Our Teams
Our Teams
Working Together for Young People
Here at RCY we have a dedicated team of staff who come from many backgrounds including social work, child and youth care, child advocacy, education, health care, law, early childhood development and public administration. They have worked in the non-profit sector, government, academia, education and more.
We have diverse backgrounds but we share a deep passion and commitment to making the lives of young people better. We have five teams that work both independently and together to support young people and families and help improve services and supports for young people.
The Individual Advocacy and First Nations, Métis, & Inuit Engagement (IAFNMIE) team
This team works with young people and their supportive adults to navigate government systems and ensure the rights of young people are upheld when decisions are being made that impact them. Team members provide information and advice, empower young people to self-advocate to have their voices heard and advocate with and for young people to ensure they are treated fairly and have their rights upheld.
This team also conducts community and youth outreach to raise awareness about young peoples’ rights and services available to them and how to become effective self-advocates.
The Reviews & Investigations team
This team is responsible for reviewing, investigating and reporting on critical injuries and deaths of children and youth receiving reviewable services. By analyzing these injuries and deaths, RCY is able to take both immediate and systemic action. Immediate action includes making referrals to RCY Advocates or raising concerns about the care being provided to a child with the responsible public body or Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency.
The team may undertake comprehensive reviews or investigations to understand the circumstances that contribute to children’s injuries or deaths, identify areas for systemic improvement and recommend changes to prevent future harm.
The Systemic Advocacy, First Nations, Métis, & Inuit Research (SAFNMIR) team
This team has responsibility for monitoring the progress of public bodies in implementing recommendations made by the Representative in investigative and special reports. The team also completes research projects and reports on the larger systemic issues affecting young people, including challenges and gaps in services, and supports and identifies necessary changes to policy, practice and legislation that will improve outcomes and support the well-being of young people.
The Strategic Communications & Knowledge Mobilization team
The team provides a variety of supports to the Representative and the entire Office by handling both external and internal communications. The team also leads the Representative’s knowledge mobilization initiative, extending the reach of RCY reports and initiatives, and educating the public, government staff, decision-makers and others on report insights, findings and recommendations and other initiatives.
The Corporate Services team
This team is an essential backbone for RCY. Corporate services comprise finance, human resources, administration, records coordination, project coordination, information management and technology and privacy support services for RCY. The services provided by this team are foundational in enabling us to provide the best possible service to young people and their families.
