EDMONTON — Alberta's child advocate is calling for more support for children of parents with addictions after a baby drowned in a batch of home brew.
Del Graff also recommends that workers need to better know what to do and who to notify when a child is at risk.
Graff's report doesn't identify the dead girl's family, but Viola Ribbonleg earlier pleaded guilty in court to criminal negligence causing the death of her daughter in 2013.
A judge heard that 10-month-old Lexi tumbled head first into a crate of a fermented potato-yeast concoction while her mother was sleeping off a night of drinking in their Fox Lake home.
Ribbonleg was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Graff says social workers had received concerns about drinking in the home before the girl's death and a First Nations agency was assessing the home's safety.
Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir says in a statement that his office will review the report and meet with Graff.
"This heartbreaking story underscores the need to continuously work to prevent similar incidents," Sabir said.
"By strengthening how we work with children, families and our service delivery partners, including indigenous partners, we can improve the system as a whole."
