REPORT TO COUNCIL

VANCOUVER FAMILY COURT/YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE

JANUARY 15, 1998

INFORMATION

1. 1997 Annual Report

The Vancouver Family Court/Youth Justice Committee is appointed by City Council under the auspices of the Provincial Court Act and the Young Offenders Act. The Committee's mandate is to examine services in the community for families and children, young offenders and youth at risk.

The Committee was appointed by Vancouver City Council for a one-year term in January of 1997. Following two resignations and one death during the year, the Committee now consists of fifteen members, including two young people whose input has proven to be a true asset in the Committee's work over the past year.

This annual report covers the period January 1 through December 31, 1997. Some of the highlights of the Committee's activities over the year have been:

January

·Guest speaker was Deputy Minister Bob Plecas, Ministry of Children and Families (MCF). Discussion focused upon information about the MCF organization and responsibility for Youth Diversion programs. Mike White, Youth Services Manager, MCF, was subsequently appointed as liaison to the Committee.

February

·Guest speaker Kathy Lynn spoke on behalf of the Repeal 43 Committee, which is lobbying the federal government with respect to removing the section of the Criminal Code of Canada that permits the corporal punishment of children by their parents or guardian. A Subcommittee was formed for further discussion and report back on the topic of Repeal 43.

·The new co-chairs encouraged the Committee to take a more proactive role on issues deemed to be of highest priority for the year.

March

·Judge Carlie Truman spoke on the role and mandate of a Family Court/Youth Justice Committee. To enhance its usefulness as an advisory body, Judge Truman challenged the Committee to learn as much as possible about causal problems affecting youth at risk, specifically Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and to serve as facilitators by bringing together people who have answers to parts of a problem, e.g. youth diversion.

·The Committee brainstormed twelve potential topics of priority, then chose to focus on three for the year - Youth Diversion, Family Court Clinic and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

·A letter was written to the Deputy Premier expressing concerns regarding the provincial legislation addressing Video Lottery Terminals and legalized gambling in the province.

April

·A round table discussion was held on Youth Diversion with representatives from: Ministry of the Attorney General - Victims Services, Vancouver Park Board - Ray Cam Community Centre and Hastings Community Centre Youth Workers, Vancouver School Board, Vancouver Police Department, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, John Howard Society, Ministry of Children and Families, Social Planning - City of Vancouver, Elizabeth Fry Society and Volunteer Vancouver.

May

·Round table discussion continued on the topic of Youth Diversion. Additional guests included: the Maple Ridge youth diversion program co-ordinator, Vancouver Park Board youth workers from: Trout Lake Community Centre, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House plus the Vancouver Health Department, B.C. Coalition for Safer Communities and additional members of the Vancouver Police Department.

May

·Co-Chair Dopson attended a Youth Consultation Day as part of Youth Week in Vancouver.

·A letter was sent to the Regional Crown Counsel regarding initiatives within the Ministry of the Attorney General with respect to youth diversion programs.

June

·The Committee observed a minute of silence to honour the passing of Dr. Syd Segal, a long-standing and valued member and past chair. He will be remembered as the "conscience of the Committee".

·Paul Czene, Hastings Community Centre Youth Worker, reported on plans for a new community diversion program targeting children under the age of twelve. This initiative was a direct result of the April/May round table discussions.

·A round table discussion was held on the topic of the Becca Bill. This Washington state bill focuses on the involuntary treatment of youth with drug, alcohol and emotional issues. Guests included representatives from: Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society, Alcohol and Drug, B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Youth Voices, John Howard Society, Social Planning - City of Vancouver, front-line street workers and the Vancouver Police Department. The discussion concluded it was important to focus on availability of preventive services rather than involuntary treatment.

·Jeff Brooks, Director of Community Services, Social Planning, advised that a report entitled Review of Alcohol and Drug Services in Vancouver has been prepared for the Ministry of Children and Families and the Vancouver Health Board. This report was endorsed by Vancouver City Council.

·A Subcommittee on Youth at Risk was struck to follow-up on the lack of services for youth involved in substance abuse.

July

·Commissioner Laura McDiarmid, Vancouver Park Board liaison, described recent initiatives undertaken in conjunction with the Vancouver School Board.

·Mike White, MCF liaison, reported on the progress of a report from the Interministerial Street Children's Committee to the Children's Commissioner, dealing with service needs of street youth. The Youth at Risk Subcommittee reported on possible initiatives around these issues.

August & September meetings were suspended due to the City's work dispute.

October

·The Subcommittee on Youth at Risk reported on the recent media release by Mayor Philip Owen announcing the formation of Vancouver's Coalition for Crime Prevention and Drug Treatment.

·The Repeal 43 Subcommittee recommended that the Committee write a letter to the Minister of Justice regarding the repeal of Section 43 of the Criminal Code which allows the corporal punishment of children. The Committee so resolved, and the letter was sent.

November

·The Committee endorsed the report prepared for the Children's Commissioner by the Vancouver Interministerial Street Children's Committee, entitled "You Have Heard This Before". The report makes recommendations concerning the unmet needs of street involved youth in the areas of housing, employment, health care, prevention, government services, and reformation of law and social justice policies. The Subcommittee on Youth at Risk will continue to work with the Chair of the Interministerial Street Children's Committee and other agencies on these issues.

·The Committee is organizing a Youth Speak-Out in late January or February, 1998. The purpose of the Speak-Out is to provide an opportunity for youth to speak directly to Ministry officials and other key people to press for action on the recommendations contained in the foregoing report.

·The Co-Chairs attended the provincial conference of Family Court and Youth Justice Committees.

·The Committee received an update from Paul Czene on the progress of the diversion program being developed for the Hastings-Sunrise area, which now includes a component for street-affected youth. The Committee was most enthusiastic regarding Mr. Czene's draft working document entitled "Village System, Urban Setting", which we understand will be brought to Council's attention when it is completed.

If Council members wish further information on any of these topics, we would be pleased to provide it.

"Richard Dopson and Sadie Kuehn"

Co-Chairs

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager submits the foregoing for INFORMATION.

APPENDIX A

Vancouver Family Court/Youth Justice Committee

1997 Members

Sev Araujo

Minh Doan

Richard Dopson (Co-Chair)

Honoree Findlay

Ron Joe

Sadie Kuehn (Co-Chair)

Malcolm McDonald

Lisa Martz

Lana Merrill

Jean Moore

Jim Siemens

Thomas Tong

Joe Wang

Anthony Williams

Toby Ward

(c) 1997 City of Vancouver