The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate released a Special Report in December 2025. The report closely examined existing policies and procedures to protect the safety and well-being of children who receive protective intervention services following reports of child sexual abuse or exploitation.
Following release of the Special Report, the Provincial Government immediately initiated the development of an Action Plan. Today, we are releasing that plan which addresses all areas for potential action made in the Special Report. A plan that will ensure better protection of the children and youth in our care, and which will strengthen how our system responds when concerns are raised.
Key items within the Action Plan include:
- Independent examination and improvement of police policies, procedures, and response related to allegations that a child or youth has been sexually abused or exploited.
- Completion of the ongoing review of the Children, Youth and Families Act to further protect and ensure the safety of children and youth in care from potential abuse or exploitation.
- Re-establishment of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre as a central access point for child victims and their families to receive trauma-informed services and resources. A Steering Committee has been established to guide implementation.
- Finalization of updated Memorandum of Understanding with policing partners by the end of this year.
More information on all actions within the Plan can be found in the Backgrounder below. The Departments of Social Supports and Well‑Being, Health and Community Services, and Justice and Public Safety have already begun implementing these measures. The action plan is multi‑faceted, with near and long-term actions. Progress updates will be provided to keep the public informed on implementation status.
Every single action in this plan has already been initiated. Government officials will continue to meet and collaborate with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate as the Action Plan progresses.
Quotes
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador greatly values the work of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, and appreciates the significant efforts devoted to this review. Together, we remain fully aligned in our shared commitment to protecting children and youth from the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation. Implementing this action plan will require ongoing collaboration across all partners. This shared approach supports a unified commitment to improving safety, accountability, and outcomes for children and youth in our province.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being
“The trauma children and youth face when they experience abuse or exploitation is life altering. Bringing back the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre will help us and our partners ensure that every child and youth who has experienced abuse or violence receives the compassionate, coordinated support they need and deserve – no matter where they live.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Health and Community Services
“The Department of Justice and Public Safety is taking immediate action regarding the Child and Youth Advocate’s Special Report as it relates to the role of police. Following an independent review, we will work with both police agencies to improve policies and procedures with respect to allegations concerning vulnerable youth to enhance their safety and protection.”
Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer
Minister of Justice and Public Safety
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BACKGROUNDER
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Response to December 2025 Child and Youth Advocate Special Report
Action Plan
2026-27
| Special Report Key Consideration | Government Action | Lead Department(s) | Timeline |
| Review and potentially provide clarification of Policy 1.5: Police Involvement. This policy may need to include clearly defined criteria around what should and should not be referred. The language should also be updated to include youth as well as children. | Complete an internal review of Policy 1.5 and update Policy language to ensure frontline social workers are clear on referral process, in consultation with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. | SSWB | March 31, 2026 |
| Revise the current CPR form to clearly reflect the nature of police involvement. This should include a section to indicate whether police involvement was past or present, and/or if any consultations occurred and to what extent. It should also continue to include the date of referral and method used to send it. | Complete a review of the current CPR form to ensure it appropriately reflects police involvement and referral approach, amending the form to address the outcomes of this review | SSWB | March 31, 2026 |
| Evaluate investigation
timeframes outlined in the Protection and In Care Policy and Procedure Manual, particularly for investigations on placement resources as they are taking a considerable amount of time. |
Investigate timeframes for placement resources and assess how they compare with those in other provinces and territories.
Complete an analysis of internal investigation timeframes on placement resources to determine where time delays are occurring.
|
SSWB | Summer 2026 |
| Conduct a quality review as it relates to the timely completion of SDM: Family Risk Assessments. | Internal auditors and evaluators to complete a review of file samples to determine if the Family Risk Assessment has been completed on time and if assessment is in line with policies and procedures.
Internal auditors to also determine if clinical decision-making considers all necessary information per the SDM clinical case management model. |
SSWB | Fall 2026 |
| Continued examination of how the Children Youth and Families Act could be used to further protect and ensure safety of children and youth in care from potential abuse or exploitation. | Complete a legislative review of the Children, Youth and Families Act.
Government officials complete this review and propose required legislative amendments. Related training is also to be reviewed to determine how it can be strengthened to further protect children and youth. |
SSWB
|
Fall 2026 |
| Refinement of Policy 7.4: Reporting Third-Party Child/Youth Maltreatment of a Criminal Nature to the Police to reflect the process of discussing and achieving consent. | Complete an internal Departmental review of Policy 7.4 to ensure process of discussing and achieving consent is incorporated appropriately, amending the policy in accordance with the findings of the review. | SSWB
|
Fall 2026 |
| Renew MOUs between the Department and both policing agencies to make current and affirm the partnership.
|
Government officials to work with Police Agencies to finalize and sign an updated MOU between Department and policing agencies. | JPS
SSWB RNC, RCMP |
Fall 2026 |
| Reestablish the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) as a central access point for child victims and their families to receive trauma-informed services and resources. | A Steering Committee has been established to guide implementation of the CYAC. This Committee will finalize location, budget and required resourcing for the CYAC. The Centre is planned to be co-located with the Children and Youth in Alternate Care Clinic within the community.
The CYAC will bring together a multi-disciplinary team to provide coordinated and comprehensive response. Planned services include forensic interviewing services, victim advocacy and support, specialized medical support and treatment, specialized mental health services, and a process for case review. |
HCS
Support: SSWB |
Fall 2027 |
| Complete an in-depth examination of the police policies, procedures, and response where a report is received alleging that a child or youth has been sexually abused or exploited by a third party. |
Assign a dedicated JPS departmental official to conduct an in-depth independent examination of police policies, procedures and response.
The review will be completed in collaboration with the Child and Youth Advocate.
|
JPS
Support: HCS |
Fall 2027 |