Government of Ontario to raise the age of protection

The Children‘s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay release

In January of 2018, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services will put in place an amendment to the Child and Family Services Act, raising the maximum age at which children may receive child protection services in Ontario. The previous provision, in which children could no longer receive services once they had turned 16, has been extended by two years, to include youth aged 16 and 17.

“This change is the result of feedback from agencies across Ontario, who have identified need in their communities for the expansion of child welfare services,” says Roger Lepage, Board President of the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay. Rose Bakke, Director of Family Services at the Society, adds: “Serving this particular age group will mean tailoring our approach to address the unique challenges facing youth in their late teens.”

As a cornerstone component of the legislation, child welfare will also have capacity to provide service to 16 and 17-year-olds through a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement. Such Agreements entered between a signatory youth and a child welfare agency where child protection concerns exist, will allow for child welfare services in the absence of a court order.

“The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay welcomes the expanded mandate as another important mechanism to protect our community’s most important resource, its children and youth,” said executive director Brad Bain.

The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay delivers a range of responsive individual, family and community programs to children and families in Northern Ontario,