Special review ordered into foster child's injuries

Alberta Children and Youth Services Minister Janis Tarchuk has ordered a special case review following the serious injury of a child in foster care near Calgary last week.

The review will be co-chaired by an external expert and will look at whether ministry practices were followed and if they need to be improved.  The findings will be released to the public.

"I'm committed to finding answers and sharing as much as we are legally able to with the public," Tarchuk said in a release.

"That's why the findings of the special case review into the serious injury of this child will be made public."

The 15-month-old boy has been in coma in a Calgary hospital for a week.

RCMP confirm an incident involving the child occurred on March 2 in Strathmore, 40 kilometres east of Calgary.

The mother of the child said last week she had been told her son isn't expected to live, and that if he does survive, he will likely have severe brain damage. The exact nature of the injury hasn't been made public.

An investigation by police is continuing.

Alberta's child welfare legislation prohibits the identification of any child in foster care.