Overview

You may need protection services if you are experiencing:

  • physical abuse
  • sexual abuse
  • emotional abuse
  • neglect
  • abandonment

You might also need protection services if you are at risk of any of these things.

If you have left home because of concerns about your safety or risk of harm, or if you are homeless, you might be eligible for services from a children’s aid society.

Contact a children’s aid society in your area if you feel like you need protection but aren’t sure if you are eligible.

Protection services for people who are 16 or 17

Children’s aid societies begin their work when they receive a request or referral for service. The request may come from someone in the community who is concerned about your safety. You may also ask for service for yourself.

If you are 16 or 17 the following services might be available to you:

  • A children’s aid society, where appropriate, will work with you and your family to improve things at home, including referring you and/or your family to community services and programs.
  • If you are not safe at home or have left home because you were unsafe, a member of your family or someone close to you might be willing to help. If you can be cared for by members of your family, community or friends, this is called kinship service.
  • If you are a First Nation, Inuk or Métis youth who needs an out-of-home placement, it can be arranged according to the customs of your band, First Nation, Inuit or Métis community. This is called customary care.
  • If you need protection, and you cannot be adequately protected at home or in your current living situation, and there are no safe options with family or friends, you may enter into a voluntary youth services agreement with a children’s aid society.
  • If your parent or caregiver is temporarily unable to care adequately for you, you and your parent/caregiver may enter into a temporary care agreement with a children’s aid society.
  • If you need protection, a children’s aid society can make an application to court for a court order admitting you to the care of the children’s aid society. A society cannot bring an application to the court unless they first offer you a voluntary youth services agreement and you refuse.

What to expect

If you are 16 or 17 years old and you need protection, a children’s aid society will support you to make decisions to help minimize risks to your safety and promote your best interests, protection and well-being. You should expect to be involved in all decisions that concern you. This includes:

  • your safety plan
  • your living arrangements
  • your interests regarding education or employment
  • your medical care
  • any programs that will support you in your transition to adulthood

A children’s aid society will also help you identify and develop relationships that you feel are important, beneficial and that you want to last throughout your life.

Services will focus on helping you stay connected to your family, community and culture. You will have access to services and supports that respect your identity and culture, as well as access to programs that help you develop personally.

Voluntary youth services agreement

A voluntary youth services agreement is an agreement between a children’s aid society and an eligible 16- or 17-year-old for services and supports.

This agreement is voluntary, and you can end the agreement at any time.

If you are a First Nation, Inuk or Métis youth, the society will notify your band, First Nation, Inuit or Métis community about entering into an agreement with you. The society does this so that services are provided to you in a way that:

  • respects and helps preserve your cultural identity
  • supports you to remain connected to your community, heritage and traditions

Before entering a voluntary youth services agreement, societies will:

  • ensure you meet eligibility requirements
  • inform you of the voluntary nature of the agreement in a manner you can understand
  • make a referral to the Office of the Children’s Lawyer to provide you with an opportunity to receive legal advice about the options available to you
  • provide you with an opportunity to consult with an advocate or trusted adult prior to signing the agreement and/or have these persons attend planning meetings with you

Eligibility

To enter into a voluntary youth services agreement with a society, you must meet five criteria:

  1. you are 16 or 17 years old
  2. you live within the society’s service area
  3. the society has determined that you are or may be in need of protection
  4. you cannot be adequately protected in your own home or with a relative, neighbour or other member of your community or extended family
  5. you want to enter into the agreement

Develop your voluntary youth service plan

After you enter a voluntary youth services agreement, you will work with a society to develop a voluntary youth services plan within 30 calendar days. The plan will outline:

  • your strengths, needs and goals
  • your and the society’s roles and responsibilities
  • activities that you and the society will do to meet your needs and goals

When you turn 18

When you turn 18, your voluntary youth services agreement with a society will expire.

You will be eligible for the Ready, Set, Go program, which provides eligible youth with financial and non-financial supports until they turn 23.

You may enter the Ready, Set, Go program any time between your 18th and 23rd birthdays. You don’t have to start the program on your 18th birthday.

Learn more about the Ready, Set, Go program.

Alternative dispute resolution

The children’s aid society is required to inform you about options to resolve any issue related to the plan for your care, including access to alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution is an approach to resolving issues related to you or the plan for your care which encourages the support of family and extended family, where appropriate, and your community, in decision-making for children and youth. It focuses on bringing the right people together to work out the best plan for you.

Indigenous approaches to alternative dispute resolution, established by Indigenous communities or organizations, are also available.

Submit a complaint about a children’s aid society

Children’s aid societies must inform you about options to resolve any issue related to the plan for your care, in a way that you can understand.

These options include contacting the:

Learn more about how to submit a complaint about a children’s aid society.

Report a suspicion that a youth may need protection

A person, including a professional or a member of the public, who is concerned that a 16- or 17-year-old may need protection can report it to a children’s aid society.

The society is required to assess the reported information in accordance with the Ontario Child Welfare Eligibility Spectrum.

While reporting for 16- and 17-year-old youth is not mandatory, please contact your local children’s aid society if you have concerns about a youth.

Get a referral to the Office of the Children’s Lawyer

A children’s aid society must give you a referral to the Office of the Children’s Lawyer when:

  • the society determines you need protection, and you and the society are considering entering a voluntary youth services agreement or an out-of-home placement
  • you ask a society for support with a voluntary youth services agreement or an out-of-home placement

You will be able to consult with a lawyer and there is no charge for this service.

The lawyer’s role is to independently represent your views and interests. The Office of the Children’s Lawyer can:

  • give you information about the legal process
  • give legal advice about your options
  • advocate for you in court and other processes, such as alternative dispute resolution