This report includes details on the activities of the Office in 2023/24 and planned projects and initiatives through to 2024/27.
- |
- Annual Reports and Service Plans
The 2023–24 year was an extremely busy year for the Office. Demands increased in our core statutory work in individual advocacy and reviews and investigations increased year-over-year, but the context for our work became even more complex.
Each day showed evidence of the ever-increasing toll that the toxic illicit drug supply, mental health concerns, housing affordability challenges, and lack of services close to home were and continue to take on young people and families.
RCY also began its extensive sacred story investigation and systemic review in response to the horrific and tragic torture and death of a young First Nations child at the hands of his extended family care providers.
The Annual Report and Service Plan show how our Office endeavoured to understand and illuminate systemic and structural issues over the 2023/24 fiscal year in a wide range of ways.
This page highlights the key stories, data, and priorities from the 2023–24 Annual Report and the 2024–2027 Service Plan showing how RCY is using evidence, lived experience and independent oversight to push for better outcomes for children and youth across the province.
“RCY is part of a vast social and health systems, and we have a unique and important role to play as an independent oversight body – one of illuminating what young people and their families need to thrive.”
– Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth, Representative for Children and Youth
Sacred Story Investigation and Systemic Review
Sacred Story Investigation and Systemic Review
This fiscal year, RCY initiated the most extensive investigation and systemic review ever conducted in our 17-year history.
In 2021, a young First Nations boy died in one of the most egregious series of circumstances that RCY has ever seen. In June 2023, RCY was able to launch an investigation into this child’s and his family’s life, what led to his death and how the child- and family-serving systems did and did not respond. The RCY team, including three First Nations Cultural Advisors, continues to collect thousands of pieces of documentary evidence and is conducting dozens of interviews to piece together the complex interplay of circumstances that led to the death of this child.
By March 31, 2024, RCY had met with over 600 community service providers, ministry staff, community and family members, Indigenous leaders and organizations and others. RCY is also taking a broad look at the systemic issues that not only impacted the child that is at the center of the sacred story investigation, but that continue to impact many others.
The report was released in summer 2024.
requests for advocacy support in 2023/24.
Annual Report, 2023/24
What People Contacted Us About
of cases involved the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Annual Report, 2023/24
involved Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies
Annual Report, 2023/24
Reportable Circumstances
total Reportable Injuries received by RCY (in and out of mandate).
Annual Report, 2023/24
of critical injuries were experienced by Indigenous children and youth.
Annual Report, 2023/24
Key Themes
RCY continues to see systemic barriers that consistently fail to meet the ever-expanding needs of children, youth, and families in BC. Too many young people are still experiencing gaps in care, with essential supports being delayed or sometimes have limited to no access to them. An overburdened system is sometimes struggling to provide the necessary supports needed by children and youth in care.
Through research, engagement, and collaboration, RCY continues to highlight these systemic issues. RCY is guided by Indigenous teachings and a commitment to shared responsibility, with the aim of strengthening accountability and improving systems, so young people feel supported, connected to community and culture and are able to thrive.
Service Plan Goals (2024-2027)
Supporting Jurisdiction
Playing an active and supportive role in the transition of responsibility of child welfare from MCFD to Nations. This transitional period is critical to tend to so that no children fall through the cracks.
Addressing Violence
- Addressing the epidemic of violence in many families and communities.
Supporting Families
- Catalyzing a system-wide conversation about how families can be better supported to safely stay together by receiving early non-stigmatizing help when challenges first arise and supports early in the life-course of young children.
Supporting Kinship Care Providers
- Ensuring that when kinship carers step up to care for children who are unable to safely live with their parents, they receive the information and resources they need to support children in their care.
Enhancing Communication and Coordination
- Addressing siloing in government ministries, health authorities and community agencies and emphasizing the need for much improved interagency and interministerial communication, coordination, and collaboration to ensure children, youth and families are seen, heard and receive the services and supports they need when they need them.
Supporting Workforce
- Addressing the critical under-resourcing and challenging working environments of child welfare social workers that is hampering effective service delivery for children, youth, and young adults.
