Our Mandate
Our Mandate
Standing Up
for Young People
Independent Oversight
RCY stands up for BC’s children and youth. We are an independent provincial oversight body that was formed in 2007.
We use our statutory authority to advocate, review, investigate, and monitor systems to drive immediate action and long-term systemic change that improves outcomes for children, youth, and families.
The Representative for Children and Youth Act outlines RCY’s mandate in three areas:
We help young people and families to work through challenges and help solve problems they may have getting government services.
Reviews and Investigations of Critical Injuries & Deaths
We review and investigate injuries and deaths of young people who are receiving government services. We look for patterns and trends that help improve services.
Learn more about our investigations or read about our reviews.
We highlight gaps in services and supports, issue reports, make recommendations and hold government accountable for change.
The scope of the Representative’s mandated responsibility is defined by the Act which defines reviewable services and designated services over which the Representative has oversight.
Representative for Children and Youth Act
The RCY in British Columbia operates under the Representative for Children and Youth Act (RCY Act). This legislation outlines the RCY’s mandate, including advocacy for children, youth, and young adults, monitoring government services, and conducting independent reviews and investigations into critical injuries and deaths of children in BC.
Read the entire RCY Act.
Reviewable Services
Reviewable services are services for youth and young adults with prior care experience during their transition to adulthood
The Representative’s authority to initiate a review or investigation is limited to reviewable services.
Designated Services
Designated services are government-funded services or programs for children and their families including but not limited to:
- family support
- child protection
- foster care
- adoption
- guardianship
- children and youth with disabilities
- early childhood development and child care services
- mental health and addiction services for children
- youth justice
- services for youth and young adults during their transition to adulthood
- Community Living BC (CLBC) services for young adults between their 19th and 27th birthdays
Our History
Our Office was created following the Hon. Ted Hughes review and was established unanimously by the Legislature in 2007.
Our mandate expanded in 2013 to include Community Living BC (CLBC) services for young adults 19-24. Our mandate expanded again in 2019 to include services to young adults aged 19-27 who transitioned out of the government care system and are eligible for post-majority supports. This includes the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment Program (SAJE).
