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Child welfare agencies placing youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers

Media release, "Ombudsman to investigate child welfare practice of placing children and youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers" (September 5, 2024) Investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing young children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers. Announced …

Family care

We stepped in to help an Indigenous man who was struggling to care for the newborn child of relatives suffering from addiction. No paperwork had been done to secure funding for necessary medication, foster care and other resources. RESULT: As a result of our involvement, a Customary Care Agreement …
We stepped in to help an Indigenous man who was struggling to care for the newborn child of relatives suffering from addiction.

Support secured

Issues: Duty to report; Disability; Rights (Identity) A staff member from a youth residence contacted us, concerned that a youth with special needs and physical disabilities wasn’t receiving adequate support, such as grab bars in the shower and railings on porch stairs. The youth’s mother and CAS …
A staff member from a youth residence contacted us, concerned that a youth with special needs and physical disabilities wasn’t receiving adequate support, such as grab bars in the shower and railings on porch stairs.

Ready, set – redo

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) Three months after he turned 18, a young man told us he had been forced to rely on social assistance because he had never been registered for “Ready, Set, Go” funding, which supports young people transitioning out of care. He …
Three months after he turned 18, a young man told us he had been forced to rely on social assistance because he had never been registered for “Ready, Set, Go” funding, which supports young people transitioning out of care.

Routine violation

Issues: Youth justice facility; Rights (Safety) A young person in a youth justice centre complained to us that he was being routinely strip-searched by staff after every visit he had with his lawyer. He told us he raised his concern with the facility, but staff maintained that all youth justice …
A young person in a youth justice centre complained to us that he was being routinely strip-searched by staff after every visit he had with his lawyer.

Group revelation

Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Quality of care; Rights (Good care) After giving a presentation at a group home, our staff were conducting private conversations with the residents, as we normally do. Several of these young people raised serious concerns about access to food and …
After giving a presentation at a group home, our staff were conducting private conversations with the residents, as we normally do.

Submission regarding Proposed Policy Directive Updates for Children's Aid Societies

Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding Proposed Policy Directive Updates to Clarify Data Collection and Reporting Requirements for Children's Aid Societies Respecting the New Youth Leaving Care Policy and “Ready, Set, Go” Program Paul Dubé Ombudsman of …
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has requested comments on a regulatory proposal related to amendments to Policy Directive: CW 003-23 — Preparing Youth for Successful Transition from the Care of Children’s Aid Societies.

Submission regarding Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024

Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024 Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario May 2024 2 Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 188 May 2024 Overview The Standing Committee on Social Policy is currently …
The Standing Committee on Social Policy is currently considering Bill 188, An Act to amend the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 and various other Acts, also known as the Supporting Children’s Futures Act, 2024.

Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story

O N T A R I O OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2024 Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story Investigation into the adequacy of services provided by York Region Children’s Aid Society to “Mia” Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND YOUTH UNIT Diana Cooke MANAGER, …
Investigation into the adequacy of services provided by York Region Children’s Aid Society to “Mia”.

Submission to the Ministry regarding searches of staff, visitors and young persons at youth justice facilities

Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding searches of staff, visitors and young persons at youth justice facilities Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario March 2024 Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding searches at youth …
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has requested input on proposed regulatory amendments to Ontario Regulation 155/18 under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, which would outline additional provisions for searches of staff, visitors and young persons on the premises of youth justice facilities.

Home security

Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care); Rights (Safety) A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home. When we contacted staff at the responsible agency, they …
A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.

Opening doors

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care); Rights (Fairness) A youth who was turning 18 called us for help when plans for her to enter a transitional housing program and complete her final semester of high school fell through. She could not reach her CAS worker, who had gone on a sudden …
A youth who was turning 18 called us for help when plans for her to enter a transitional housing program and complete her final semester of high school fell through.

Far from home

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Fairness) After he suffered a traumatic brain injury, an eight-year-old boy in the care of a northern children’s aid society (CAS) was airlifted from his home community to a rehabilitation hospital in southern Ontario. Hospital staff called us when he was …
After he suffered a traumatic brain injury, an eight-year-old boy in the care of a northern children’s aid society (CAS) was airlifted from his home community to a rehabilitation hospital in southern Ontario.

Watchful help

Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Rights (Safety) A mother contacted our Children and Youth Unit because she was concerned that her son might have been hurt by a staff member in a group home. We reached out to the teenager immediately, and also relayed the mother’s concerns to her son’s …
A mother contacted our Children and Youth Unit because she was concerned that her son might have been hurt by a staff member in a group home.

Submission regarding the Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding the Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario July 2023 2 Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding the Five Year Review of …
Every five years, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is required to formally review the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (the CYFSA) and to report publicly on the review’s findings.

Bringing a smile

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Good care) The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS). The youth had a Voluntary …
The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS).

Missing in Inaction: Misty’s Story

O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2023 Missing in Inaction: Misty’s Story Investigation into the adequacy of measures undertaken by Johnson Children’s Services Inc., Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services, and a Southwestern Ontario …
Investigation into the adequacy of measures undertaken by Johnson Children’s Services Inc., Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services, and a Southwestern Ontario children’s aid society to ensure the safety of “Misty”

Uninterrupted visits

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care) A 13-year-old in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) contacted us when he didn’t hear back from his CAS about making arrangements to see his mother. The youth had regular weekly visits scheduled with his mother at his grandmother’s house, …
A 13-year-old in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) contacted us when he didn’t hear back from his CAS about making arrangements to see his mother.

A Voice Unheard: Brandon’s Story

O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario December 2022 A Voice Unheard: Brandon’s Story Investigation into the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto’s response to child protection concerns involving “Brandon” between December 31, 2015 and October 26, …
Investigation into the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto’s response to child protection concerns involving “Brandon” between December 31, 2015 and October 26, 2018

Secure resolution

Issue: Group home A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home. When we contacted staff at the responsible agency, they confirmed another resident had been …
A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.