Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth in Residential Settings

Panel to Begin a Review of Residential Services

July 31, 2015

Ontario is bringing together a panel of experts to review the province’s child and youth residential service system.

The panel will consult with stakeholders including associations, service providers and individuals with lived experience of child and youth residential services. The panel includes:

• Dr. Kiaras Gharabaghi, Director of the School of Child and Youth Care at Ryerson University
• Deborah Newman, former Deputy Minister in the Ontario Public Service
• Dr. Nico Trocmé, Philip Fisher Chair in Social Work and Director of the McGill School of Social Work

A report and recommendations from the panel will be provided to the government by the end of the year.

This review builds on the government’s efforts to improve outcomes for all children and youth. It complements transformations already underway in child welfare, youth justice, mental health and special needs.

Ontarians are invited to provide input into the review by emailing residentialreview@ontario.ca or by calling 1-855-235-8932 between 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday until October 31, 2015.

The review is part of the government’s plan to support families and create positive environments where children and youth can reach their full potential.

Quick Facts

• This residential service review is a key recommendation from the recent provincewide review of the Child and Family Services Act, which included input from more than 400 youth, families, service providers, associations and advocates across Ontario.
• Ontario spends $1 billion on care and treatment services in residential settings for children and youth and $152.4 million for youth justice custody/detention.
• Residential Services are provided to children and youth in group homes, foster homes, provincially operated facilities and 60 dedicated youth justice open and secure custody/detention facilities.

Background Information

• Panel of Experts to Conduct Review of Residential Service System

Additional Resources

• Residential Services Panel’s terms of reference
• Report on the 2015 Child and Family Services Act
• Read more about MCYS transformations, including:
  • child welfare;
  • youth justice;
  • mental health;
  • and special needs.

Quotes

“We have heard from people with lived experience, stakeholders and service providers that there are ways to improve the experience and outcomes for children and youth in residential services. The panel will build on this feedback, as well as the foundational work of previous reviews and reports, to advise the ministry on how to make this system better for the young people in it.”

Tracy MacCharles

Minister of Children and Youth Services

“When we centre ourselves around the voices of young people we benefit from the immense wisdom of their lived experience. This allows us to come together, listen with our hearts, and partner with them to create fundamental change. A review of residential care in whatever form has the opportunity to do this. It just takes the will to make it so.”

Irwin Elman
Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth

Media Contacts

Aly Vitunsky
Minister’s Office
416-212-7159

Peter Spadoni
Communications Branch
416-325-5156

For general inquiries from the public
call toll-free
1-866-821-7770

NT4