Welcome!

Here is a little summary of what we have done up till now, and what is coming next!

Happy Family Day!

On Monday, February 20th, Ontarians across the province will be celebrating Family Day. But, for the more than 8,300 children and youth who are connected to the child welfare system - what will the day mean to them? The youth team would like to encourage you to send an e-Family Day card to the Premier or your local MP to remind them that youth in and from care are part of the family.

Here is a link to the Our Voice Our Turn Family Day e-card

Click Here To find your MPPs email address

(You can always find them on Twitter too!)

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Submissions are now closed!

After a last push for submissions before the final deadline on January 3rd – the last few made it in the nick of time! We are proud to announce that we have received more than 150 submissions. The team is now hard at work creating the written and video reports, which will be presented to the Legislature in the Spring.

Thank you to everyone who made a submission; your voice will be heard!

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UNIQUE HEARINGS TO FOCUS ON BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ONTARIO’S “FORGOTTEN” YOUNG PEOPLE
First Canadian youth-led hearings are a landmark in helping youth in care

TORONTO, ON (Monday, November 14, 2011) – For the first time in Canada, young people in and from care will organize and hold their own public hearings at a provincial legislature. The Youth Leaving Care Hearings will be held at Queen’s Park, home of the Ontario Legislature on November 18th and 25th, 2011. With the full support of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, these Hearings will examine the challenges that Crown Wards face when they begin to age out of care at 18. The Hearings will feature submissions from young people and a range of professionals from across the field who will offer ideas about how we can achieve better outcomes for youth leaving care.

“We know that the Advocate and other organizations have been trying for decades to deal with issues that youth leaving care face. We thank them for their efforts, but now it’s our turn to lead,” said Shanna, a member of the youth team organizing the Hearings. “It’s time to listen to our ideas and to hear what we have to say about issues that affect us.”

The Province of Ontario is the legal guardian of more than 8,300 children and youth who are connected to the child welfare system. These young people are Crown Wards who have been permanently removed from their families and homes. They live in foster homes, group homes, transitional housing programs or are in judicial custody. When these young people reach the age of 18, they are expected to become self-reliant and begin fending for themselves at an age at which most young people in Ontario are still living with and supported by family.

There is clear evidence that when Crown Wards transition from care they do not do as well as other young adults. They are less likely to have a high school diploma, to pursue higher education, to earn a living wage and they are more likely to experience economic hardships, to be homeless, to struggle with mental health challenges and to become involved with the criminal justice system.

“Despite the best intentions of those involved, and considering the circumstances that bring children into care, it is not surprising that youth are not faring well after they leave care," says Irwin Elman, Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth. “Children and youth have told the Office that the Province can do better. These Hearings provide an opportunity for all of us to listen.”

Panels of young people in and from care will hear submissions from youth, professionals, parents and friends to help build understanding about what young people in care need to succeed as adults. Members of Provincial Parliament, ministry staff, service providers and the public are expected to attend, listen and learn.

WHAT:                      Youth Leaving Care Hearings
WHEN:                   Friday, November 18th & Friday, November 25th, 2011
                                   9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Break for lunch from 12:00 – 1:00PM)
WHERE:                   Queen’s Park, Amethyst Room, West Entrance

Please note, due to the age of some participants, and the sensitive nature of the issues, there will be some restrictions to media at the Hearings in order to protect the privacy of participants.

For more information on the Youth Leaving Care Hearings, please visit our website: www.provincialadvocate.on.ca/main/en/hearings/pages/home.html; Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/ourvoiceourturn; follow us on Twitter: @ourvoiceourturn or see us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/provincialadvocate

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
The Office of the Provincial Advocate reports directly to the Legislature and provides an independent voice for children and youth, including children with special needs and First Nations children. The advocates receive and respond to concerns from children, youth and families who are seeking or receiving services under the Child and Family Services Act and the Education Act (Provincial and Demonstration Schools). The Provincial Advocate may identify systemic problems involving children, conduct reviews and provide education and advice on the issue of advocacy and the rights of children. The Office is guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has a strong commitment to youth involvement.

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Media Contact:
Fiona Taylor
Tel: 416-420-7728
Email: Fiona_Taylor@live.com

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Change of Date!

On behalf of the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and everyone involved in the Youth Leaving Care Hearings, we would like to inform you of a change of dates.

With the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the opening of the next session of the Legislature, we are moving the day of the Hearings scheduled for Thursday, November 17th to Friday, November 25th. We will continue to hold the first day of the Youth Leaving Care Hearings on Friday, November 18th, as planned. We are doing this because we do not want to distract from the importance of the start of the Legislative sitting and we want to ensure that Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and senior government officials are better able to give their full attention to the Hearings.

We are excited and humbled by the incredible support the Hearings have generated so far. Our youth leads team has been working hard for months and we are grateful to the 30 plus youth volunteers who are involved in the Hearings. To date, we have spoken to more than 1,000 youth in and from care and received more than 120 submissions from youth and other stakeholders from across the province. An increasing number of people are making submissions, contacting the Office and engaging us through social media because they recognize the unique opportunity that the Youth Leaving Care Hearings offer. More than ever, we are encouraged that we can do better with respect to this issue.

We look forward to beginning the Hearings on Friday, November 18th and continuing on Friday, November 25th. And a reminder that all stakeholders—including professionals who work in the field, youth currently or formerly in care, adults previously in care, or anyone with a perspective on the care system like a friend or family member—are invited to make a submission to the Hearings and have your voice heard! You can write a letter, make a video, take photos, create an art piece or submit online—whatever works best for you. Group submissions are okay too! Submission forms are available online!

If you have any questions about the change of date for the Youth Leaving Care Hearings, please feel free to post them on Facebook, or email us directly at hearings@provincialadvocate.on.ca

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