Recent revelations have brought to light a disturbing issue within Ontario’s child welfare system. An internal government document reveals that treatment programs in Ontario are ‘discriminating’ against kids in Children’s Aid’s care. Exposed by a review of the Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex, the document shows that these programs are refusing to accept some of the province’s most vulnerable children, especially those with complex mental health issues.
Discriminatory Treatment Programs
The 2024 review found that programs, including those that provide live-in treatment, are denying admission to children who don’t have a supportive parent — a prerequisite that automatically blacklists many under the care of Children’s Aid Society (CAS). The programs also exclude children and teens in CAS care who have complex health behaviours, with some stating they are “too high a liability” for acceptance, or that their needs are “too complex.”
Impact on Children in Care
These children’s needs are often too complex for typical foster families, so when they were refused treatment, London CAS was forced to house them in hotels and other unlicensed placements. These unstable living environments expose kids to potential harm, including human trafficking. In one tragic incident, a London teen in CAS care died of a fentanyl overdose after a year of living in budget motels while waiting for intensive mental health treatment.
Violation of Child Rights
Cheryl Milne, a child rights expert, asserts that treatment programs that refuse to accept kids — and the provincial government that allows it — are in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty ratified by Canada nearly 35 years ago. “It violates their obligation to provide them with the level of health care and services that they need,” said Milne, who is also the executive director of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights at the University of Toronto.
Defending the Programs
Representatives from the treatment program sector disputed the review’s characterization, noting that insufficient government funding has left their services consistently operating at capacity. When a child with complex needs is refused access, it is most often because there are no beds available or taking the child would put other children in care at risk.
Government’s Role
Milne, who reviewed the internal government document, warned that the provincial government has a clear obligation to ensure these children’s needs are being met. She expressed serious concerns about how children in state care are treated and pointed out that these kids are often falling through the cracks.
Need for Change
The review notes that treatment programs requiring a primary attachment, or parent figure, as a “prerequisite for treatment” is “discriminating against children in care.” The requirement is rooted in research that suggests treatment programs are more effective when a caregiver is involved. However, this practice can disadvantage young people in the care of children’s aid. Advocates are now calling for changes to remove this barrier and ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the care and treatment they need.
