OACAS is horrified to hear, through the recent Global News coverage, that Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being agencies, and the children and youth they support, are being targeted by licensed for-profit group home providers and that Indigenous children and youth are not receiving high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally relevant care in those licensed settings.
Children’s aid societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies (child welfare agencies) are part of the network of care that supports the health, safety, and well-being of children, youth, and families across Ontario. Child welfare agencies prioritize keeping children and youth with their families and in their communities by working closely with kin and alternate caregivers. In circumstances where this is not possible, child welfare agencies work with local community partners and service providers to find suitable placement options.
Child welfare agencies place children in licensed out-of-home care settings, such as group homes, only when absolutely necessary and only for as long as necessary. Under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA), the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (the Ministry) has responsibility for licensing. Child welfare agencies rely on those licenses to make placement decisions. Further, agencies count on the Ministry to provide strong oversight and compliance measures with regards to the operations of licensees.
Alongside our members, OACAS recognizes that the Ontario government is taking steps to improve the quality of out-of-home care, so children and youth receive high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally relevant support. However, increased access to early intervention and prevention-focused supports and services is urgently needed so children and youth can thrive and stay together with family.
Agencies should be able to easily connect children, youth, and families with community-based organizations and service providers delivering vital early intervention and prevention supports. But this is not the case. Community-based supports and services are scant, siloed, and splintered across the province due to inadequate government investments in some of these communities. As a result, child welfare agencies are struggling to connect children, youth, and families with the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
The impact of inadequate government investments and funding is acutely felt by child welfare agencies in Northern Ontario and rural and remote parts of the province, as well as the Indigenous children, youth, and families they support. Agencies in these already under-resourced areas face even greater challenges in supporting children, youth, and families to access high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant care within their communities. This is unacceptable. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families, and all children, youth, and families across Ontario, should be able to access community-based care, regardless of where they live.
OACAS has continuously advocated to the Ontario government to strengthen social infrastructure in communities across the province, particularly those in Northern Ontario and rural and remote parts of the province. Child welfare agencies rely on a robust and well-resourced human and community services sector to ensure children and youth can remain in their communities, connected to loved ones who will help them maintain continued relationships vital to their health and well-being. This includes connections to family, kin, and culture.
We urge the Ontario government to take a whole-of-government approach and work in true partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, local organizations, and communities to identify solutions to systemic barriers and gaps so Indigenous children and youth can grow up in their communities, surrounded by loved ones and immersed in their culture. Taking a cross-ministerial approach and working across all levels of government, as well as working alongside Indigenous partners, is critical to addressing the vast overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in child welfare and delivering improved, equitable outcomes.
Further, the governments of Ontario and Canada must continue to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in exercising their inherent right and jurisdiction over child and family services in compliance with Bill-C92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
