Changes coming to the Child and Family Services Act
On June 1, 2017 Bill 89 was passed by the Ontario Government after a mandatory review of the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA) by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
What does this mean?
On January 1, 2018, as part of these changes, the age of protection will be raised to include 16 and 17 year olds. This means that at Peel CAS we will be providing a full range of child protection services to youth 16 and 17 years old including; initial assessment, ongoing services, kinship, and out of home protection services.
At Peel CAS we believe that youth are best supported at home with their families, extended families and in their communities whenever possible. When we work with these youth, our focus will be on using an approach that is least disruptive, maintains permanency and connections with kin and community, includes the voice of the youth and is culturally appropriate. Youth 16 and 17 will often be in need of help and support when they come to our attention. We will work together with community partner services to assist in meeting the needs of youth.