View Representative for Children and Youth Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_06029_01
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
No Fall Sitting of the Legislature: Delays Advocacy Reach for Children and Youth
By Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist, September 23, 2012
http://www.timescolonist.com/health/fall+sitting+legislature+delays+advocacy+reach+children+youth/7286313/story.html#ixzz2A0QUM16v
Premier Christy Clark's decision to cancel the fall sitting of the legislature means a further delay in expanding the powers of B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth. Clark promised earlier this year to give Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the representative, the ability to advocate for vulnerable young people until they reach age 24. Under current rules, Turpel-Lafond loses the ability to help once they turn 19. This has created problems for her office, particularly when it tries to help youth with developmental disabilities as they enter adulthood and responsibility for their care shifts from the Children's Ministry to Community Living B.C. The premier said in January that the government would expand Turpel-Lafond's powers as part of a 12-point, $40-million plan to fix problems at Community Living B.C. and improve services for adults with developmental disabilities. Her government failed to introduce the necessary bill during the spring sitting of the legislature, and with no session this fall, it will be next year before Turpel-Lafond gets the tools she needs.
What is the purpose of this act?
- The act established authority for the creation of a new independent officer of the legislature, the Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
- The Representative for Children and Youth serves British Columbia’s children and youth under 19 years of age who need help dealing with the child-serving system.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- The Representative for Children and Youth Act provides the Representative with the legal powers of review, investigation, monitoring, reporting and advocacy.
- The Representative also has the authority to conduct an investigation or review and report where a child has been critically injured or died when that child or the child’s family was receiving a “reviewable service” at the time of, or within one year of, the incident. Reviewable services are services or programs under the Child, Family and Community Service Act and the Youth Justice Act.
- Advocating for change to public policy on behalf of the young people is a major part of this Act.
How does this act benefit society?
- This Act aids to open opportunities to highly vulnerable children in British Columbia in order for them to lead healthy and productive lives.
- The Act works to identify and address the causes of vulnerability through the examination of policy and lessons learned through advocacy work.
- The Act helps to strengthen the ability of families, communities and governments to care for and improve children’s future well-being by encouraging capacity building and advocating for integration of programs for highly vulnerable children.
- It allows vulnerable children and youth to have their rights and interests protected and upheld and their voices heard.
- The work of the office supports improved results and a stronger system of supports for vulnerable children and youth.
- It helps youth get the information and support they need to speak up for themselves.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- Ombudsperson: http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/
- Ministry of Children and Family Development: http://www.gov.bc.ca/mcf/
- The Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth: http://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/38thparl/session-4/cay/index.htm
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- This Act only helps those who are under 19, after that the care shifts to community living British Columbia.
- There is an inevitable tension that results from an independent office providing oversight to a government ministry.
- It pushes for change and change is not always welcome, or easy to accept.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- Providing advice.
- Coaching on effective self-advocacy.
- Ensuring that the client has access to relevant resources and services.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond c/o Head office for the Representative
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
No Fall Sitting of the Legislature: Delays Advocacy Reach for Children and Youth
By Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist, September 23, 2012
http://www.timescolonist.com/health/fall+sitting+legislature+delays+advocacy+reach+children+youth/7286313/story.html#ixzz2A0QUM16v
Premier Christy Clark's decision to cancel the fall sitting of the legislature means a further delay in expanding the powers of B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth. Clark promised earlier this year to give Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the representative, the ability to advocate for vulnerable young people until they reach age 24. Under current rules, Turpel-Lafond loses the ability to help once they turn 19. This has created problems for her office, particularly when it tries to help youth with developmental disabilities as they enter adulthood and responsibility for their care shifts from the Children's Ministry to Community Living B.C. The premier said in January that the government would expand Turpel-Lafond's powers as part of a 12-point, $40-million plan to fix problems at Community Living B.C. and improve services for adults with developmental disabilities. Her government failed to introduce the necessary bill during the spring sitting of the legislature, and with no session this fall, it will be next year before Turpel-Lafond gets the tools she needs.