A change has occurred this year in Ontario which impacts the delivery of child welfare services to children, youth and families.
The Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) came into force on April 30, 2018, with Part X scheduled to come into force in January 2020. The Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) puts children and youth at the centre of decision making and supports more responsive and accessible service delivery to children, youth and families.
Effective January 1, 2018, Ontario increased the age of protection to include children under the age of 18. Prior to January 1, 2018 protection services were only available to children under age 16. Services are now in place to bridge the gap that existed for children found to be in need of protection who under the age of 18 but over the age of 16.
In addition to increasing the age of protection to 18, other key changes include:
- Making services more culturally appropriate for all children and youth in the child welfare system, including First Nations, Inuit, Metis, etc., to ensure that they receive the best possible supports;
- Focus on early intervention, to assist in avoiding children, youth and families from reaching crisis situations in the home; and
- Improving review of service providers to ensure that children and youth receive consistent, high-quality services across Ontario.
Should you have any questions about the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) or require assistance with any other family law issue, please contact Andrea Cooley at andrea.cooley@siskinds.com or 519.660.7782.