Manitoba Advocate releases 2019-20 Annual Report

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) Daphne Penrose has released her fourth annual report, which provides a summary of the activities and initiatives undertaken by her office over the 2019-20 fiscal year. Along with the annual report, Penrose released a child- and youth-friendly companion document, “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” focused on the accomplishments of the office’s Youth Engagement program and Youth Ambassador Advisory Squad (YAAS!).

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, TREATY ONE TERRITORY – The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) Daphne Penrose has released her fourth annual report, which provides a summary of the activities and initiatives undertaken by her office over the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Along with the annual report, Penrose released a child- and youth-friendly companion document focused on the accomplishments of the office’s Youth Engagement program and Youth Ambassador Advisory Squad (YAAS!). The companion document, called “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” provides a colourful look at highlights from the first year of YAAS!, including a comic book story about how a youth can become a rights ambassador.

“The young people profiled in this document are helping advocate for better outcomes for all Manitoba children and youth. They deserve the spotlight here and accomplished so much in just their first year of working together,” Penrose said. “We are privileged to use our platform to lift up and amplify their voices and ideas.”

MACY’s Youth Engagement team will distribute copies of the companion document to some schools in Manitoba as part of National Child Day, which is celebrated on November 20, 2020.

The Manitoba Advocate’s annual report outlines important numbers and events from the past year. As described in the executive summary, key statistics include:

• 3,196 requests for advocacy services
• 789 ongoing advocacy cases opened
• 1,053 children, youth and young adults supported with ongoing advocacy
• 198 formal child death notifications received
• 71 child death reviews completed
  • 38 cases resolved and closed following a formal review
  • 33 cases progressing to more in-depth investigations
• 26 child death investigations completed
• 3 special reports completed and released to the public
  • 2 based on child death investigations
  • 1 systemic research report
• 29 formal recommendations issued, based on concerns arising from child death investigations and systemic research on children’s rights issues
• 2,085 points of contact with children, youth, and young adults from our youth engagement team
• 33 educational workshops delivered on children’s rights
• 241 visits to communities outside Winnipeg

“My staff have been incredibly busy over the past year, helping thousands of young people and others interested in young peoples’ care, despite several office moves and a global pandemic,” Penrose said. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished so far and our continued advocacy.”

To read the Advocate’s annual report and companion document, along with all special reports previously released, visit our Annual Reports page.

 About MACY: The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth is an independent office of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. It represents the rights, interests, and viewpoints of children, youth, and young adults throughout Manitoba who are receiving or entitled to public services, including child and family, adoption, disability, mental health, addictions, education, victim supports and youth justice. The office does this by advocating directly with children and youth, or on their behalf with caregivers and other stakeholders. Advocacy also involves reviewing public services after the death of any young person when that young person or their family was involved with a reviewable service as defined in The Advocate for Children and Youth Act (the ACYA). Additionally, the Manitoba Advocate is empowered to make recommendations to government, conduct child-centred research, disseminate findings, and educate the public on children’s rights and any other matter under the ACYA.

Media contact: Jessica Botelho-Urbanski, Manager of Public Education Phone: 204-451-6111

Email: jbotelho@manitobaadvocate.ca