2023
ChildrenandYouth
AboutUs FirstCall
Webelieveinputtingchildrenandyouthfirst.
OurVision
TherightsofBC’schildrenandyoutharerespected,andthey havetheopportunitiesandresourcesrequiredtothrive.
OurMission
To uphold the rights of BC’s children and youth through research, public education, community mobilization and publicpolicyadvocacy.
HowWeWork
Weconductresearchandanalysisonchildandyouthrights and well-being, offer education and training events, and make policy recommendations to advocate, promote, strengthenanddefendtherightsofchildrenandyouthinBC.
We work on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəyəm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō (Stolo) and Səlílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)Nations.
WhatWeDo
FirstCallChildandYouthAdvocacySocietyisaregisterednonprofitcharityinBritishColumbia.Ourpurposeistocreategreater understandingofandadvocacyforlegislation,policy,andpractice sothatallchildrenandyouthhavetherights,opportunitiesand resourcesrequiredtothrive.
We…raisethepublicprofileofchildandyouthissuesthroughpublic educationandthedisseminationofresearch.
We…advocateonpublicpolicyissuesinordertohaveresources allocatedforthebenefitofchildrenandyouth.
We…recognizethevalueofinvolvingchildrenandyouthindecisionmakingprocesses.
We…mobilizelocalandprovincialsupportforchildrenandyouth.
Our4KeysToSuccess
We believe that to promote the health and well-being of children andyouth,theyandtheirfamiliesneedthefollowing:
TheYearin Review
Message from Adrienne Montani, First Call’s Executive Director
and Jim Staton, Chair of the First Call Board of Directors
In 2023, First Call continued to bring vigour and an even higher level of commitment to addressing the significant issues facing children, youth and their families in BC. In February our society became a registered charity, with a new board of directors. This milestone was crucial to creatingasustainablefutureforthesocietyandourmission.
Thispastyear,oureffortsinvolvedsupportingnotonlyourownresearch and advocacy efforts, but also increased involvement as advisors and partnerswithotherchild-centredorganizationsandcampaigns.
Partnerships are the lifeblood of non-profit organizations like First Call ChildandYouthAdvocacySociety.Theyamplifyourimpact,allowingus to reach further and do more for the children, youth, and families we serve.
AtFirstCall,ourpartnershipsarediverseanddynamic,rangingfromour dedicated network of 100+ affiliate organizations to the generous supportersanddonorswhoshareourvision.Eachoftheserelationships is crucial to our mission, helping us advocate effectively for the rights andwell-beingofchildrenandyouthacrossBritishColumbia.
By working together across sectors, in 2023 we mobilized support for poverty reduction measures at the provincial and federal levels, for federal legislation to protect children from physical punishment, marketingofunhealthyfoodandbeveragesandtheharmsofaccessto online pornography, and for improved supports for families raising childrenwithdisabilities,amongmanyotherissues.
Equallyimportantarethegrantorganizations,foundationsandindividual donors who help fuel our work. The 27th edition of our BC Child Poverty ReportCard,ourfinalMakingEndsMeetreport,andournewestinitiative, ourresearchreportonthefailuretoprotectchildren’srighttohousingin BC,wereallfundedbythegenerosityofthesesupporters.
Financial contributions provide the resources necessary to sustain our operations, fund critical research, and launch impactful campaigns. But that support goes beyond dollars; we know it is a vote of confidence in our mission and a commitment to stand with us in our efforts to make sure the rights and well-being of BC’s children and youth are given the prioritytheydeserve.
Ineverypartnership,whetherwithaffiliates,supporters,ordonors,wesee a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and youth At First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society, we understand that our strength lies in these relationships, and we are deeply grateful for the trustandcollaborationthattheybring.Together,wearebuildingabetter futureforallchildrenandyouthinourprovince.
Toall,oureternalthanks.
AdrienneandJim
Campaign Highlights
First Call participated in many consultations and made submissions to thegovernmentonavarietyoftopics.Throughourletters,annualbudget briefs and advice in meetings with government representatives we advocatedfor:
Child poverty reduction measures through better income supports, improved universal services and targeted initiatives for those overrepresentedinpovertystatistics
Protectingchildrenfromphysicalpunishment
Improved access to services for children and youth with disabilities andsupportneeds;
Enhancedsupportsforyouthinandfromgovernmentcare,including thoseinkinshipcare
Protectingyouthfromhomelessness
Implementing a public system of $10aDay Child Care, including school-agecare
Protecting children’s right to housing and better security for families whorent
Increasedfundingforpubliceducationtoreduceinequitiesandmeet allstudents’learningneeds
Healthyschoolmealsprograms
Combattingsexualexploitationofchildren
Protectingchildrenfromonlineexposuretopornography
SupportfortheCanadaDisabilityAct
Reforms to the Employment Insurance system, especially regarding parentalleave
Better supports for Infant Development, Supported Child DevelopmentandYoungParentProgramsinBC
ProtectingCanadiangirlsfromfemalegenitalmutilation
Research Reports
MakingEndsMeet
specifically heard from Vancouver families who are living in poverty while working and raising children. The goal of this peer-led research project was to provide a platform for these voices and to offer recommendationsforchange directlyfromparticipants.This project was generously supported by a Vancouver Foundationgrant.
Our2023BCChildPovertyReport Card continued to shine a spotlight on the unacceptable level of child poverty and income inequalityintheprovinceandthe impacts this has on children and families. Our collaboration with SPARCBCandCampaign2000on thisannualreportwas,asalways, invaluable and funding from the Vancouver Foundation, several trade unions and Vancouver Coastal Health supported this work. Ourmediacoverageonthis reportwasconsiderable.
Ourinauguralresearchonhowandwhysomanyfamilieswith children are having a very hard time accessing their right to housinginBritishColumbiawascompletedwiththesupportof agrantfromTheLawFoundationofBC.
The resulting report, A Failure to Protect, The Denial of Children’s Right to Housing in British Columbia, released in early 2024, documented the issues of unaffordability, discrimination faced by families with children and youth in the rental housing market, and a variety of policy barriers for familiesinaccessingsubsidizedhousing.Ourprojectdeveloped law reform and policy recommendations that garnered attentionfrompoliticiansandthemedia.
OtherFirstCall ActivitiesofNote
In2023,FirstCallhostedninenetworkmeetings involvinghundredsofparticipantsdiscussingvarious topicsimpactingchildrenandyouth.Additionally,we convenedfiveEarlyChildhoodDevelopment Roundtablemeetingstoshareknowledgeandguide ouradvocacyonissuesaffectinginfants,young children,andtheirfamilies.Panelsandguestspeakers addressedawiderangeofissues,suchasnewcomer children,youthandfamilies,familylaw,public education,deafchildren’sservicesandmuchmore.
Overthecourseoftheyear,staffmade27presentations inthecommunityonchildrights,childlabour standards,alleviatingchildandfamilypoverty, advocacyforaccessible,affordablechildcare,and improvedsupportsforyouthtransitionsfromcare, reachingnearly600people.
FirstCall’sresearchandadvocacyappearedinover30 newsandresearcharticles.
Funders& Supporters
Wegratefullyacknowledgefinancialsupportfrom:
BCGeneralEmployees’Union
BCTeachers’Federation
HospitalEmployees’Union
HealthSciencesAssociationofBritishColumbia
OspreyTreeFoundation
TheLawFoundationofBC
VancouverCoastalHealth
VancouverFoundation
OurAffiliateOrganizationsand Donationsfromindividualsupporters DonatetoOurWork
Pleasejoinusonthisjourneytoamoreequitablefuture forallourchildrenandyoungpeopleinBC.
Helpusamplifythecallforbetterpolicyforchildren,youth,andtheir familiesbybecomingamonthlydonortoourcharity.Yourdonations andbequestswillhelpustoputchildrenandyouthfirstinBC.
Supportusinourresearchandadvocacybydonatingtoday. DONATEHEREorcallusat604-288-8102
FirstCallChildandYouthAdvocacySocietyisa registeredCanadiancharity–#772217469RR0001. Tax-deductiblereceiptsareavailable.
