You have the right to be yourself, to be heard, to be healthy and to be safe. The Representative for Children and Youth has a dedicated team of advocates to help ensure your needs and interests are upheld. They work to make sure your case plan includes your voice, and that your views are heard and considered by decision-makers.
Advocates are available to help with:
Insider Tip
Young adults up to their 24th birthdays who have aged out of care and who are on or eligible for an Agreement with Young Adults (AYA), or who are on or eligible for a provincial post-secondary tuition waiver, can now work with RCY advocates if they need help or advice.
More information on how the Rep’s advocates can help is available here.
Case profiles of RCY advocacy for youth and families are available here.
You might be in a home that doesn’t feel right, be concerned about your transition out of MCFD care, feel like no one is listening to you, or be in a crisis. Advocates can help you explore possibilities for solutions, while making sure your rights are respected and your voice and views are considered.
The Rep’s office can be reached at 1-800-476-3933, by email at rcy@rcybc.ca, or by RCY’s secure and confidential Contact Us page.
The work done by the Office is effective, but has some limits. The Rep and advocates cannot:
MCFD has a complaint process in place to ensure that your voice is heard, and your needs are met. Advocates such as the RCY can help you make a complaint. You can make a complaint to MCFD or a DAA if you: You can: Email your complaint to MCF.Info@gov.bc.ca – include your name, city, email, phone number, what your concern or feedback is and how and when they can reach you. Read more about MCFD’s complaints process here.
OR
Call and ask to speak with a complaints specialist – 1-877-387-7027.
The Representative has a team dedicated to youth outreach. The Social Media Youth Team advises and creates content for the Rep’s youth Facebook page (@RCYBCyouth) , youth Twitter account (@RCYBCyouth), Instagram account and YouTube account and produces media such as Louis’ Welcome to My World podcast.
They have occasional job postings for youth in and from care.
