Historical Overview
In the 1800's the major source of social support in Ontario was the church, chartiable organizations, volunteer groups and philanthropists (someone who cares for another human).
1) Specific Services
Baby Farming
Description: a form of a borading house for babies, where a single mom could drop off her baby.
Results: poor care, DEATH, neglectful
Why? For profit not care, many homes were in poor conditions and child care was questionable.
Infant Homes and Infirmary-1875
Description: small shelters started for infants. Pioneered by Anne Cameron.
Chief Objective: to save the lives of infants by preventing illtreatment, or abondment from care such as baby farming
Advantages: recieved financial support from wealthy philanthropists, recieved medical service by volunteer doctors & nurses, more publicly monitored, not for financial gain, and the kids did get sick.
Foster Home Concept-1919
Vera Moberly: instrumental for establishing foster homes for children, often including mothers.
The establishment of foster homes was helped by:
1) Society's attitude: more favourable towards single mothers
2) Infant Homes: starting to experience epedimics due to over crowding
Children's Aid Society 1891
John Joseph Kelso
Came from Ireland in 1874. Put himself through school. Lost a lot of things in a big fire. Passion was to be a journalist, he worked for the Tornoto paper. Children back them didn't have any rights. He was compassioned to the poor and he advocated on their behalf b/c he was a reporter.
He helped establish:
1) Fresh Air Fund-1888
It gave underprivelleged children a chance to experience what they normally wouldn't. Children from New York came and stayed here for a little while.
2) Changes in Labour Legislation:
Advocated for changes in child labour legislation and helped pass a law to prohibit children under 8 to take part in street occupation.
3) The Toronto Humane Society 1887
Established to see the needs of children and animals, helped raise awareness to cruelty to kids and animals. It was branched off and renamed to Children's Aid Society in 1891
4) Children's Aid Society & Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS)
Travelled throughout Canada encouraging the start of Children's Aid Societies. In 1912 helped start OACAS
2) Protective Services
1) Children's Protection Act-1893, new principles of child care
Abuse of children is an inditable offense. Could remove children from 'evil' situations. Could supervise familes found in need of partential guidance. Would supervise and manage children in municipal shelters. Gained the right of legal guardian. Parents of abused children forfieted their parential rights. (denied access)
2) Child and Family Services Act-1985
Shifted from institutional protection orientated to non-institutional prevention. Bascially preventing instead of reacting. Focus is to keep the family and child together using least intrusive methods.
3) Children's Aid Society (CAS)
1) Types of CAS
There are 52 CAS's across Ontario. Some of them are restriced on basis of religion. There are 3 Roman Catholic, 1 Jewish and 1 Native American one.
2)The adminstration of CAS
9 members on Board of Directors. 1 lawyer, 4 politicans, 4 business people, generally all local. CAS director is hired and accountable to board of directors.
3)Funding for CAS
100% from ministries. The funding is only for mandatory services, they fundrasie for the above and beyond services. They are a registered chartable orginzation.
4)Services Provided
Protect where necessary children under 16 years of age. To investigate allegations or evidence that children under 16 may need protectoin, can continue until 18 if the person has already recieved support. Provide guidance, couselling and other services to families for protection of children or prevention of circumstances requiring the protection of the chilren. Provide care for children assigned to its care under the act. Supervise children under its care. Place children up for adoption.
5) Services Delivery Mode
Voluntary basis-family goes. Involuntary-courts. In house, out of house, short term or long term.
6) Children's Aid Society Client Profile
Low socio-economic, ethic miniorities, exhibit emotional or behaviourly problems.
CAS is the same as FACS
4) Child in Care-Definition
Is a child who comes to the attention of prvincially mandated child welfare authority and is deemed by provincal court (family court) to be in need of protection by the authority of the child and family services act.
Referral Routes
Through the CAS. Through the children's mental health system. Through corrections services ages 12-18. May end up in foster homes
Survey Data from the OACAS
A)Foster Homes
1) Reasons for decline in the number of foster homes
Fewer volunteers due to dual income families. (nobody home) Older children are difficult to place.
2) Profile of child in care
52% are adoscelents 13 and above. 48% have significant behaviour problems.
3) Duration of foster care
43% are long term care (more than 6 months). 23% are prepared for independent living. 18.7% get to return to their natural familes. 4% are transfered to adult facilities. 34% find themselves moved more then 3 times. It was designed to be temporary.
B) Foster Parents Concerns
More financial compensation (26$ a day). More legal rights. More agency support. Clear job descriptions. More training. Fearful of accusations of abuse.
C) Foster Child
Want agencies to give them a greater opportunity to play a more meaningful role in planning their care. Want more contact from the agency and more peer support.
D) Case Worker
High turnover rate b/c they experience extreme stress. Don't have enough training.
Correctional Services
Prior to legsliatoin kids who broke the law were treated as little adults, sentenced and incorserated with adult prisoners. 1892 Canada's criminal code age 7 was the min for charging a child.
Youth Justice Legislation- A Chronology
a) 1908-Juvenile Delinquents Act
Critized for giving too much power to the courts. Provided a separate justice system to the youth. "Every juvenile delinquent shall be treated, not as a criminal but as a misdirected/misguided child" 7 remained the min age to charge and 12 could be commited to an institution. Started to encourage parental involvement. Started a juvenile courts system. Significant judicial discretion. Child welfare approach. Informal prcedure.
b)1984- Young Offenders Act (YOA)
Emphais on youth responsibility. Societies right to protection. Charged with actual crime. Parents have the right to be informed of court procedings. Right to do process. (go through all the channels)
c) 1995-Amendments to YOA
Increased max youth sentence for murder to 10 years. Presumed transfer to adult court for 16 and 17 year olds. Allowed victim impact statments in youth court. Children ages 0-11 were dealt with by FACS. 12-17 dealt with by YOA.
d) 2002-Youth Criminal Justice Act (2003)
Replaces YOA, passed HOC Feb 2002, made law April 2003. Emphasizes is the rehab of the youth while holding them accountable for their actions. The goal is to reintergrate the youth in custody back into society. Meaningful consequences approporate to crime.
Young Offenders Dispositoins (placements)
1) Absolute discharge: no sentence other then the finding of guilt.
2) Conditional discharge: same as absolute discharge upon completion of probation.
3) Fine
4) Compensation or esitution order- to the victim
5) Community service: up to 240 hours at community centres. It is adminstered by the local community service coordinator or probation officer.
6) Prohibition: Can't carry weapons or associate with certain people.
7) Probation
8) Open Custody: It limits freedom, you may be recquired to take part in treatment services. ex therpay, couselling, anger management, education ,addiction couselling, literacy, life skills. Youth serve their custody sentence in a community based residential setting.
9)Secure Custody: A higher level of security with a max security fence. (jail)
* for 8 & 9 no early release, you serve your time.