NEWS RELEASE

April 25, 2003

For Immediate Release

Children’s Advocate Releases Annual Report

The Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) received 1,426 requests for advocacy services in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, 26% more than the previous year. Of these, the OCA opened 849 cases that required advocacy services. The total requests for our services have increased by 80% since the Children’s Advocate became an Independent Officer of the Legislative Assembly.

"Trust in the Office of the Children’s Advocate continues to grow and is being reflected in the increasing number of people who seek our assistance," the Children’s Advocate, Janet Mirwaldt said. "As Manitoba’s Child and Family Services System (CFS) transitions, an independent, adequately resourced and empowered Children’s Advocate remains vital to ensure the rights of all children and youth are fully protected, regardless of where they live or which CFS agency provides them with services."

Effective Advocacy Requires Adequate Resource

The Children’s Advocate is not sufficiently funded or staffed. Adequate funding of the OCA is critical as the CFS system transitions. Under the new system the OCA will be required to collaborate with four new, separate authorities and an executive support unit of the department, while maintaining its current relationships with CFS agencies and those served by the OCA.

The Children’s Advocate Must Be Accessible In All Parts of Manitoba.

The OCA must be accessible to more communities across Manitoba, which it cannot be with only four advocacy workers based in Winnipeg. In September 2001, the OCA completed a feasibility study entitled The Need for Children’s Advocacy in Northern Manitoba that confirmed that the OCA requires an enhanced presence in southern Manitoba and the creation of an office in northern Manitoba.

The Right to Advocacy Should be Centred Upon the Child Not the CFS Department

While the authority of the Children’s Advocate is restricted to CFS, over 30% of the children and youth with whom the OCA worked this fiscal year had issues and concerns with services provided by other departments and agencies. It would be more productive for the child or youth to have one consistent source providing advocacy assistance that has the authority to act in their best interests across jurisdictions.

Some CFS Practices Need to Improve

The Children’s Advocate’s Annual Report cited a number of case examples where the lives of children, youths and families involved with CFS were adversely affected when agencies failed to make appropriate long-term care plans, act on allegations of abuse, or were not responsive in requests to services and support. The Children’s Advocate said that one of the biggest problems they encounter in their cases is a lack of regard within the CFS system for the viewpoints of the children and youth who are in the system. Following a meeting with a youth, who felt that the views expressed by the youth were neither considered or heard by CFS authorities, the youth stated to the OCA that the agency could now say, "Check off - talked to kid".

Highlights of the Work of the OCA in 2001-2002

The International Forum for Child Welfare awarded Manitoba’s Children’s Advocate top international honours for its information material.

The Children’s Advocate website was launched as a resource tool for children, youth, families and community members.

In partnership with Save the Children Canada, the OCA continued to provide The Right Way Program. The program offers interactive workshops that give young people an opportunity to learn more about their rights and practice skills to advocate for themselves in a responsible way. Comments from young participants have included: "I think we have the right to grow up without getting abused." "I learned that I have the right to feel safe in the community because there are people to help." "Now I am not afraid to speak out."

Janet Mirwaldt was re-appointed for a second-three year term as the Children’s Advocate on March 29, 2002. The Children’s Advocate exists to represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of children receiving, or entitled to receive, child and family services in Manitoba. The Children’s Advocate reports directly to the Legislative Assembly and operates in an arm’s length relationship with the child and family services system.

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Media contact: Janet Mirwaldt.