Part 1: Introduction and background

1. Overview

The purpose of the Ready, Set, Go Guide (2023) (the Guide) is to promote a consistent approach to planning, preparing, and tracking of progress for youth transitioning from the care of children’s aid societies (societies) across the province of Ontario.

The Guide is being introduced to support the new policy and program for youth leaving care that comes into effect on April 1, 2023. The policy and program have been introduced through amendments to Ontario Regulation 156/18 made under the Child, Youth and Family Service Act, 2017 (CYFSA) entitled “General Matters Under the Authority of the Minister” (the Regulation) and issuance of Policy Directive CW003-23 Preparing Youth for Successful Transition from the Care of Children’s Aid Societies (the Policy Directive).

The core features of the new policy and the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program are:

• Strengthened accountability for societies with respect to preparing youth to successfully exit their care, including requiring societies to:
  • Work with youth from the age of 13 to prepare them in advance of exiting care;
  • Offer a conferencing option to youth after they turn the age of 15 that would facilitate formal planning for transition;
  • Provide youth with an information package prior to the youth’s 18th birthday and ensure a worker completes a basics checklist so youth can successfully leave care; and
  • Continue providing support to youth with pathways to school, training, and employment including ensuring youth are aware that post-secondary activities raise their funding by $500/month at age 20.
• Increased age of eligibility for supports and services to the youth’s 23rd birthday.
• Increased financial supports for eligible youth leaving care to enhance safety and stability.
• Additional financial support for eligible youth pursuing post-secondary studies or training.
• Detailed operating requirements and checklists for preparing youth for transition.
• Individualized work with youth, through the use of this Guide, to identify their strengths and areas that require support and development and measure progress during the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program (e.g., housing, education, employment, supportive relationships).

The new policy and program will empower youth leaving care to thrive after care through life skills development, post-secondary education or training, and/or pathways to employment.

The new initiative supports the Ontario Government’s priority to improve outcomes for youth transitioning to adulthood as identified in the Child Welfare Redesign Strategy (2020). The Guide should be used in conjunction with, and inform, all other required transition planning resources including the Plan of Care and Ready, Set, Go (RSG) Youth Plan. The Guide does not replace any requirements for children in residential care under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, its regulations, and ministry directives.

The Regulation and Policy Directive require that children’s aid societies begin work with youth at the age of 13 and as part of developing the Plan of Care consider the foundational work that will need to begin in order to prepare the youth to be ready to leave care. Societies are required to consider six life dimensions including health, education, identity, family and social relationships, emotional and behavioural development, and self-care skills.

This Guide can be used to support those conversations and planning at 13, recognizing that some of the contents may be better suited as the youth matures. Each of these six life dimensions are later reflected in the nine indicators.

The Regulation and Policy Directive also require that societies increase their focus on preparing youth to be ready to leave care as the child approaches their 16th birthday. No later than three months before the youth turns 16, the society is required to offer the youth a conference, or other forum, that is specifically focused on preparing the youth to leave care.

This conference will include all the supports in the youth’s life, both personal and professional, who can assist the youth in thinking about their long term goals and wishes for the future and developing a plan to achieving those objectives. Use of the Guide is required at this juncture in the youth’s life, regardless of whether they are interested in participating in a conference and can help facilitate planning discussions.

The Guide is intended for use with young persons as set out in the Directive and builds on the transition work that begins at the age of 13. There are elements of the Guide that can be used at 13, but the guide must be used in a more comprehensive way beginning before their 16th birthday and continue through participation in the RSG program until the young person reaches the age of 23, or voluntarily leaves the RSG program.

It is important to note that some Indigenous societies have developed transition planning approaches and resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth that recognizes their cultures, heritages, traditions, connection to their communities and concept of the extended family. As such the Guide can be modified to reflect these existing practices.

Furthermore, when providing services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, societies must ensure they are complying with their consultation obligations pursuant to s. 73 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017. 

1.1: Transitioning to adulthood

Transitioning to adulthood is a major life event for all young people and for most, the process is gradual, well supported, and occurs over a prolonged period. For example, in Canada 62 percent of young people ages 20 to 24 reside with their parents.^{footnote 1[1]} In contrast, youth in care face an abrupt transition to adulthood at the age of majority, regardless of their ability to manage the process.^{footnote 2[2]}

Child and youth advocates have long recommended a new approach to youth leaving care. This approach recognizes that the needs of youth in care do not immediately end when they reach the age of majority and the importance of providing continued supports to youth to develop their skills and abilities.^{footnote 3[3]}

Evidence demonstrates that the best outcomes for youth transitioning from care to adulthood are more likely to be achieved when the process is gradual, well supported, based on strong preparation and planning, with access to tailored supports to increase life skills and foster stability.^{footnote 4[4]}

1.2: Outcomes for youth leaving care

Outcomes for youth leaving the care of societies are typically worse than their same age peers. Children in care have experienced traumatic events and circumstances and separation from their families and communities. Without a stable home environment and strong relationships with peers and adults, youth in and from care are more likely to experience a range of negative outcomes.

• Lower educational attainment and academic achievements, including a lower likelihood of completing high school or pursuing higher education (46% of children in care graduate from high school vs 87% of their peers).^{footnote 5[5]}
• Unemployment or underemployment including difficulty finding and maintaining employment, and lower earnings among those who are employed.
• Housing insecurity/instability and homelessness, often moving around several times after leaving care (57.8% of youth experiencing homelessness reported child welfare involvement). ^{footnote 6[6]}
• Poverty and reliance on social or income assistance (57% of young people who were formally in care rely on social assistance). ^{footnote 7[7]}
• Pregnancy and early parenthood.
• Involvement in the criminal justice system as well as victimization, including physical and sexual abuse.
• Poor physical and mental health; including post-traumatic stress, with difficulties accessing health care (58% of children in care experience mental health issues). ^{footnote 8[8]}
• Substance abuse.
• Loneliness and isolation, with a fragile social support network.^{footnote 9[9]}

1.3: Legislative context

The paramount purpose of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) is “to promote the best interests, protection, and well-being of children”. ^{footnote 10[10]} This purpose should remain at the forefront during preparation for a youth’s transition to adulthood. Further, societies have a legislated function to “provide care for children assigned or committed to its care”. ^{footnote 11[11]} This legislated function includes a responsibility to prepare children for successful transition from care.

In accordance with the CYFSA, court-ordered care of a youth by a society expires at the time of their 18th birthday. Similarly, care by agreement (i.e., Voluntary Youth Services Agreement, customary care agreement) expires at the time of their 18th birthday.^{footnote 12[12]}

Section 124 of the CYFSA requires that societies provide continued care and support to eligible youth. This support was previously provided through the Continued Care and Support for Youth (CCSY Program). On April 1, 2023, Ontario Regulation 156/18 General Matters under the Authority of the Minister was amended to extend the eligibility for continued care and support to the youth’s 23rd birthday. The regulation was also amended to hold societies clearly accountable for preparing youth to successfully exit their care.

Policy Directive: CW003-23 (effective April 1, 2023) establishes requirements for societies with respect to preparing a youth for transition from care. One of the requirements of the directive is the use of this Guide to support planning for youth in and transitioning from the care of societies. The directive also introduces the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program to support youth leaving the care of societies.

1.4: Development of the Ready, Set, Go Guide

Advocates have long raised the issue of worsened outcomes of youth leaving care and the need for a new approach. As such, the Child Welfare Redesign Strategy intends to strengthen supports for youth leaving care including the temporary moratorium on youth ‘aging out’ of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recognition that youth voice must be at the centre of a redesigned approach to youth leaving care, the ministry publicly committed to work with former youth in care and related advocates to explore options for a new youth leaving care policy and program. The ministry recognized that firsthand experience and perspective were essential as well providing young people a voice in how they can be better supported with transitions from care to adulthood.

To support the youth engagement process, three advisory tables were established with participation of former youth in care and related advocates and professionals across three diverse groups: First Nation, Inuit and Métis (FNIM); African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB); and Mixed (representing diverse identities and experiences).

As a result, youth with lived experience participated in 13 sessions which helped shape the new Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program. Engagement included youth from various backgrounds and cultures including Indigenous, Black and racialized youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit and queer (LGBT2SQ), persons with disabilities and youth from urban and rural communities.

The core focus of engagement of youth with lived experience was to inform the development and deepening of six life dimensions identified in regulation (health, education, identity, family and social relationships, emotional and behavioural development, and self-care skills) critical to successful transitions from care. These dimensions are reflected in the nine indicators listed below:

1. Documentation
2. Education, Training and Employment
3. Financial Stability and Financial Literacy
4. Health and Wellbeing (this includes emotional and behavioral development)
5. Housing
6. Identity, Culture and Belonging
7. Family and Social Relationships and Professional Supports
8. Rights, Responsibilities and Self-Advocacy
9. Self-Efficacy (this includes self-care).^{footnote 13[13]}

In addition to engagement with youth with lived experience, the ministry engaged service providers, advocates, Indigenous partners and other key stakeholders, to hear how youth preparing to transition from care can best be supported. These engagements included a review of current youth leaving care policies and programs, as well as advice on developing policy and program options.

This extensive engagement was further supported by review of current research, best practices, and youth leaving care policy in other jurisdictions to create the new policy and the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program.

1.5: How the Ready, Set, Go Guide fits with policy directive CW003-23 preparing youth for successful transition from the care of Children’s Aid Societies and the Ready, Set, Go program

This Guide will assist young people, and the adults that support them, through a consistent approach to individualized planning, preparation, and tracking of progress. The Guide is intended to improve the effectiveness of transitions for young people from care by supporting young person to:

• have adequate preparation and planning to empower them to make informed decisions about their future;
• have support to identify and develop skills and resources necessary to grow into adulthood;
• have supportive relationships relevant to their identity characteristics, cultural and linguistic needs, regional differences and, wherever possible, that support connections to their communities. In addition, for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth connections to cultures, heritages and traditions, communities and extended families; and
• have ongoing opportunities to review and update their transition plan in response to individual needs and changing circumstances.

Through use of this Guide, support for young people transitioning from care will not end when they reach the age of majority. Rather individual needs will be identified early and progress will be tracked as a young person obtains the skills and abilities necessary for a successful transition to adulthood. As best outcomes are achieved for youth leaving care when the transition to adulthood is a gradual process, this Guide can be initiated to support required planning for children in extended society care at the child’s 13th birthday and is required for use beginning prior to their 16th birthday, and every six months thereafter in conjunction with the Plan of Care.

Where the young person is in agreement and wishes to participate in transition planning, it can also be used with children in interim society care, in customary care agreements, or in a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) as part of their planning processes. This Guide is intended for use throughout the youth’s participation in the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program until the young person has left society care or has reached the age of 23.

1.6: Prioritizing connections to culture, identity and community in transition planning

Positive outcomes and well-being are increased when children and youth feel connected to their cultures and communities and have relationships and services that support their identities. ^{footnote 14[14]}

In accordance with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA), all services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis children should be provided in a manner that recognizes their cultures, heritages, traditions, connection to their communities, and the concept of the extended family. ^{footnote 15[15]}

Ontario Regulation 156/18 General Matters under the Authority of the Minister requires that decisions about a child that materially affects, or are likely to materially affect, the child’s interests take into account regional differences and the child’s identity characteristics which includes the child’s race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, family diversity, disability, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or cultural or linguistic needs. ^{footnote 16[16]}

As such, it is critically important that all services for youth leaving care are responsive to their unique and diverse identity characteristics, their cultural and linguistic needs and regional differences and wherever possible, maintain connections to their communities. In addition, all services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth should be provided in a manner that recognizes their cultures, heritages, traditions, connection to their communities, and the concept of the extended family. A youth’s identity characteristics should remain a core consideration at all points of transition planning and use of this Guide. Youth should have access to appropriate resources and supports that reflect their identity characteristics and have meaningful opportunities to their respective communities.