OCYA_AB: Child and Youth Advocate Releases Annual Report

Edmonton…Del Graff, Provincial Child and Youth Advocate, released the 2019-20 Annual Report of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA).

This year’s annual report provides a summary of OCYA major activities during the past year, and looks ahead at how the OCYA plans to strengthen its services so that young people in Alberta succeed in their lives and communities. The report also looks back at 30 years of the office’s history, starting in September 1989 when the Children’s Advocate was established.

“As we continue to stand up for young people in Alberta, we are mindful of the strong foundations laid by those who have come before us,” said Del Graff, Child and Youth Advocate. “We are privileged to carry on the work started 30 years ago by the Children’s Advocate, and are committed to helping shape a province that enables all young people succeed in their lives and communities.”

Some of the highlights from this past year:

• bringing attention to the use and impacts of pepper spray and segregation in youth justice facilities by releasing a report called “Care in Custody: A Special Report on OC Spray and Segregation in Alberta’s Young Offender Centres,”
• calling for further action to assist young people leaving government care while they go through “emerging adulthood” (18-24 years old) by releasing a report called “A Critical Time: A Special Report on Emerging Adults Leaving Children’s Services Care,”
• completing 16 mandatory reviews and 6 systemic reviews, collectively examining the circumstances around the deaths of 22 young people, and
• in conjunction with other child and youth advocates across Canada, released “A National Paper on Youth Suicide,” calling for action on this second leading cause of death of Canadians aged 10-24.

The annual report was tabled by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and outlines the work and activities of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate during the reporting period of April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

A copy of the annual report can be found here:

http://www.ocya.alberta.ca/adult/publications/annual-reports/.

To view progress on our recommendations:

http://www.ocya.alberta.ca/adult/publications/recommendations/.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is an independent office of the Alberta Legislature. We stand up for young people receiving designated government services.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Tim Chander

Communications Manager

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate of Alberta

780-638-4064

tim.chander@ocya.alberta.ca

NT5