Young people throughout B.C. are taking advantage of greater opportunities to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of children in care by participating in decisions that help improve the province's child welfare system and youth services.

British Columbia proclaims Child and Youth Day every Nov. 20, to mark Universal Children's Day and Canada's adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The convention informs governments on their responsibilities to children and in child development, including providing children and youth the right to have a say in decisions that affect them.

By listening to the expertise and experiences of young people and applying the input they provide, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is seeking to create policies, services and opportunities that reduce risks for vulnerable youth and are more responsive to what young people need for healthy development.

The ministry is committed to working across government, with social service agencies and the Representative for Children and Youth to find opportunities where joint projects will support and encourage youth participation and engagement.

To bolster youth engagement practice, two of the ministry's youth advisory councils have partnered with ministry staff and the Child and Youth Care program at the University of Victoria to develop a youth engagement tool-kit. The kit contains resources for ministry staff, Delegated Aboriginal Agencies and community organizations to work together with youth to assess, support, strengthen and sustain the practice of engaging with youth as genuine partners in the workplace. Early implementation of the tool-kit has occurred in two communities and a wider release is scheduled for early in 2013.

Additionally, six-month internships have been awarded to four former B.C. youth in care who are enrolled in college, university or recent post-secondary graduates of social work studies. The interns will draw upon their own experiences to offer an insider's understanding of the needs of children and youth in care today and help ministry staff guide policies, programs and services.

The idea for the internships came from the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks and former youth in care who expressed a desire to help strengthen the child welfare system and outcomes for children and youth in care.

Like the B.C. Public Service Agency's 12-month Aboriginal Youth Internship Program, the new positions will allow the interns to develop their professional and leadership skills while encouraging them to consider the ministry as a place to pursue a rewarding career.

Currently, the ministry has four youth advisory councils, five Aboriginal youth interns and supports six BC Federation of Youth in Care Network offices throughout the province.

Quotes:

Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux-

"Youth engagement is integral to producing the best policies and making the best decisions that affect young people."

"By listening to youth and applying what we learn, we are contributing to their healthy development and giving youth a chance to provide direction on how we can improve outcomes - including transitions to adulthood - for the children and youth who are still in government care."

Chelsea Turpin, intern and former youth in care -

"I appreciate the opportunity to transition the experiences and insights gained through my involvement with the ministry into policy changes and developments that will benefit other kids currently in care."

"Within this opportunity to explore my career options, I will be able to impress upon others the importance of permanency planning by helping to develop policy that will translate into better practice and outcomes for B.C.'s children in care."

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 8,200 children and youth are in government care in B.C.

• The ministry works closely with several key partners on matters related to children and youth in care, including the Federation of B.C. Youth in Care Networks, the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents, the B.C. Federation of Foster Parent Associations and the Adoptive Families Association of B.C.

• Research shows a link between youth engagement and positive youth development.

• Internship positions have been filled by former youth in care in Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo and Kelowna.

• Youth engagement builds resiliency and confidence in young people by giving them a chance to explore and develop their interests, abilities and strengths while applying them in positive, problem-solving situations.

• The Ministry of Children and Family Development funds a range of youth services that include outreach workers, youth support workers, youth and family mediation, guardianship, safe house and emergency shelter beds, transitional housing, youth agreements, and support services to sexually exploited youth - in addition to programs like the Youth Education Assistance Fund and Agreements with Young Adults.

Learn More:

To find out more about youth programs and services offered through the ministry, go to: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/for_youth.htm

To learn about child and youth rights, go to: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/pdf/know_your_rights.pdf

Hear from some of the youth involved in the ministry's "Choices of Reality" Youth Advisory Council, a 2009-10 Premier's Innovation and Excellence Awards finalist. The nomination video explaining the role of COR can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx0caKXP6FQ

Learn more about the Federation of B.C. Youth in Care Networks: www.fbcyicn.ca

Contact:

Corinna Filion
Communications Director
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 812-7977