The Ontario government proudly introduces the Supporting Children’s Futures Act, 2024. This pioneering legislation is set to transform and unify the safeguarding protocols across the child and youth services sector, fostering significant improvements in the safety and quality of services provided to children and youth.
Highlights of the Act include:
- Enhanced Oversight: Amendments to the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act, 2017 will bolster the oversight of licensed out-of-home care settings, including foster care and group homes, to ensure higher standards of care and protection.
- Increased Protection Visits: To improve oversight and protection, children’s aid societies will be mandated to conduct more frequent visits to children in care.
- Access to Ombudsman Information: Children and young persons will receive information about the Ombudsman, including instructions on how to engage with their office, ensuring greater accountability and support.
- Educator Accountability: Like teachers and social workers, early childhood educators will now be obligated to report any child protection concerns, enhancing the safety net for vulnerable children.
- Sibling Placement Flexibility: The government will explore options to facilitate the placement of siblings together in foster care, emphasizing the importance of maintaining familial connections.
- Expanded Regulatory Authority: The Lieutenant Governor in Council will be granted the authority to require additional background information, such as offence declarations, from those working in the child and youth services sector.
- Updated Discipline and Misconduct Regulations: The legislation will update the list of unacceptable disciplinary methods and broaden the scope of misconduct considered an offence, ensuring stricter compliance and higher standards of care.
- Enhanced Privacy Protections: New regulations will safeguard the personal and private information of individuals who have previously been in care, allowing them to control the disclosure of their childhood experiences.
- Facilitated Professional Information Sharing: The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers will now be able to share vital information with other professional governing bodies and relevant entities to better protect children and youth.
The Supporting Children’s Futures Act, 2024, underscores Ontario’s commitment to the welfare of its younger citizens, promising a future where all children and youth have access to safe, high-quality care and services. This act is a significant advancement in our collective effort to protect and empower the next generation of Ontarians.