youth in care – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

Ontario’s moratorium on youth leaving care once they turn 18 expires on March 31, 2023, with a redesigned policy coming into effect on April 1. (Shutterstock)

March 30, 2023

Ontario’s new child welfare policy is promising, but youth leaving care need more support

Marsha Rampersaud, York University, Canada

Ontario’s new policy on youth leaving care comes into effect April 1. While the policy provides welcomed support for youth, there are still gaps that need to be addressed.

Children and youth in care often have complex health and social issues, but they often struggle to access comprehensive health care. (Shutterstock)

November 15, 2022

We know better, so why aren’t we doing better in supporting the health of children and youth in care?

Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University; Alyson Holland, Dalhousie University; Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Steven Smith, Saint Mary’s University; Tania Wong, Dalhousie University, and Tonya Grant, Dalhousie University

Children and youth in care are more likely to have experienced trauma that can affect future health. A comprehensive, trauma-informed health strategy for these children and youth is long overdue.

In-depth interviews with former youth in care described barriers and challenges to attending post-secondary education once they received a tuition waiver. (Shutterstock)

September 12, 2022

Health of former youth in care could be bolstered by stronger tuition waiver programs

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Krista C Ritchie, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University

To understand how tuition waivers and associated supports can help former youth in care complete post-secondary education and positively affect their health, evidence-based practices are needed.

AFN Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu listen to Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller as he responds to a question during a news conference on Jan. 4, 2022, in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

January 5, 2022

As a lawyer who’s helped fight for the rights of First Nations children, here’s what you need to know about the $40B child welfare agreements

Anne Levesque, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

In the next year, public support will be needed more than ever to ensure that the spirit of the agreement is respected and translated into meaningful change for First Nations children.

Reinvesting some of the $2 billion Ontario is spending could keep more families together. (Shutterstock)

January 3, 2022

The cost of inaction for youth ‘aging out’ of Ontario foster care is estimated at $2 billion

Linda Mussell, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Marsha Rampersaud, Toronto Metropolitan University

For youth under state guardianship the state has assumed the role of the parent. But state parenting falls short of how most people would treat their children.

Finances are a significant barrier to post-secondary education for people raised in care. (Shutterstock)

July 19, 2021

Youth who grew up in care have the right to post-secondary education — and tuition waivers open doors

Jacquie Gahagan, Dalhousie University

Education is a key to health, economic and social outcomes. So why don’t we make it easier for former youth in care to access post-secondary education?

“With art, you have all the colours in the world to share your thoughts,” wrote one youth in the Holistic Arts-based Program at Laurentian University. (Unsplash/Rahul Jain)

January 12, 2020

Visual arts help marginalized youth learn mindfulness and self-compassion

Diana Coholic, Laurentian University

Important learning takes place through experiences of fun and belonging at an arts-based mindfulness program.

Young people in temporary or continuing care need to be provided with educational enrichment programs to help identify learning challenges, remediate education deficits and foster a sense of connectedness. Shutterstock

January 1, 2019

Youth leaving state care need education support

Kim Snow, Toronto Metropolitan University

Amid long-standing societal and policy issues that need to be addressed, young people in care deserve special consideration and focused attention regarding how to meet their educational needs.

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