Find An Advocate

An advocate is someone who publicly supports the respect and observation of rights, policies, best interests and views.

Systemic Advocacy refers to advocacy that often happens in larger groups with a common cause, such as changing the age of aging out of care.

Self-advocacy refers to an individual’s ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert their own interests, desires, needs, and rights.

Individual Advocacy can be formal or informal and requires two or more people who are advocating for someone’s best interests or rights. A lawyer or a professional advocate does formal advocacy. Standing up for a friend is informal advocacy.

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) is an independent office of the Manitoba legislature. That means they are outside the government and are not a part of any government department.

MACY is empowered by law to support and advise people 21 years old or younger of their rights and the services which should be available to them.

MACY also has responsibilities to conduct child-centred research, investigate the serious injuries and deaths of young people, issue formal recommendations to improve public services and monitor and report on compliance regarding the implementation of recommendations made by the Manitoba Advocate.

The Manitoba Advocate leads a team who represents the rights, interests, and viewpoints of children, youth, young adults, and their families who are receiving, or are entitled to receive, services in the areas of:

• Child welfare
• Adoption
• Disabilities
• Mental Health
• Addiction
• Youth Justice
• Education
• Victim Support (including domestic violence and sexual exploitation)

MACY provides direct advocacy, investigations, research, special reports, formal recommendations and compliance monitoring with recommended changes.

Contact MACY

The Winnipeg office is open

Monday through Friday:
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

346 Portage Avenue, Unit 100
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0C3 (close to Portage Place Mall)

Phone: (204) 988-7440
Email: info@manitobaadvocate.ca

Thompson office is open

Monday through Friday:
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

300 Mystery Lake Road
Thompson, MB R8N 0M2
(inside the City Centre Mall)

Phone: (204) 677-7270 or Toll-Free: 1-800-263-7146
(Manitoba only)

Through youth-driven leadership, community awareness and advocacy, VOICES: Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network is committed to engaging, equipping, and empowering youth in and from care.

Contact VOICES by calling (204) 982-4956 or email info@voices.mb.ca and tell them you need help advocating.