On July 16, the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) released Don’t Look Away – How one boy’s story has the power to shift a system of care for children and youth, a report which calls for us all to work together to take action in five key areas: enhancing child well-being, addressing the prevalence of violence, supporting families, enhancing accountability, and supporting jurisdiction.
EVA BC was honoured to attend the release of the report, joining with leaders from across sectors, government ministries and Indigenous organizations. As we participated in the sacred space, we were invited to witness the story of Colby (a pseudonym), an 11-year-old boy who did not survive his placement with extended family. We took time to reflect on our role and responsibility to act now to ensure that systems are in place to support never causing harm to another child.
EVA BC supports all the report recommends and thank the Representative, Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth, the RCY researchers and staff, Indigenous leaders, and advisors, and everyone who worked to share the story and the voices of children, youth, and their families so we can all understand what needs to change. Working to prevent intimate partner and family violence and improving inter-agency collaboration were identified as two of the report’s major themes.
EVA BC shares these concerns and we continue to advocate to policy makers and government partners for more resources for gender-based violence support services and the supports needed to enhance community coordination. We look forward to engaging in next steps to strengthen cross-sectoral, cross-governmental and Indigenous partnerships focused on ensuring that children and their families are safe so children can thrive and reach their full potential.
The Minister of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Grace Lore, received the report on behalf of the government and committed to implementing its calls to action with her government colleagues, including announcing the creation of a new multi-departmental cross-government implementation team.
EVA BC will share knowledge it gathers from the anti-violence sector that serves survivors, with RCY, the cross-ministry group, and others as they assist in the development of an action plan to be monitored with report-back mechanisms.
We recognize that women and gender diverse persons are not free from gender-based violence, and that they and their children often experience lifelong and inter-generational trauma that has a devastating impact. We need to break the cycle and start the healing by creating safety for families which will lead to safety for children and future generations. This report has connected the dots, and it is time for all of us to come together and critically challenge our current systems and find different ways of working together to support families and communities, and create a society at large where children are safe and thriving.
See the BC government’s press release: Province takes new direction for vulnerable children, families
