A review of MCFD’s Child Welfare Workforce
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The Representative for Children and Youth is renewing calls for immediate and urgent action including immediate funding increases, strengthening mental health services, enhancing equitable access to education, a cross-government data management system and equitable access to services and supports for children and youth with disabilities and their families.
Too Many Left Behind is a follow-up to RCY’s 2024 report, Don’t Look Away, which called for short and longer terms actions to transform systems of care for young people. This report highlights significant gaps in services and supports specifically for young people living with disabilities.
The time for action is now, and this spotlight underscores the urgency of addressing these persistent gaps to ensure all children and youth with disabilities and their families receive the support they need to thrive.
We shouldn’t be suicidal before we get help. I don’t think as parents we should become professional advocates for our kids. We are all out here teaching each other and our service providers about what’s available.
Parent, RCY Engagement Session
Through Our Eyes
When working on Too Many Left Behind, the RCY reached out to people we have worked with to feature artwork from children and youth with disabilities.
The art shows the incredible creativity, diversity and talent of young people.
Up to
young people in this province are not receiving adequate services and supports.
of families have considered placing their child in care solely to access disability services that would not be funded if the child remained at home. This percentage rises to 16.4 percent for families with Indigenous children.
An average of
of all children in government care identified as having a disability-related support need.
Key Systemic Themes
This report highlights the systemic failures in supporting children and youth with disabilities – emphasizing a system that is underfunded and fragmented that leaves families struggling to access essential services they need.
The report emphasizes the severe emotional, financial, and physical toll on families and the difficult choices they have to make, so that their children can get the care they deserve. The report urges immediate investments, improved accountability, and long-term systemic changes to ensure that children and youth with disabilities can have access to services they need in order to thrive.
Recommendations at a Glance
Strengthen Cross-Government Collaboration
- Establish effective, coordinated cross-government collaboration to address the inequities experienced by children and youth with disabilities and their families.
Build an Equitable, Resourced System of Care
Fund and implement an equitable, well-resourced system of care that families can easily navigate.
Establish a Provincial Child Well-Being Strategy and Action Plan
- Reaffirm and implement the call for the Government of British Columbia to establish a Child Well-Being Strategy and Action Plan that guides a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to improving outcomes for all children, particularly those experiencing the greatest inequities.
Develop Robust Data and Accountability Systems
- Develop strong data measurement tools to identify who needs services, who is receiving them, and how effectively those services meet children’s and families’ needs.
