Improving Outcomes for Vulnerable Children and Youth
Click here to download RCY’s Systemic Advocacy, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Research fact sheet.
Ensuring children and youth in British Columbia have access to the services and programs they need to support their health, safety, education and well-being is a significant focus for the Representative for Children and Youth. The Systemic Advocacy, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Research team evaluates government-funded programs and services and performs related research in an effort to improve services and the lives of vulnerable children and youth.
What do we monitor?
Programs and services for children and their families provided or funded by the government including:
- services or programs under the Adoption Act, the Child, Family, and Community Service Act, the Community Living Authority Act and the Youth Justice Act
- early childhood development and child care services
- mental health services for children
- addiction services for children
- services for youth and young adults during their transition to adulthood
- additional services or programs prescribed by regulation under the Representative for Children and Youth Act.
How do we do it?
- Evaluate existing services to ensure they are responsive, effective and accountable;
- Make recommendations to, and work with, government service providers and partners to strengthen services vulnerable children and youth;
- Perform research to identify health and well-being outcomes of vulnerable children and youth and better understand how these can be improved;
- Monitor how child and youth-serving agencies are adopting recommendations from service evaluations.
How do we report?
The Representative for Children and Youth will:
- report publicly on monitoring and evaluation activities, including issuing reports on the implementation of the recommendations
- make recommendations to, and work with, government service providers and partners to strengthen services for vulnerable children and youth
This will include:
- periodic audits that focus on particular pieces of the system of services to vulnerable children and youth, highlighting the Representative’s expectations to address specific issues of concern, such as Much More Than Paperwork: Proper Planning Essential to Better Lives for B.C.’s Children in Care
- comprehensive research reports, such as Kids, Crime and Care: Youth Justice Experiences and Outcomes
- reviews of specific services, such as Still Waiting: First-hand Experiences with Youth Mental Health Services in B.C