Jeremy Berland Deputy Representative for Children and Youth British Columbia, Canada

1. Embracing Oversight: An Oxymoron? Jeremy Berland Deputy Representative for Children and Youth British Columbia, Canada

2. RCY – Who Are We? • Support children, youth and families who need help dealing with the child welfare system and advocate for changes to the system itself. • Improve services and outcomes for children in B.C. through advocacy, accountability and review. • Independent office of the BC Legislature

3. Child Rights Perspective The Representative’s work is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and upholds the following values: • Children have a right to be protected and kept safe • Families are the best environment for raising a child • Parents and extended family have the primary responsibility for a child • Decisions made about a child should include their own views and input

4. Critical Injury and Death Reviews and Investigation Reports • Honouring Christian Lee – No Private Matter: Protecting Children Living With Domestic Violence • There was no coherent policy framework for responding to domestic violence in B.C. and children exposed to violence were not adequately supported. • A systematic response to domestic violence must include protective orders with real enforcement, emergency contact systems for victims, and programs and supports for children who are exposed to violence to end the cycle and support their positive development.

5. Fragile Lives, Fragmented Systems: Strengthening Supports for Vulnerable Infants • Lack of coordinated and responsive approach to government services • A patchwork of services and limited supports to vulnerable families and their newborns

6. Housing, Help, and Hope: A Better Path for Struggling Families • Vulnerable families overwhelmed in navigating through government services and system • Need stronger internal and external accountability to support vulnerable families in a way that addresses their needs

7. Growing Up in B.C.

8. Growing Up in B.C. • Joint report released October 2010 • Unique in focus and approach • Voices and views of youth fundamental to report development • Focus on the most vulnerable child and youth populations in the province • International and national data experts

9. Domains • Child Health • Child Learning • Child Safety • Family Economic Well-being • Family, Peer and Community Connections • Child Behaviour

10. Role of Oversight • Public accountability • Transparency • Independence • Voice of Authority

11. Role of Oversight • Begin to add context • Voice for children • Stable • Coaches a culture of respect • Healthy and inevitable tension

12. Role of Oversight • Able to look at both individual and systemic issues • Cost benefit not always apparent • Politically risky but essential • Satisfies public bloodlust

13. Effectiveness • Occasionally tense but cooperative relationships • Respect for function • Ability to gain access to senior staff & ministers ` • Public credibility • Consistent

14. Unanticipated Consequences • Protection of child serving budgets • Consultation on key issues • Engagement of other sectors • Politics less heated

15. Further Information/Comments • Jeremy Berland – Jeremy.Berland@rcybc.ca • www.rcybc.ca