January 23, 2007
Government Reforms Include Support For Grandparents To Care For Vulnerable Grandchildren
The McGuinty government is committed to helping more vulnerable children find safe, caring, permanent homes.
Last year, steps were taken through amendments to the Child and Family Services Act to help grandparents who want to take care of their grandchildren in need of protection to provide them with safe, permanent homes through adoption, foster parenting, customary care or legal guardianship. For example, the process for gaining legal custody is now streamlined so it is not as cumbersome for grandparents and may reduce their legal fees.
The legislative changes also make it easier for a child protection worker to place a child who is in the formal care of a children’s aid society (CAS) with an extended family or community member as a place of safety when that child cannot remain safely with either parent. This may encourage more grandparents, extended family members or other members of a vulnerable child’s community to care for a child who cannot remain with parents for safety reasons and is in need of protection.
Under new policy changes in place in early February, grandparents, extended family members or other members of a vulnerable child’s community may be eligible for financial and case worker support through their local CAS in a variety of situations where they are caring for a child who is in need of protection and cannot remain in his or her own home for safety reasons, as follows:
|
Scenario
|
Financial support
|
Other Support
|
| Child1 not in care of a CAS, but placed with grandparent2 |
Emergency financial aid such as child safety seats, child safety-related home repairs and other needs |
Caseworkers |
| Child1 in care of a CAS and grandparent2 approved as a foster parent for short-term or longer-term foster care |
Foster care rate of approximately $900 a month to meet the basic care, health and safety needs of the child |
Caseworker |
| Child1 placed in formal customary care arrangement. The home is supervised by a society under a Customary Care Agreement4 and a band council declaration. Foster care licensing standards apply. |
Foster care rate of approximately $900 a month to meet the basic care, health and safety needs of the child |
Caseworker and band family service worker |
| Child1 is a Crown ward3 and placed with a grandparent2 who has applied to adopt or has adopted the child |
May receive a subsidy based on child’s needs and grandparent’s2 ability to meet those needs, up to the foster care rate |
Caseworker, as needed |
| Child1 is a former Crown ward3 and placed with a grandparent2 who has obtained legal custody5 of the child |
May receive a subsidy based on child’s needs and grandparent’s2 ability to meet those needs, up to the foster care rate |
Caseworker, as needed |
In February 2006, the Ontario government introduced the kinship regulation to require background checks on all adults in a home where children in need of protection will be living.
- 1 Child has been assessed by the children’s aid society to be in need of protection
- 2 Includes grandparents, extended family members or another member of a vulnerable child’s community
- 3 Children in the permanent care of a children’s aid society
- 4 The care and supervision of an Aboriginal child by a person who is not the child’s parents, according to the custom of the child’s band or native community
- 5 Court has made an order pursuant to Section 65.2 of the Child and Family Services Act
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