In order to fulfill his mandate, the Representative has built partnerships with a number of agencies and organizations, including the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates.
Within B.C., the Representative is particularly committed to entering into and maintaining protocol agreements with other First Nations agencies and service providers for the coordination of services to First Nations children and their families.
Current projects and partnerships
Tuition Waivers for Youth in Care – ongoing
In the spring of 2013, B.C.’s first Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, challenged the province’s post-secondary institutions to waive tuition fees for youth under a continuing care order. Vancouver Island University was the first to meet that challenge, followed by UBC. The Office continues to be strongly supportive of this initiative.
Métis Nation British Columbia – Memorandum of Understanding signed October 30, 2013.
Community Living B.C. – Joint Protocol signed September 26, 2013.
First Nations Education Steering Committee – Memorandum of Understanding signed July 8, 2011.
First Nations Delegated Agencies (known collectively as the First Nations Directors Forum) – Memorandum of Understanding signed December 8, 2010.
Ministry of Children and Family Development – Communication and Information Sharing Protocol
Mary Ellen with the signatories and other representatives from Metis Nations British Columbia. 
Mary Ellen with the signatories and other representatives from Metis Nations British Columbia. 
Representative Turpel-Lafond and CLBC CEO Doug Woollard prepare to sign the joint protocol. 
From left to right: Carol Goozh, VP of Policy and Program Development at CLBC; CLBC CEO Doug Woollard; Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond; Melanie Mark, Associate Deputy Representative. 
CLBC VP Carol Goozh and Associate Deputy Representative Melanie Mark sign the new protocol. 
From left to right: Fred Ford, Director of Advocacy for Youth and Young Adults at RCYBC; Colleen Ellis, Project Manager at RCYBC; Carol Goozh, VP of Policy and Program Development at CLBC; Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond; Associate Deputy. 
Tyrone McNeil, a member of the Stó:lo Tribal Council and the president of the First Nations Education Steering Committee, and B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond sign the Memorandum of Understanding. 
FNESC president Tyrone McNeil and Representative Turpel-Lafond. 
The Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and the Honourable Minister Mary McNeil sign the Advocacy protocol to strengthen a shared commitment to promoting and supporting effective advocacy on behalf of B.C. children and youth receiving government services. 
Associate Deputy Representative for Children and Youth, Andrew Robinson, Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Honourable Minister Mary McNeil and Deputy Minister Stephen Brown sign the Advocacy Protocol. 
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond signs the advocacy protocol that will strengthen the RCY’s relationship with MCFD front-line staff and also provide clear communication to ministry staff that working with the office is important for children and encouraged. 
The Representative, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and the honourable minister Mary McNeil share the signed protocol. 
The Representative and Nita Walkem sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the First Nations Directors Forum and the Office of B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth. 
The Representative and members of the First Nations Directors Forum following the signing of the MOU.