November 28, 2000

Dear Stakeholder:

As you know, we are working to implement the Secure Care Act in the fall of 2001. However, before it can be implemented, the regulations, policies and procedures must be developed that will make it work to protect children and youth in British Columbia.

In order to do this, the ministry needs your help. Government has made a commitment to consult broadly in implementation of the legislation, and I have asked the ministry to begin extensive discussions with stakeholders.

We are seeking advice and suggestions specifically about the questions listed below, however your general comments area also welcome.

• What characteristics or values should underlie secure care intervention services?
• Given the importance of decisions made by the Secure Care Board, how should these individuals be selected?
• What measures must be in place to address the specific needs of aboriginal youth that may need the intervention offered by the Secure Care Act?
• How should secure care work for youth who live in, or come from, small remote communities?
• How can we balance the rights of the individual with health and safety concerns?
• How should secure care be integrated with existing community services?
• What should the assessment process, required under the act, look like?
• What facility criteria should be established? For example: location, management structure, how many, size, and building environment (security) issues.

Secure care is intended to intervene and help communities support young people engaged in high-risk activities, those who are in grave danger and yet actively resist their communities' efforts to help. Parents everywhere have spoken of their anguish and the despair they feel as they watch their children drift into a world of drug abuse, prostitution and violence. Secure care is just one more part of the continuum of care for at-risk youth, a continuum which includes prevention, early intervention and crisis support.

The Secure Care Act can be found on the Ministry's web site at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca. If you are interested in making a submission, please fax to (250) 387-2059, or send by mail to the Secure Care Team, Ministry for Children and Families, PO Box 9718, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC, V8W 9S1.

If your group or organization would like to meet with the Secure Care Project Team, please call (250) 387-0258 or call Enquiry BC at 1-800-663-7867.

I look forward to hearing your views and suggestions on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Edward John
Minister

Enclosure