Youth Leaving Care Hearings

The Youth Leaving Care Hearings were the first public hearings organized and run by young people at Queen’s Park, the home of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth partnered with dozens of volunteers — all young people in and from care — to hold hearings designed to address the issues faced by many of the 8,300 children and youth who are Crown Wards in Ontario.

On November 18th and 25th, 2011, children and youth from across the province spoke about their experiences and had the opportunity to help make changes. Professionals, families, and friends added their voices to help build understanding about what young people in care need to succeed as adults. Members of the Provincial Parliament, ministry staff, service providers and members of the public attended to listen and learn. Read More . . .

My Real Life Book

“The purpose of this report is to improve the experiences and lives of youth in and leaving care. It includes a deeply personal glimpse into our lives. It provides decision-makers with one key recommendation designed to trigger fundamental change. It also gives six more recommendations for what could be done right now to better the lives of youth in and leaving care. This report is meant for everyone. Change is needed and we need your help to get there; no one can do it alone.” The youth Leaving Care Hearings Team

“In November 2011, I spoke at Queen’s Park on behalf of YouthSAID. I spoke about the challenges that youth in care face and how the government can help us make a difference to make the stigma that youth in care have go away. I spoke how about they can change things help make our lives easier. Out of this came the My Real Life Book, which is bits and pieces of everyone’s speeches and ideas about how our lives could be better in care.” Member, Halton YouthSAID

Click HERE to read the My Real Life Book