Overview About Us
Our Role
The role of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA), as outlined in the Child and Youth Advocate Act, is to represent the rights, interests, and viewpoints of young people. We centre reconciliation in our work and are dedicated to strengthening our relationships with Indigenous young people, families, and communities. We are an independent office of the Alberta Legislature, which means we are not part of the Government of Alberta.
Our Work Includes
- Working directly with young people to help them exercise their right to be heard and have their interests considered when decisions are made about them.
- Providing advocates to young people involved with the child intervention or youth justice systems and appointing lawyers for young people in some child intervention court matters.
- Promoting and raising awareness about young people’s rights, advocacy strategies, and the role of our office through presentations and participation in community events.
- Facilitating young people’s right to participate throughout the work of our office and through on the OCYA Youth Council.
- Investigating the serious injuries and deaths of young people who meet the criteria for an investigative review under our legislation.
- Raising concerns and making recommendations to government about issues affecting young people’s lives.
Our Advocacy Practice Framework provides an overview of how we develop, deliver, and support advocacy services for young people in Alberta.
Our Mission: We stand up for young people.
Our Vision: Young people in Alberta succeed in their lives and communities.
Our Values: Rights-focused, Accountability, Respect, Integrity.
