Foster Care families are on the decrease in Ontario and youth need support systems more than ever. London community partnerships such as the Children’s Aid Society along with Kings College Social Work School teamed up for a discussion for an Aeolian Talks, bringing the issues of the broken child welfare system to the fore front. Organizations are looking at how to flourish the youth of our future.
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“People often ask us, why we keep saying yes to placements when we have so many children already. We do it because we have a community of support around us and over the years of fostering we have built up a great support system. I also like to say, if we don’t do it who will?”
Kristian Wilson is the Senior Director of Service with the Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex. Wilson says, one person can make a difference.
Kristian Wilson
“One of the defining characteristics of a successful youth is that they have one meaningful person, one meaningful permanent person in their life that supports them. Unfortunately in London and in our community, many youth don’t have that.”
Youth homelessness is a large problem in the Forest City. 157 youth between the ages of 16 and 24 are living independently in care of the London Middlesex Children’s Aid Society, many of whom are homeless.
More facts about youth homelessness in London:
- 1 in 30 youth in London are homeless.
- 25% of homeless youth are involved in the sex trade
- 70% have left abusive homes
- Addictions Services of Thames Valley served 382 youth ages of 16 and 24 (those who went for treatment) in 2018
Kristian Wilson says there is also an alarming over representation in the foster care system.
“In the London community 2.5% population is black and 2.5% is indigenous. But yet, we have 8% of youth in care that are black and 27% of youth and kids in care are indigenous.”
Major revelations and government changes are coming to child welfare programs. In January 2018, the government updated the mandate for Children’s Aid Societies to begin servicing youth 16 and 17 years old. Before this time CAS could not help homeless youth on the streets. CAS opened 3 thousand cases and 383 involved kids in this age range, demonstrating the great need for change.
Although there are positive outcomes of being in the foster care system, there is still work to be done through communities and family network supports that will help inspire the kids of our future and give them hope.
