Regulation - Minister
Amendments to Regulatory Requirements for Child Protection, Adoption and Licensed Children's Residential Services in Response to COVID-19
Regulation Number(s):
Ontario Regulation 156/18
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Minister
Bill or Act:
Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
Summary of Decision:
To protect the safety and well-being of children and families and mitigate challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak, amendments to O. Reg. 156/18 are made to allow societies and adoption licensees to depart from requirements for in-person follow-up visits and private interviews with children and caregivers; and societies to depart from requirement to schedule non-urgent medical and dental checks for children in the care of a society.
Where a society is exempt from residential licensing requirements under s 31 of O.Reg 155/18 for a home assessed as a place of safety, the society must complete documentation and adopt other measures to ensure the welfare of the child in these placements.
Summary of amendments to O. Reg. 156/18 in s 141.1 to 141.8:
• A foster care licensee may depart from in-home visit requirements for a person assigned by a foster care licensee and those related to the annual reviews of foster homes.
• Temporary increase to the number of foster children permitted to be placed in a foster home during the emergency, where certain criteria are met and with ministry Director approval.
• Additional time to complete the annual reviews of policies and procedures and for annual reviews of foster care service agreements.
• A residential licensee may adopt other measures that ensure the health, safety and well-being of children and young persons receiving residential care when prospective staff, foster parents and/or any other individual living in the proposed foster home is unable to obtain documentation related to their health.
Where a society is exempt from residential licensing requirements under s 31 of O.Reg 155/18 for a home assessed as a place of safety, the society must complete documentation and adopt other measures to ensure the welfare of the child in these placements.
Summary of amendments to O. Reg. 156/18 in s 141.1 to 141.8:
• A foster care licensee may depart from in-home visit requirements for a person assigned by a foster care licensee and those related to the annual reviews of foster homes.
• Temporary increase to the number of foster children permitted to be placed in a foster home during the emergency, where certain criteria are met and with ministry Director approval.
• Additional time to complete the annual reviews of policies and procedures and for annual reviews of foster care service agreements.
• A residential licensee may adopt other measures that ensure the health, safety and well-being of children and young persons receiving residential care when prospective staff, foster parents and/or any other individual living in the proposed foster home is unable to obtain documentation related to their health.
Further Information:
Ontario Regulation 156/18
Proposal Number:
20-MCCSS003
Posting Date:
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has amended Ontario Regulation 156/18 under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 to support the delivery of child protection, adoption and licensed children's residential services during the COVID-19 outbreak, while continuing to protect the safety and well-being of children and young persons.
Contact Address:
101 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5S 3L7
Effective Date:
May 8, 2020
Decision:
Approved