Guidance for Adults and Allies
Guidance for Adults and Allies
Supporting Young People: How We Can Help You Help Them
You don’t have to navigate it alone.
If you’re a parent, caregiver, grandparent, sibling, service provider, or community member worried about a young person, the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) is here to help.
Our Advocates can guide you, answer questions, and make sure young people are seen, heard, and supported.
What We Can Help With
We Can...
- Listen to your concerns and explain how the system works.
- Help you connect the young person with the right supports and people.
- Work with ministries or agencies to make sure the young person’s rights and needs are respected.
- Provide information and coaching if you want to help a youth self-advocate.
0-18 years old
- Child protection and family support
- Youth services and youth justice
- Children and youth with disabilities
- Mental health and substance use services
- Permanency and adoption planning
- Transition to adulthood planning
19-26 Years Old
- Transition to adulthood issues
- Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)
- Community Living BC (CLBC)
- Tuition waiver
What Happens When You Contact Us
Contact Us
1-800-476-3933 or rcy@rcybc.ca
Tell us what’s going on and who you’re supporting.Intake Coordinator
An Intake Coordinator listens, gathers key details, and confirms whether the concern is within our mandate.- Wait Time
You’ll receive a call back from an Advocate within 3–5 business days. - Advocate Callback
The Advocate will provide information, support, and advice. If the situation requires further involvement, they may refer the case to another Advocate for ongoing advocacy work.
If the young person calls with you:
They can speak directly with an Advocate right away – no waiting period or callback required.
Why We Do This
Every young person in British Columbia deserves to be safe, supported, and heard.
When adults and professionals reach out, they help create a circle of care that protects rights and strengthens systems. RCY’s role is to make sure those systems listen and respond.
Examples of How We Help
Children’s Rights and the Foundations of Our Work
Every young person in British Columbia has rights that are recognized in law and international agreements.
Our advocacy is guided by:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): affirms that every child has the right to be safe, heard, and supported in all decisions that affect them.
- The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): upholds the inherent rights of Indigenous children to culture, identity, and connection to their Nations and communities.
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): ensures children and youth with disabilities have equal rights, dignity, and access to supports.
- Section 70 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA): outlines the specific rights of children and youth in care in BC, including the right to participate in decisions, express their views, and receive respectful care.
These rights aren’t abstract; they are the foundation of every action our Advocates take to ensure systems treat young people fairly and with respect.
Learning About Rights
While RCY works directly with youth, we know that younger children also have the right to be heard, to be safe, and to understand their rights. This section provides trusted, age-appropriate resources that adults can use to introduce children (typically ages 5–10) to these important ideas.
Whether you’re a sibling, caregiver, teacher, support worker or community member, the tools below can help start meaningful, empowering conversations with younger children.
Government of Canada
Society for Children & Youth of BC
- Find resources on the SCYBC website.
