B.C.'s official representative for children and youth says children in provincial care have a higher chance of appearing in court than graduating from high school.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond released the preliminary findings of a report Wednesday evening at a public forum in Vancouver organized by the Law Society of B.C.

Children under government care are 36 per cent more likely to end up in the correctional system than complete high school, she said.

"I think that's the most staggering finding because it is not exactly the outcome we want for them," said Turpel-Lafond.

Too many of the children have had lives filled with trauma — from neglect to violence to sexual abuse — and the child welfare system isn't helping heal these wounds, she said.

As wards of the state, they aren't getting the support they need, putting the troubled youths at greater risk of becoming adult criminals.

As a result, more than 40 per cent of children in care have been brought up on charges, and they are getting into trouble younger and staying involved with the criminal justice system longer, she said.

"Which suggests to me that there is a great opportunity to still improve and reduce the exposure of that already-vulnerable population to the system," said Turpel-Lafond.

Her report to government with recommendations for changes will be presented this fall.