Kin and alternate caregivers are central to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families in Ontario’s child welfare system. They play a key role in keeping children and youth connected to their families and communities and maintaining connections integral to their sense of identity and belonging. They also ensure children and youth receive care that is inclusive and identity-affirming. Family- and community-based placements with kin and alternate caregivers is a vital part of the work to advance improved, equitable outcomes for children and youth, particularly those who are overrepresented in the child welfare system (i.e., Indigenous, Black, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+).
Some families face issues like poverty, inadequate housing, unemployment, mental health and addictions, as well as intersecting systems of power, privilege, and oppression. Indigenous and Black communities face anti-Indigenous racism and anti-Black racism across sectors and over-surveillance, over-policing, and overreporting. These issues can lead to stressors and challenges. When facing such challenges, kin and alternate caregivers support their loved ones alongside their local children’s aid society or Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency (child welfare agency).
In 97% of investigations, children and youth remain at home, and their families may receive early intervention and prevention supports and services so they can thrive and stay together. When it is not possible for children and youth to remain at home, kin and alternate caregivers coordinate out-of-home care with the child welfare agency. Most children and youth receiving out-of-home care are placed in kinship service or customary care (2% of investigations) and fewer are placed in kinship care or other placement types (1% of investigations).(Source: Ontario Incidence Study, 2018) Over the past ten years, there has been a 19% increase in the number of children receiving out-of-home care being placed with kin and alternate caregivers.
As such, kin and alternate caregivers, as well as the children, youth, and families they are supporting, must have timely access to all the resources they need to thrive. Sadly, this is not the reality for many. Due to chronic underfunding, access to local organizations and service providers delivering culturally relevant and responsive supports is lacking in communities across the province. In some communities, organizations and service providers do not have the resources to meet demand. In others, long waitlists and exclusionary eligibility criteria make access impossible.
These systemic gaps are acutely felt by Indigenous, Black, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+ children, youth, and caregivers. This includes children and youth with complex needs (i.e., social, emotional, developmental, mental health and addictions, etc.). Access to high-quality, trauma-informed community-based care that is inclusive and identity affirming is also impacted by location. Those living in Northern, rural, and remote parts of Ontario face unique challenges in receiving the right care, at the right time, close to home. Too many children, youth, and families are going without supports and services that will truly meet their needs.
Kin and alternate caregivers are also grappling with the cost-of-living crisis. Sometimes kin and alternate caregivers do not expect to become caregivers and, when they do, there is an immediate need to set up care for children and youth and balance new and ongoing expenses. While there are sources of financial support available, they are limited, especially for unlicensed kin and alternate caregivers.
What should the Ontario government do?
Kin and alternate caregivers play a vital role in supporting their loved ones when they need it most. Ontario must step up and ensure kin and alternate caregivers have access to resources that truly meet their needs. OACAS urges the province to:
- Ensure kin and alternate caregivers receive financial assistance that meets their unique, individualized needs. This includes increasing the Ontario Child Benefit and the Ontario Works Temporary Care Assistance available to kin and alternate caregivers and arranging longer-term funding supports. The Ontario Child Benefit and Temporary Care Assistance rate must be raised to align with the current cost of living. OACAS also suggests expanding the Ontario Permanency Funding to provide equitable, predictable, and ongoing financial support to kin and alternate caregivers through per diems and/or targeted subsidies.
- Improve access to culturally relevant and responsive, trauma-informed, community-based care that centres the social determinants of health. Enhanced investments are needed to strengthen social infrastructure in communities across the province so kin and alternate caregivers, as well as the children, youth, and families they are supporting, get access to the right care, at the right time, close to home. Investments should also be directed to community-based organizations and service providers delivering highly specialized and intensive services, placements, and treatment for children and youth with complex needs.
Following Kinship & Alternate Care Awareness Week 2024, join us in continuing to advocate for investments in social infrastructure in Ontario through the 2024 Dress Purple Day campaign, taking place October 25, 2024. Learn more here.
