In responding to the proposed regulations we would like to acknowledge the legitimate intent of the Ministry to improve the care of children and youth who are in a variety of residential placements.
We believe there are a number of individuals or organizations who are in a better position to comment on the specific details of the draft regulations while our interest is how this approach might affect children and young people and to advocate for a child-centered point of view.
In the interests of transparency we would suggest that the Ministry provide the following as part of the revised regulations:
A report every 6 months on
- the number of children in residential care in Ontario
- the number and type of serious occurrence reports received e.g. restraints, sexual assault allegations , missing persons reports
- the number of deaths of children in residential care including children connected to child welfare but not currently in care.
Perhaps a place to begin with our response is with the language we use to talk about finding children an alternative place to live. We “place” children or “transfer” them or “remove” them from a place. We talk about “finding a vacancy” for a child as if they could be slotted in wherever there is a space. For the most part children are voiceless and vulnerable in these events. This is not simply about language since the way we think and speak often drives the way we act. It is also how children begin to see themselves.
There are a number of reports which outline problems with the ways in which residential care is provided. Some include a variety of suggestions for improvements. The problem is that we are working hard to put band aid solutions on a system which is built on a faulty foundation.
What if we were to begin with what children and young people need and want and build a system from that approach?
We do have some indications of what young people want. In one of the documents identified in your consultation document, “Because Young People Matter: Report of the Residential Services Review Panel’ the authors indicate a number of things that young people have clearly identified as needed: safety, respect, encouragement and love. Other consultations have described additional items that are important to young people including personal relationships, real choices and the ability to be helped by someone they trust.
We do have some models to consider. If remaining at home is where the young person wants and needs to be how could we build supports into the home to make it safe? What if we simply started with the specific young person and built and funded a plan that best meets their needs?
There will always be those who say those approaches are too expensive or too risky. But currently we often have several people assigned to a single young person who would be better served with one trusted individual.
We can continue our current approach of trying to fix our “broken” systems or we could seriously listen to young people and begin to build a strong and resilient way of providing care that is truly child-centered.
Agnes Samler
on behalf of Defence for Children International-Canada
