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"Advocates for youth in government care are calling on the provinces and territories to continue supporting those who are aging out of the child welfare system and trying to make it on their own during the pandemic," says this article by the Canadian Press. As COVID-19 lockdowns began, dozens of groups in Canada came together to form the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates, "to urge governments across Canada to put moratoriums in place for those who would be aging out of care."
This article from the Conversation puts a spotlight on the situation of young people aging out of the child welfare system in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. "For most of these young people, turning 18 coincides with an abrupt withdrawal of their social supports as they simultaneously have to secure affordable housing, manage finances and finish high school," says the article. "Youth exiting the child welfare system are …
"A disturbing trend has led to a plea from doctors across [Canada] as more babies and children are being treated with serious trauma, fractures and in some cases, malnutrition," says this article from Global News. While reports of child abuse have significantly decreased, Dr. Michelle Ward - a paediatrician and head of the division for Child and Youth Protection at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) - states that it's not because there are fewer child protection concerns, but rather because there are fewer concerns being identified due to the pandemic. "Since September…
"As the COVID-19 pandemic surges into its second year, advocates and experts say children with special needs and their families are seeing some of the toughest impacts," says this article from Global News. According to the article, nearly one in 10 families of children with special needs surveyed in a recent study by Simon Fraser University researchers said they were considering putting their child in government care.
Families with children in foster care in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador are "in the process of being reunited with their kids after a lengthy suspension of in-person visits due to COVID-19," according to this article from CBC News. "Maybe pre-COVID families may have had four visits a week. We may have to start off with two," said Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Lisa Dempster.
"Children in Canada’s foster care homes have gone weeks without being able to see their parents in person and plans for safe reunions are still uncertain," says this article from Reuters. “'I don’t know how I can be deemed an essential worker, but I’m not an essential parent,' said a British Columbia father of two who works in the trades. 'I can go back to work, but I can’t see my kids?'”
This article from the Huffington Post describes the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on care leavers in Canada. “It’s extremely hard right now,” said one care leaver. “No one has checked in with me. It’s hard to get my cheques because I have to pick them up in person. I don’t even really know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
As of the publication of this article, Ontario was the only province to announce a moratorium on aging out of care in response to the COVID-19 crisis. "The new pandemic protocol will be that Ontario youth about to turn 18 and…
The Saskatchewan Youth In Care and Custody Network (SYICCN) is calling for assistance for children in government care to be kept in place until services return to pre-coronavirus levels, even if young people "age out" of those services, according to this article from CBC News. "Nobody planned for a pandemic like this," said Richard Rothenburger, outreach coordinator for SYICCN. "These rock solid transition plans that are in place don't have concessions for this and that's why we're asking the government to really just dig in and find the gaps."