Child welfare redesign
Learn how we’re transforming the child welfare system and find out about the plan we introduced in July 2020.
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Vision, goals and outcomes
Ontario is building a child and family services system that ensures more families stay together and that children and youth in care have the support they need to be safe, succeed and thrive.
The child welfare redesign focuses on transforming child and family services to strengthen families and communities through:
- prevention
- early intervention
- finding more permanent homes for children and youth in care when they cannot stay in their own homes or communities
The redesign strategy looks to achieve seven successful outcomes for families as well as Ontario’s overall child and family services system.
Strategic pillars
Our strategy to redesign the child welfare system is built on five pillars that focus on:
- community-based prevention services to enhance family wellbeing
- improving the quality of residential care
- increasing youth supports
- developing stable lifelong connections for children and youth
- improving accountability and sustainability
A distinct Indigenous approach is being used in all pillars, which commits to co-developing approaches with Indigenous partners in order to improve outcomes for Indigenous children, youth and families.
1. Child, youth, family and community wellbeing
Providing higher quality, culturally appropriate and responsive community-based services, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.
2. Quality of care
Seeking to improve the quality of residential care provided to children and youth.
3. Strengthening youth supports
Ensuring children, youth and families have a strong voice in decisions about their care. It also includes supporting children and youth to succeed at school and graduate with their peers, setting them up for future success at work and in adulthood.
4. Improving stability and permanency
Developing permanent, stable connections and supports for children and youth through family-based placements such as adoption, legal custody, customary care and kinship service.
5. System accountability and sustainability
Creating a more efficient and effective child welfare system, one that is financially sustainable.
Engagement
Engagement is taking place with:
- community-based services sectors
- Indigenous partners
- the child welfare sector
- the residential sector
- children, youth and families
There is a particular focus on Indigenous, Black, racialized and LGBT2SQ communities as they are overrepresented in the child welfare system and experience disproportionate outcomes. Discussion on eliminating such barriers and making services more inclusive and culturally appropriate for all children, youth and families is key. This wide-reaching level of engagement is an important component in redesigning child and family services in Ontario.
As work progresses within each of the strategic pillars, engagement with these various groups will ensure that policies and initiatives are responsive to the needs of children, youth and families within their communities.
Opportunities for input will be identified and shared as they become available.
Progress update
Announced the Ontario government is investing $68 million in a new program that connects youth in the child welfare system with additional services and supports they need to prepare for and succeed after leaving care
Extended the moratorium on youth leaving care until March 31, 2023, to support youth as we built a more extensive plan to set up youth for success as they transition into adulthood.
Posted the care you deserve resource to help young people:
- find out what to expect while living, or being looked after, away from their parent's or primary caregiver's home
- access other helpful resources
The centralized adoption intake service, funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and operated by the Adoption Council of Ontario, launched with a new website and team to assist prospective adoptive parents who are exploring adoption.
Announced three-year investment of $822,399 in the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to help develop new inclusive and gender affirming services and supports that improve outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit and queer (LGBT2SQ) children, youth and families involved with the child welfare system.
Announced investment of $2.2 million over five years in the Big Steps to Success mentorship program, to help kids aged 7-14 connect with adult mentors to improve their school performance, graduate from high school and build stable, meaningful, lasting relationships.
Announced a new $800,000 investment in One Vision, One Voice, a community-led initiative with a focus on anti-Black racism.
Announced an additional $1.5 million for the Education Liaison program to help improve educational outcomes for children and youth in care.
Announced the designation of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services (NCFS) as a children’s aid society, effective April 1, 2021.
Extended the moratorium on aging out of care until September 30, 2022, so no one would age out of supports or services they were receiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announced an additional $1.5 million annually in programs and services to make the public adoption process easier.
Announced $650,000 to continue strengthening supports for African-Canadian and Black children and youth in care.
Announced $200,000 to Peel Children’s Aid Society to enhance its Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence program.
Announced $5 million in new funding for prevention-focused customary care for Indigenous children and youth.
Related
- Child welfare / child protection services
- Children and youth residential services
- Reporting child abuse or neglect
- Supports for children and youth in care
- Ontario Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy