Partnership and Innovation Division, responsible for liaison with CFSAs, other government ministries, aboriginal and Metis communities and other governments, as well as providing research and program evaluation services to the ministry.

The second main component of the Ministry is the eighteen Child and Family Services Authorities. Each CFSA operates under the authority of the Child and Family Services Authorities Actand an Agreement signed with the ministry transferring responsibility for delivery of child and family services. Authorities work under the policy direction and oversight of the ministry. Each Authority operates under the management of a Board made up of members of the community appointed by the minister. The Boards of the various Authorities report directly to the Minister of Children’s Services.

Names of chief officers:
Minister of Children’s Services:
Iris Evans May 26, 1999-present

It includes the following sous-fonds:

• Social Care Facilities Review Committee sous-fonds
• Office of the Children's Advocate sous-fonds
• Sun Country Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Southeast Alberta Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Windsong Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Calgary Rocky View Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Hearthstone Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Diamond Willow Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Ribstone Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• West Yellowhead Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Keystone Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Ma'mowe Capital Region Child and Family Services Authority
• Sakaw-Askiy Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Sakaigun Asky Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Child and Family Services Authority Region 13 sous-fonds
• Child and Family Services Authority Region 14 sous-fonds
• Neegan Awas'sak Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Awasak Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Silver Birch Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds
• Metis Settlements Child and Family Services Authority sous-fonds