Regulation - Minister
Proposed Policy Directive Updates to Clarify Data Collection and Reporting Requirements for Children's Aid Societies Respecting the New Youth Leaving Care Policy and Ready, Set, Go Program
Regulation Number(s):
O.Reg.156/18
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Minister
Bill or Act:
Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
Summary of Proposal:
Societies are required under section 124 of the CYFSA and Ontario Regulation 156/18 under the CYFSA, to provide eligible youth with continued care and support.
This includes, but is not limited to, providing continued care and support to youth whose court-ordered care as a child, by a society, expires at the time of the child's 18th birthday. It also includes providing care and support when an agreement between a child and society, such as a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement, expires at the time of the child's 18th birthday.
On April 1, 2023, as part of the Child Welfare Redesign Strategy, the Ministry introduced a new youth leaving care policy and the RSG program for youth transitioning from the care of societies. The Regulation was also amended to extend the eligibility for continued care and support to the youth's 23rd birthday, up from the age of 21 and include new requirements for societies in preparing youth to successfully transition from their care.
To support implementation of the regulatory amendments, Policy Directive: CW 003-23 was also issued. The directive introduced the RSG program and established requirements for societies with respect to promoting early planning and preparation for youth transitioning out of care.
This proposal seeks to amend the policy directive to require societies to collect specific information, including personal information, from children and youth participating in the youth leaving care program and RSG program, and report that information to the Ministry in the manner and timing specified (see attachment Proposed Data Elements for Collection (PDEC)).
Changes to the policy directive and Standard Agreement would clarify that certain information, including personal information, that a society is required to collect from children and youth participating in the youth leaving care policy and RSG program will be shared with MCCSS and used for different purposes. These purposes include, supporting the ministry with service planning, informing continuous improvement efforts, monitoring whether the RSG program is operating as designed and achieving intended outcomes. The ministry is authorized to collect personal information for these purposes under subsection 283(1) of the CYFSA.
The policy directive and Standard Agreement will also be amended to require a society to obtain consent from participating children and youth for the collection of certain personal information as described in the attached PDEC document. This personal information will be collected by a society and shared with the ministry for the above stated purposes.
It is also proposed that the policy directive be amended to require societies to complete Serious Occurrence (SO) Reports for youth (18-22 years old) participating in the RSG program, and for a youth who had died and participated in the RSG program at any time 12 months prior to their death. Societies would be required to report to the ministry if and when they become aware of this information.
A technical amendment to the Regulation under the CYFSA is also proposed to update the name and effective date of the policy directive should it be amended.
This includes, but is not limited to, providing continued care and support to youth whose court-ordered care as a child, by a society, expires at the time of the child's 18th birthday. It also includes providing care and support when an agreement between a child and society, such as a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement, expires at the time of the child's 18th birthday.
On April 1, 2023, as part of the Child Welfare Redesign Strategy, the Ministry introduced a new youth leaving care policy and the RSG program for youth transitioning from the care of societies. The Regulation was also amended to extend the eligibility for continued care and support to the youth's 23rd birthday, up from the age of 21 and include new requirements for societies in preparing youth to successfully transition from their care.
To support implementation of the regulatory amendments, Policy Directive: CW 003-23 was also issued. The directive introduced the RSG program and established requirements for societies with respect to promoting early planning and preparation for youth transitioning out of care.
This proposal seeks to amend the policy directive to require societies to collect specific information, including personal information, from children and youth participating in the youth leaving care program and RSG program, and report that information to the Ministry in the manner and timing specified (see attachment Proposed Data Elements for Collection (PDEC)).
Changes to the policy directive and Standard Agreement would clarify that certain information, including personal information, that a society is required to collect from children and youth participating in the youth leaving care policy and RSG program will be shared with MCCSS and used for different purposes. These purposes include, supporting the ministry with service planning, informing continuous improvement efforts, monitoring whether the RSG program is operating as designed and achieving intended outcomes. The ministry is authorized to collect personal information for these purposes under subsection 283(1) of the CYFSA.
The policy directive and Standard Agreement will also be amended to require a society to obtain consent from participating children and youth for the collection of certain personal information as described in the attached PDEC document. This personal information will be collected by a society and shared with the ministry for the above stated purposes.
It is also proposed that the policy directive be amended to require societies to complete Serious Occurrence (SO) Reports for youth (18-22 years old) participating in the RSG program, and for a youth who had died and participated in the RSG program at any time 12 months prior to their death. Societies would be required to report to the ministry if and when they become aware of this information.
A technical amendment to the Regulation under the CYFSA is also proposed to update the name and effective date of the policy directive should it be amended.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The proposed amendments to the policy directive will clarify and permit the ministry to mandate the manner and timing of data collection and reporting requirements for societies with respect to children and youth participating in the new youth leaving care program and RSG program in accordance with the requirements set out in the Regulation and the revised policy directive.
If the proposed policy changes are made and implemented, there will be no new associated costs for societies beyond those previously accounted for in the Regulatory Registry on February 15, 2023 (Proposal Number: 23-MCCSS003). This previous Regulatory Registry posting included cost and administrative impacts associated with reporting and monitoring of youth receiving enhanced transition support and services under the new youth leaving care policy and RSG program.
All ministries are subject to requirements set out in the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, 2020 (MOPBA), which came into force January 1, 2021. As part of its obligations under the MOPBA, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services will also complete a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to determine any additional impacts of these proposals. A regulatory impact assessment is a process of identifying and assessing the incremental benefits and costs of proposals.
If the proposed policy changes are made and implemented, there will be no new associated costs for societies beyond those previously accounted for in the Regulatory Registry on February 15, 2023 (Proposal Number: 23-MCCSS003). This previous Regulatory Registry posting included cost and administrative impacts associated with reporting and monitoring of youth receiving enhanced transition support and services under the new youth leaving care policy and RSG program.
All ministries are subject to requirements set out in the Modernizing Ontario for People and Businesses Act, 2020 (MOPBA), which came into force January 1, 2021. As part of its obligations under the MOPBA, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services will also complete a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to determine any additional impacts of these proposals. A regulatory impact assessment is a process of identifying and assessing the incremental benefits and costs of proposals.
Further Information:
2024.03.01 - Proposed Data Elements for Collection - English
Proposal Number:
24-MCCSS006
Posting Date:
April 17, 2024
Comments Due Date:
June 3, 2024
Contact Address:
101 Bloor St. West, 6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2K8