Help Keep Kids Off the Street
- by: Covenant House Toronto
- recipient: Hon. Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services
The province is currently reviewing its laws that protect kids. It’s time to speak out! Now is the time to let the provincial government know that the age of protection should be raised from 16 to 18 by amending Section 37(1) of the Child and Family Services Act.
Right now, an estimated 30,000 Ontario kids 16 to 18 could be fleeing troubled homes with no access to help. At Covenant House, the country’s largest homeless youth agency, we see many of these young people every year who lack the education, life skills or job experience to successfully live independently.
Ontario should act now to ensure kids 16 to 18 have the care and support they need so they don’t find themselves on the streets. This could include options that are customized to youth’s needs such as having a community worker to guide them and/or living allowances to help them transition to independence.
Ontario’s current age of protection at 16 is contrary to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and with Ontario’s own age of majority law at 18. It’s also lower than all of the larger provinces, as well as in Manitoba and P.E.I.
Please join us to urge Children and Youth Services Minister Tracy MacCharles to take this critical step to help keep more kids off the street as she reviews the Child and Family Services Act in the coming weeks.
Please sign our petition and we will deliver it to Minister MacCharles by Dec. 29.
Right now, an estimated 30,000 Ontario kids 16 to 18 could be fleeing troubled homes with no access to help. At Covenant House, the country’s largest homeless youth agency, we see many of these young people every year who lack the education, life skills or job experience to successfully live independently.
Ontario should act now to ensure kids 16 to 18 have the care and support they need so they don’t find themselves on the streets. This could include options that are customized to youth’s needs such as having a community worker to guide them and/or living allowances to help them transition to independence.
Ontario’s current age of protection at 16 is contrary to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and with Ontario’s own age of majority law at 18. It’s also lower than all of the larger provinces, as well as in Manitoba and P.E.I.
Please join us to urge Children and Youth Services Minister Tracy MacCharles to take this critical step to help keep more kids off the street as she reviews the Child and Family Services Act in the coming weeks.
Please sign our petition and we will deliver it to Minister MacCharles by Dec. 29.
To: Hon. Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services
We believe all young people deserve to live without fear and look forward to a productive and independent future.
As your ministry is currently reviewing the laws that protect kids in Ontario, we are urging you to raise the age of protection from 16 to 18 to help prevent more young people from becoming homeless.
Section 37(1) of the Child and Family Services Act precludes youth 16 to 18 from entering the child welfare system to get the support they need that is available to their peers who are already in the child welfare system.
Right now, an estimated 30,000 Ontario kids in this age group, who have not been involved with children’s aid, could be fleeing troubled homes with no access to help.
At Covenant House, the country’s largest homeless youth agency, we see many of these young people every year who lack the education, life skills or job experience to successfully live independently.
Ontario should act now to ensure kids 16 to 18 have the care and support they need so they don’t find themselves on the streets. This could include options that are customized to youth’s needs such as having a community worker to guide them and/or living allowances to help them transition to independence. These kinds of options are already available in some other provinces and have proven effective.
Ontario’s current age of protection at 16 is contrary to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and with Ontario’s own age of majority law at 18. It is also lower than all of the larger provinces, as well as Manitoba and P.E.I.
We believe it is time Ontario took this critical step to help keep more kids off the street. This change would fill the gap for those who have not previously been involved with child welfare and be more equitable.
We support raising Ontario’s age of protection and we are urging you to convince your government to approve this amendment and help keep more kids from a life on the street.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWe believe all young people deserve to live without fear and look forward to a productive and independent future.
As your ministry is currently reviewing the laws that protect kids in Ontario, we are urging you to raise the age of protection from 16 to 18 to help prevent more young people from becoming homeless.
Section 37(1) of the Child and Family Services Act precludes youth 16 to 18 from entering the child welfare system to get the support they need that is available to their peers who are already in the child welfare system.
Right now, an estimated 30,000 Ontario kids in this age group, who have not been involved with children’s aid, could be fleeing troubled homes with no access to help.
At Covenant House, the country’s largest homeless youth agency, we see many of these young people every year who lack the education, life skills or job experience to successfully live independently.
Ontario should act now to ensure kids 16 to 18 have the care and support they need so they don’t find themselves on the streets. This could include options that are customized to youth’s needs such as having a community worker to guide them and/or living allowances to help them transition to independence. These kinds of options are already available in some other provinces and have proven effective.
Ontario’s current age of protection at 16 is contrary to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and with Ontario’s own age of majority law at 18. It is also lower than all of the larger provinces, as well as Manitoba and P.E.I.
We believe it is time Ontario took this critical step to help keep more kids off the street. This change would fill the gap for those who have not previously been involved with child welfare and be more equitable.
We support raising Ontario’s age of protection and we are urging you to convince your government to approve this amendment and help keep more kids from a life on the street.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
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