2025–2026 Services delivered: LGBT2SQ initiative

Component: provincial initiatives

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA)

Service objective

The purpose of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit and queer (LGBT2SQ^[1]) Initiative project is to support the development and implementation of affirming and inclusive sector-wide initiatives that help to support improved outcomes for LGBT2SQ children, youth and families involved in the child welfare system.

Service description

The transfer payment recipient will develop and manage the time limited LGBT2SQ ^{footnote 1[1]} Initiative project with a goal of working to address the outcome disparities and disproportionalities experienced by LGBT2SQ children, youth and families involved in Ontario’s child welfare system.

People served

• Children’s aid society (society) staff and leaders to help them better understand and provide affirming and inclusive supports and services to LGBT2SQ children, youth and families
• LGBT2SQ society staff to ensure they feel included and accepted within their organizations and across the sector
• LGBT2SQ children and youth involved in the child welfare system to ensure they feel heard, supported and can build peer relationships
• Parents and caregivers to help support them in building understanding and acceptance of their LGBT2SQ children and youth

Program/service features

The transfer payment recipient will complete the following activities throughout the full duration of the time-limited LGBT2SQ Initiative (2024-25 to 2025-26)

• Coordinate and lead strategic committees, councils and forums to inform and receive ongoing feedback on work to date and to identify opportunities to address any outcome disparities, disproportionalities, and improve outcomes for LGBT2SQ children, youth and families
• Plan and hold events for LGBT2SQ children and youth and LGBT2SQ society staff to ensure their needs and experiences are heard, and to support developing peer relationships
• Maintain, update and expand sector-wide Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Child Welfare Curriculum training to improve understanding of the diverse identities, needs and experiences of LGBT2SQ children and youth
• Develop and implement tools and resources to support societies in understanding and addressing any outcome disparities and disproportionalities experienced by LGBT2SQ children, youth and families and providing affirming and inclusive service delivery
• Launch a sector-wide assessment to understand progress made to date, and ongoing challenges to providing inclusive and affirming services to LGBT2SQ children, youth and families
• Develop and implement inclusive and affirming training, tools and resources for parents and caregivers to improve outcomes for LGBT2SQ children and youth in the child welfare system

Specific service provided

The Program / Services funded by the Province and delivered by the transfer payment recipient will reflect the following features:

Program goals

• Increased sector capacity to address heterosexism, cissexism as well as homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all intersectional forms of racism, oppression and discrimination experienced by diverse LGBT2SQ communities in child welfare in Ontario
• Increased inclusive, affirming and culturally relevant services and supports for LGBT2SQ children, youth and their parents and caregivers, that addresses intersectionality and reflects their unique needs, experiences and outcomes
• Increased sector accountability in providing inclusive, affirming and culturally relevant services and supports for LGBT2SQ children, youth and their families

Province's expectations:

To support the overarching project goals and features of the LGBT2SQ Initiative, the transfer payment recipient will undertake the following activities

• Facilitate quarterly (4) meetings per year of the Provincial Roundtable to provide opportunities to receive feedback about ongoing work, to support increased sector collaboration, and to inform future work to support improved outcomes for diverse LGBT2SQ children, youth and families. This will also include a focus on expanding existing membership to increase representation from other systems of care (e.g., health, housing).
• Continue to maintain, update, and expand the SOGIE Child Welfare Curriculum to improve sector understanding of LGBT2SQ identities, needs and experiences, including increasing the existing “train the trainer” roster through additional recruitment within underserved regions and supporting a trainer community of practice to encourage the sharing of experiences, best/promising practices, and feedback on training materials and facilitation.
• Work with societies to send LGBT2SQ children and youth to Camp Lifting Leaves, a specialized camp for LGBT2SQ children and youth involved in Ontario’s child welfare system, with a focus on increasing registration capacity each year (up to 60 youth in 2025-26). This includes working with Camp Lifting Leaves to identify program dates, creating awareness about the program within the sector, and working with societies to recruit and ensure interested LGBT2SQ children and youth are supported by their societies to attend.
• Host 1-3 virtual youth sessions each year to support LGBT2SQ youth in maintaining connections outside of camp.
• Plan and host quarterly (4) tailored events each year for LGBT2SQ society staff and advocates from across the child welfare sector to support the development of peer relationships, to ensure they feel included and accepted and to inform future work. This will include working to expand the number of staff reached through increased recruitment, with a specific focus within underserved regions.
• Plan and host quarterly (4) meetings each year with the LGBT2SQ staff committee to support regular engagement with societies, to highlight and share updates on ongoing work, and to receive feedback to support the development and implementation of key initiatives.
• Pilot and formally launch the Disparity Mapping and Decision-Making Tool (Tool) to support societies to identify any inequities and disparities within their service models, including implementing ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Tool to measure impact and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Guided by the SOGIE Intersectional Framework, develop and launch a handbook that provides societies with information on best/promising practices, recommendations from stakeholders, and practical tools to providing inclusive and affirming services and supports to LGBT2SQ children, youth and families.
• Establish an LGBT2SQ Youth Council with 8-10 LGBT2SQ youth advocates to ensure LGBT2SQ youth voices are heard and reflected in work undertaken by the OACAS and in services provided by societies. This will include establishing a Terms of Reference and hosting quarterly (4) meetings each year focusing on receiving feedback on ongoing/future work and skills development opportunities for members.
• Develop, launch, analyze and share the results of a second Organizational Self-Assessment with the sector and the Province to better understand progress made to date, and identifying ongoing challenges and opportunities to improve affirming and inclusive service delivery across the sector.
• In consultation with the sector and the Province, develop and launch a Data Strategy for LGBT2SQ children, youth and their families to increase the collection and equitable utilization of data related to LGBT2SQ children and youth, and support the provision of safe and affirming services.
• In consultation with LGBT2SQ community organizations and parents and caregivers, develop and implement:
  • Training and resources housed within an online hub and ongoing sLGBT2SQupport group meetings, for parents and caregivers experiencing feelings of rejection and anti-LGBT2SQ bias to increase their understanding and acceptance of their LGBT2SQ children and youth.
  • Family rejection and caregiver training for society workers to improve their ability to work with parents and caregivers experiencing feelings of rejection and anti-LGBT2SQ bias towards their LGBT2SQ children and youth.

Reporting requirements

The transfer payment recipient will monitor and evaluate program performance and confirm that project objectives are met, and activities are completed.

At each reporting period, the transfer payment recipient must complete a service data report on the program objectives, services, and targeted outcomes. The report will also include a clear explanation where there is a variance between the approved budget and actual expenditure for all budget lines as agreed with the Province.

At a mid-term (due by November 15 each year) and annual basis (due May 15 each year), the transfer payment recipient must complete:

• An Executive Summary of project progress and identification of variances from project activities for the reporting period
• A comprehensive Narrative Report and associated Financial Report for the reporting period, including an overview of project activities, including any variances from planned work and mitigation strategies, milestones and timelines, and results, including key takeaways, evaluation data, and lessons learned to inform ongoing and future work.
• A tracker providing an overview of key engagements undertaken within the reporting period.
• Additional attachments which confirm completion of project activities (i.e., meeting agenda/minutes, key milestones, presentation materials, etc.).
• Relevant supplementary materials as requested by the Province.

^[1] The acronym 2LGBT2SQ is meant to be inclusive and affirming of all diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, and queer identities. Other variations of this acronym may be used throughout this initiative, including those that order identities differently and/or those that give visibility to additional identities (e.g., 2SLGBTQ+, 2SLGBTQQIA+).