REPORT TO COUNCIL

Date:

May 28, 2003

Author:

Sadie Kuehn, Chair

Phone No.:

CCO contact Barbara Sage 604.873.7015

RTS No.:

3429

CC File No.:

3118-1

Meeting Date:

June 24, 2003

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Family Court/Youth Justice Committee

SUBJECT:

2002 Annual Report - Family Court/Youth Justice Committee

RECOMMENDATION

THAT this report be received for information.

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager submits the foregoing for INFORMATION.

PURPOSE

To provide Council with a report on activities of the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee for the period of January 2002 - December 2002.

BACKGROUND

The Family Court/Youth Justice Committee is appointed by Vancouver City Council. The Committee was established to fulfil the requirements of the Young Offenders Act and the Provincial Court Act.

Under section 5(6) of the Provincial Court Act the Family Court Committee must do the following:

a) meet at least 4 times a year to consider and examine the resources of the community for family and children's matters, to assist the court when requested and generally, and to make the recommendations to the court, the Attorney General or others it considers advisable;

b) assist the officers and judges of the court, if requested, to provide a community resource or assistance in individual cases referred to the committee;

c) report annually to the municipalities involved and to the Attorney General respecting their activities during the past year.
Under section 69 of the Young Offenders Act the Committee is to assist in any aspect of this Act or in any programs or services for young offenders and may specify the method of appointment of committee members and the functions of the committee.

Note: the Young Offenders' Act was repealed and replaced with the Youth Criminal Justice Act in April 2003.

DISCUSSION

In 2002 the Committee achieved the following:

· Provided feedback to the Department of Justice on drafts of its new Youth Criminal Justice Act;

· Toured, established partnerships, and provided feedback regarding the need for a new centre to replace the old Burnaby Youth Detention Centre;

· Continued in its lobbying to have a first of its kind Youth Drug Treatment Court and comprehensive drug education program established here;

· Helped with the planning and participated in Youth Week 2002;

· Supported the adoption of Social Planning's comprehensive childcare strategy " Moving Forward - Childcare: the Cornerstone of Early Childhood Development Services";

· Suggested changes to the research methodology used by Inspector Ken Frail of the Vancouver Police Department and his SFU Criminology researcher in collection of data on "at risk youth" in the Downtown Eastside;

· Participated in and provided recommendations to the Mayor on the City drug and safety strategy as a member of the Mayor's Coalition;

· Provided information and made recommendations to the Victoria Family Court Committee during its planning of the Provincial Conference held October, 2002;

· Developed instruments to enhance the function and operation of the Committee. These included a "mandate document" and a members' "code of conduct";

· Supported and worked with the Civic Youth Strategy Team in its development of actions to increase the involvement of young people in civic and community affairs;

· Participated in City Clerk's Department review of advisory committees, boards, and task forces by taking part in its survey and discussions.
2. Significant Topics

Significant topics in 2002 included:

· The possible impact of changes to the Human Rights Commission of BC, the Child Advocate and the position of the Children's Commission on youth and families;

· The possible impact of proposed changes to youth justice legislation on youth, the community, victims and the Committee's role and responsibility;

· The need for comprehensive and coordinated services for/to youth e.g. housing, drug and mental health services and education;

· Gaining and maintaining an adequate number of Committee members and developing a common base of knowledge which could take on intense Sub-committee work.

3. Guest Presenters

Guest presenters invited to speak to the Committee were:

Roz Currie, BC Human Rights Commission

Libby Davies, MP, Vancouver East

Elaine Bourgeois, Family Maintenance and Enforcement Branch

Inspector, Ken Frail, VPD

Craig Paterson, Lawyer

Bill Bird, Chair, Victoria FCC

Debbie Anderson, Child and Youth Social Planner, COV
Carol Ann Young, Child Development Coordinator, COV
Julianna Torjek, CYS Youth Outreach Team Coordinator, COV

Changes to Human Rights and its impact on the BC Human Rights Commission

Housing and Homelessness

Family Maintenance Enforcement Program

Research on youth at risk

Changes to labour laws and their impact on youth

Provincial Conference Planning

Civic Youth Strategy

4. Resolutions Forwarded to Council

The Chair noted that with only eight members appointed for the 2002 term, the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee would likely experience quorum problems. It was also noted that eight members would not be enough to undertake the Committee's work planned for 2002, especially in light of participation in Youth Week. Therefore, the Committee submitted the following motion to Council:

This was approved by Council.

6. Future Directions

The Committee expects to pursue the following issues during its 2003 term, subject to any direction which Council chooses to provide:

· Consult with and educate the community about the Committee, its role, and the new Youth Criminal Justice Act;

· Work more closely with partners on ending the sexual exploitation of young people;

· Work with Aboriginal community in development of its approach to the introduction of Alternative Justice Model;

· Clarify the current statute of Youth Justice and Family Court Committees as it relates to the new Youth Criminal Justice Act and the Attorney General of B.C.

· Request Council appoint a Liaison to the Committee to ensure that Council is aware of emerging family and youth issues which have relevance for the City. This would also demonstrate Councils' belief in the importance of this Committee and its work. It was also noted that of all the current Family Court Youth Justice Committees operating in the Province, Vancouver appears to be the only Committee without City Council representation.

When appointments are made for the coming term, it would be useful for the Committee to obtain expertise in the following areas:

· Youth and youth services;
· Family law and maintenance policies;
· Mental health current social services policies;
· Respect for our diversity and have a commitment to true inclusion.

Committee members will encourage suitable candidates in these categories to put their names forward for Council's consideration.

(See Appendix A - list of Sub-committees struck for the 2003 term)
(See Appendix B - list of 2002 and current Committee Members)

APPENDIX A

2002 ANNUAL REPORT

FAMILY COURT / YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE

The following Sub-committees have been struck for 2003 term:

a) Alternative Models, Diversion and Restorative Justice Sub-committee

b) Addictions, Youth Drug Court and Drug and Alcohol Preventative Services

c) Child Sexual Exploitation and Socio-Economic Condition of Families Sub-committee

APPENDIX B

2002 ANNUAL REPORT

FAMILY COURT / YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE

2002 Committee Members Current Committee Members

Franca Bassanese Franca Bassanese
Roberta Bradbury Roberta Bradbury
Mark Brady Gawain Chan
Raymond Chang Larry Cohen
Seema Chaskar Anne Derek
Honoree Findlay Honoree Findlay
Vanessa Gill Darryl Flasch
Rania Hatzioannou Charlotte Gottschau
Sadie Kuehn, Chair Karin Hartner
Harmail Sandhu Rania Hatzioannou
Carolynne Mahood Heather Johnson
Elizabeth Sun Sadie Kuehn, Chair
Eva-Maria Theren Philip Law
Angela Wynton Jennifer McNeil
Sherryl Yeager Marlene Morgan
Terry Yung Alvin Singh
Frank Tester
Andy Thompson
Cherie Williams
Sherryl Yeager

* * * *

ag20030624.htm

Comments or questions? Send us e-mail at info@city.vancouver.bc.ca
© 2002 City of Vancouver