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    • What you can expect
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    • Children, youth and families
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Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

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  1. Make a complaint
  2. What we can help you with
  3. Children and youth

Children and youth

We help children and youth with concerns about a wide range of public services in Ontario. We focus on the rights of the young person and make sure their voice is heard.

Our services are free and we will protect your privacy.

How we help

Some of the things we can help with are:

  • Problems at school (bullying, bus service, special education support)
  • Getting documents like birth certificates or driver’s licences
  • Supports for children with special needs
  • Connecting with a children's aid society
  • Problems at foster homes or group homes
  • Services of Indigenous child and family well-being agencies
  • Conditions or treatment at youth justice centres
  • Help for young people over 16 who are on their own


Any child, youth or adult can complain to us about organizations like:

  • Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
  • Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
  • School boards, colleges and universities
  • Ontario Autism Program
  • Children’s Aid Societies
  • Indigenous child and family well-being agencies
  • Office of the Children’s Lawyer
  • Foster homes
  • Group homes
  • Youth justice centres
  • Provincial or demonstration schools

Make a complaint


There are some things we can’t do. We can’t:

  • Change a decision made by an elected official or a judge
  • Investigate crimes
  • Take complaints about:
    • Teachers
    • Doctors, nurses or hospitals
    • Private businesses

If we can’t help, we’ll tell you who can.


Still have questions?

  • See the full list of organizations you can complain to us about
  • Read our Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact our Children and Youth Unit

How we’ve helped

Discover how our team has helped young people in Ontario:

More examples of case stories
A person spraying their hair with a bottle.

Culture change

A Black 16-year-old complained that her CAS worker was dismissive of her requests for hair and skin products that met her cultural needs, making her feel like she was being treated differently because of her race.

An adult and an infant laying on the ground. The infant is drawing.

Right to review

We helped a parent who was refused an identification, placement and review committee (IPRC) to assess her daughter’s giftedness in kindergarten.

A young person looking out a window.

Timely help

A concerned adult contacted our Office on behalf of a youth who was denied a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) by a children’s aid society (CAS). VYSAs are available to 16- and 17-year-olds who have left home because of concerns about their safety, and who are in need of child protection services.

See more examples of results we’ve achieved for children and youth.

Ready to make a complaint?

Start here

Learn more about our work with children and youth

  • Read the Children and Youth section (2023-2024 Annual Report)
  • See our brochures for children and youth in care and caregivers
  • Check our list of outreach events
  • Investigations

The Ontario Ombudsman’s work takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across the province we now call Ontario, and we are thankful to be able to work and live on this land. 

Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

483 Bay Street
10th floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2C9

Toll-free (Ontario only): 1-800-263-1830
Outside Ontario: 416-586-3300
info@ombudsman.on.ca

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