Child & Youth Advocate of Vancouver - Work Plan

Sheila Davidson - Child and Youth Advocate
of the City of Vancouver.

Administrative Report & Work Plan - March 21, 2005

Covers the period of May, 2004, when Ms. Davidson
was appointed, to March, 2005.

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Background & History:

Reinstatement of Child and Youth Advocate at City Hall
July 29, 2003

An excerpt:

AND WHEREAS, in 1999 Council eliminated the position of Child
and Youth Advocate following the creation by the Provincial Government
of an Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate acting as an independent
office of the Legislature;

AND WHEREAS, on February 7, 2002, the Provincial Government
announced it will eliminate the independent Office of Child, Youth
and Family Advocate and integrate Child and Family Advocate duties
with those of the Children's Commissioner, and have them no longer report
independently to the Legislature, but instead report to the Ministry of
the Attorney-General;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Council reinstate the
position of Vancouver Child and Youth Advocate, and that the
Advocate report directly to Council and its Committees.
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Vancouver Children’s Policy

The Vancouver Children’s Policy was adopted by Council on
March 12, 1992. It is a statement of commitment to the children
of Vancouver and includes: Children’s Policy, Statement of
Entitlements and an Action Plan.

Vancouver Civic Youth Strategy (CYS) Policy

The Vancouver Civic Youth Strategy was adopted by Council
on March 28, 1995. It is a statement of commitment to work in
partnership with youth and the larger community to:

· Ensure that youth have “a place” in the city,
· Ensure a strong youth voice in decision-making,
· Promote youth as a resource to the city,
· Strengthen the support base for youth in the city.
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Vancouver Child and Youth Advocate - Practical Model of Advocacy

This policy was adopted by Council on April 27, 1995, following
on Council’s approval of the Social Planning report on the position
of the Child and Youth Advocate.
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Advocate's Workplan & Administrative Report-
March 24, 1997/98

The Child and Youth Advocate position grew out of the Mayor's
Task Force on Children, which released its report in May, 1988.
The first Advocate, Rita Chudnovsky, was hired in April, 1989,
and served a three-year term.
The second Advocate, Penny Parry, served a four-year term from
May, 1992, to May, 1996.
The third and current Advocate, Adrienne Montani, and served
from August 1, 1996 to 1999, when the position was dissolved due to
the creation of provincial watch dog entities, Children's Commission
and Child and Youth Advocate.

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REVIEW OF THE CITY OF VANCOUVER'S
CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCATE POSITION
June 21, 1999