Summary

• The Representative for Children and Youth released the Don’t Look Away report on July 16, 2024, calling for government to transform the system of care
• The Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan, released on June 16, 2026, sets B.C.’s first-ever cross-government shared direction to align services and improve the lives of B.C. children, youth and families
• The new Outcomes Framework will help government track and measure progress, learn what works to support child and youth well-being

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Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development, has released the following statement in acknowledgment of the two-year anniversary of the Representative for Children and Youth’s Don’t Look Away report:

“On the second anniversary of Don’t Look Away, we recognize the important role the report has played in highlighting the need for systemic change to better support children, youth and families in British Columbia. Today and every day, we continue to hold the sacred stories of Colby and his family close to our hearts, and we agree that every child in this province deserves safety, belonging and love.

“Since the release of Don’t Look Away in 2024, our government has been working across ministries and alongside Indigenous partners, service providers, experts and communities to respond to the report’s call for systemic change and advance a more co-ordinated approach to supporting children, youth and families to action. We agree with the representative that improving outcomes for children and youth takes co-ordinated action across government, not isolated efforts by individual ministries. That is why we released British Columbia’s first-ever Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan and Outcomes Framework, a transformative, first-of-its-kind approach in Canada that reflects our shared commitment to better outcomes for children, youth and families.

“The action plan provides a shared road map for strengthening family well-being, preventing and responding to violence, improving service co-ordination, advancing Indigenous self-determination and jurisdiction, and better supporting children and youth facing the greatest barriers to well-being. The accompanying Outcomes Framework establishes a common approach to measuring progress, strengthening accountability and guiding evidence-informed decision-making across government.

“While important improvements are already underway, including stronger co-ordination across ministries and enhanced accountability measures, we recognize there is more work to do to ensure children, youth and families receive the timely, connected supports they need. We thank Jennifer Charlesworth, representative for children and youth in B.C., for her support of the plan and for recognizing important progress made in key areas, including implementation of the plan, strengthened workforce planning and supports, enhanced accountability and violence-risk assessment tools, kinship care reviews and Indigenous self-determination efforts.

“This is only the beginning of a long-term effort to improve how government works together to support children, youth and families. This work represents a generational shift, and our government remains committed to working with the Representative for Children and Youth, Indigenous partners, service providers and communities to strengthen supports, improve co-ordination and achieve better outcomes for children, youth and families throughout British Columbia.”

Quick Facts:

• The Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan provides a road map to improve how government delivers programs and services across ministries for children, youth and families.
• The plan brings together initiatives underway and in development across ministries, aligning them under a common vision to better support children and families, especially those facing challenges.
• In addition to the action plan is the Outcomes Framework, a tool to help government focus on the outcomes that matter for children and youth and to create the conditions for change.
• The outcomes framework allows the defining and tracking of child and youth well‑being throughout government, helping measure progress, strengthen accountability and guide better decisions about what is working and where improvements are needed.

Learn More:

• To read a news release about the Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026CFD0004-000701
• To learn more about the Don’t Look Away report issued July 16, 2024, visit: https://rcybc.ca/reports/dont-look-away/
• To learn more about the Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/childyouthwellbeing/