What We Do

About Advocacy

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate can:

  • Provide information and advice to children, youth and their families
  • Represent the rights, interests and viewpoints of children and youth who are receiving or may receive a service from a government funded program or service – this is called a reviewable service
  • Assist children and youth to ask for and participate in a case conference, a review of a service they are receiving, a mediation or other process in which decisions are made about a service to a child or youth and their families
  • Receive and review any matter that comes to our attention about a government funded program or service provided to a child or youth or a group of children or youth
  • Promote and provide education and advocacy on the rights, interests and well-being of children and youth
  • Monitor implementation and compliance of recommendations included in reports made by the Child and Youth Advocate
  • Promote the rights of children and youth in relation to government legislation, policies, protocols, practices and reviewable services to children and youth
  • Work with individuals, families, communities, government and community organizations to support and create opportunities for the well-being of children and youth
  • Undertake or collaborate in research related to improving reviewable services

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate may:

  • Receive and investigate any matter that comes to the attention of the Child and Youth Advocate from any source about:
  • a child or youth who receives or is eligible to receive a reviewable service;
  • a group of children or youths who receive or are eligible to receive a reviewable service; and
  • a reviewable service for children and youth
  • at the request of a child or youth, or based on the Child and Youth Advocate’s own initiative, assist in appealing or reviewing a decision relating to a reviewable service
  • advocate on behalf of a child or youth in relation to a reviewable service
  • try to resolve problems by working together
  • review, investigate and report on the serious injury or death of a child or youth
  • conduct or contract for research on the rights, interests and well-being of children and youth to help the Child and Youth Advocate make recommendations to improve reviewable services for children and youth
  • help the Child and Youth Advocate to advise or make recommendations to government or community organizations responsible for reviewable services on any matter relating to the rights, interests and well-being of children and youth

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate cannot:

  • Change a decision made by a program or service
  • Act as legal counsel for or provide legal advice to any person 
  • Change arrangements for children & youth in custody or access
  • Exercise jurisdiction over or act with respect to the deliberations and proceedings of the Executive Council or one of its committees
  • Exercise jurisdiction over or act with respect to judges, justices of the peace and functions of any court in PEI

Bubbles telling what Child Youth Advocate Does

 

Public Education

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate has responsibility to promote and provide public education and advocacy respecting the:

  • Rights, interests and well-being of children and youth
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as it affects children and youth

Please contact our office to request a presentation or to participate in educational opportunities.

Individual Advocacy

Learn about Individual Advocacy here. 

Systemic Advocacy

Learn about Systemic Advocacy here.

Child Serious Injury or Death - Mandatory Reporting 

Learn about Child Serious Injury or Death Mandatory Reporting here. 

Child and Youth Engagement 

The voices of children and youth are of critical importance in advocacy work. We strive to engage directly with children and youth in a flexible, approachable, and child-lead manner. Our Office is available to connect one-to-one, in groups, and through the membership Child and Youth Advisory Committee of the PEI Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. 

How did we get here?

Read our Background information. 

Resources