Children, Seniors and Social Development
December 5, 2017
Provincial Government Proposes Amendments to the Child and Youth Advocate Act
Legislation to amend the Child and Youth Advocate Act will receive second reading in the House of Assembly today. The amendments will allow for the mandatory reporting of child deaths and critical injuries to the advocate by the departments of Children, Seniors and Social Development, and Justice and Public Safety.
The proposed amendments to the advocate�s legislation will require these departments to report child and youth deaths and critical injuries involving those receiving services at the time, or within the preceding 12 months, to the advocate as soon as practicable. The amendments are focused on these two departments, given they are responsible for providing services and/or care to some of the most vulnerable children and youth in the province.
In collaboration with the Child and Youth Advocate, the proposed amendments and policy approach help government meet its public commitment to mandatory reporting; meet the current advocate�s request for the reporting of deaths and critical injuries; and improve accountability, transparency and overall communication with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate.
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�The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate provides an extremely valuable service to children, youth and their families. The Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development was pleased to engage with the advocate on these amendments to the Child and Youth Advocate Act to meet our collective goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of children and youth in our province.�
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Learn more
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate - childandyouthadvocate.nf.ca/
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Media contact
Krista Dalton
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 685-6492
kristadalton@gov.nl.ca
2017 12 05 12:10 p.m.