Component: Child welfare - community and prevention supports

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA)

Youth-in-transition worker (YITW) service objectives

  • To improve the outcomes and increase the resiliency of youth leaving the care of children’s aid societies (societies) by
  • Assisting youth in identifying goals and developing plans consistent with those goals; and
  • Helping them to identify, access, and navigate adult service systems relevant to their needs, as they transition to adulthood

Housing support worker (HSW) service objectives

  • To improve the outcomes and increase the resiliency of youth in a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) with a society by helping them
  • Find and retain housing; and
  • Identify, access, and navigate service systems relevant to their needs, as they transition to adulthood

YITW service description

The goal of the Youth-in-Transition Worker (YITW) program is to support youth in their successful transition out of the child welfare system into adulthood. YITWs will help youth to develop their goals, and will support youth to identify, access, and navigate adult service systems relevant to their specific and individualized needs in order to pursue their goals. The YITWs will also support youth to connect to existing supports and resources within their communities including, housing supports, education resources, employment services and training, life skills training (e.g. financial management, household management), health and mental health services, and legal services.

YITWs will meet with youth through person-to-person, voice-to-voice, email, text message and other interactions, which may occur in the community or neighbourhood locations or settings. YITW services are expected to be provided flexibly, at times that meet the needs of youth, and that are consistent with the identified needs and goals of youth.

YITWs will need to work with local community agencies to both inform them of the YITW program, and also to become aware of the services available in the community to refer clients. Specifically, YITWs will be expected to work closely with their local societies to ensure that eligible youth know about the YITW program, and also to establish a referral process.

Target population

Youth between the ages of 16 and 24 (inclusive) who meet the following criteria

  • Were formally in extended society care (previously referred to as Crown Ward),legal custody order under section 102 of the CYFSA, or customary care agreement immediately prior to the youth’s 18th birthday
  • Were eligible for support under the Renewed Youth Support Policy (RYS) The RYS program is being phased out due to the legislative amendments that raised the age of protection

Effective January 1, 2018, 16- and 17-year-olds are eligible for the full range of protection services, including the option for a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement, where appropriate. The cohort who were eligible for RYS immediately prior to January 1, 2018 will remain eligible to receive RYS supports from a society up to the age of 18, and Continued Care and Support for youth from age 18 and ending on their 21st birthday (regardless of whether they had sought RYS supports).at ages 16 and/or 17, whether or not the youth actually received RYS; or were subject to an agreement under s. 37.1 of the CYFSA at the time of their 18th birthday.

HSW service description

The goal of the Housing Support Worker (HSW) Program is to provide housing supports and services to youth who are 16- and 17-years old and are subject to a written agreement with a society for the provision of services on a voluntary basis (VYSA). HSWs help youth to develop and pursue their housing goals, and will support them to identify, access, and navigate service systems relevant to their specific needs. HSWs also support youth to connect to existing supports and resources within their communities including education resources, employment services and training, life skills training (e.g. financial management, household management), health and mental health services, and legal services.

HSWs meet with youth through person-to-person, voice-to-voice, email and other interactions, which may occur in the community or neighbourhood locations or settings. HSW services are provided beyond regular business hours (i.e. 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday), and are flexible to meet the needs of the youth.

HSWs work with local community agencies to both inform them of the HSW program, and to become aware of the services available in the community that can support the various needs of youth who are accessing the HSW program.

Specifically, HSWs are expected to work closely with the societies in the region they are located to ensure all eligible youth have access to the program. HSWs are also encouraged to leverage the experience and expertise of YITWs in their region/agency.

Target population

The priority of the HSW program is to provide housing supports and services to youth aged 16 or 17 who are parties to a written agreement with a society for the provision of services on a voluntary basis (VYSA). However, if the HSW has capacity, they may also support youth who are

  • 16 or 17, receiving services from a society, and not yet in a VYSA; and/or
  • 16 or 17, not receiving services from a society, and need help being connected to services and supports from a society

YITW program/service features

The transfer payment recipient will ensure that the Youth-in-Transition Workers

  • Assess youth for program eligibility
  • Help eligible youth develop and achieve the goals they have set for themselves through the program
  • Support eligible youth to identify, access and navigate adult service systems relevant to their needs, and transition to adulthood
  • Facilitate access for eligible youth to existing supports and resources in the community, by providing information and referrals for individual youth that address individual needs and support/reinforce strengths. Some of the resources and supports may include
  • Housing supports education resources
  • Employment services and training
  • Life skills training (e.g. financial management, household management) health and mental health services; and legal services
  • Support eligible youth to develop and maintain relationships with responsible, caring adults in the community to help them as they transition to adulthood
  • Foster communication and linkages with community agencies/ organizations to improve access and mitigate barriers to services for eligible youth
  • Work with local CASs to develop a referral approach, and to create awareness of the program among eligible youth

HSW program/service features

The transfer payment recipient will ensure that the Housing Support Worker

  • Advocates for the specific housing needs of the new cohort of eligible youth to municipal service managers, and local housing providers
  • Supports provincial YITWs through peer consultations, and participating in agency delivered workshops that would help society and community-based workers provide housing support to youth leaving care
  • Works closely with the societies located in their region to ensure all eligible youth have access to the HSW program
  • Participates in the case planning process with societies and youth with respect to the youth’s housing needs
  • Assists youth with identifying their housing needs, searching for and viewing housing, and applying for housing; and
  • Provides ongoing support to youth to sustain/keep housing ( e.g., life-skills programming, such as financial management, budgeting, household management, tenant skills)

YITWs program goals

Services will be

  • Targeted and goal focused, based on the needs of the youth Reflective of and responsive to individual needs Accountable to the individual and community
  • Sensitive to the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of youth
  • Staffed by individuals with the appropriate range of skills and abilities necessary to respond effectively to the needs of youth
  • Based on the individual's assessed needs and preferences, and the availability of individual, agency, community and contracted ministry resources

HSW program goals

Services will be

  • Reflective of and responsive to individual needs Accountable to the individual youth and community
  • Sensitive to the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of youth
  • Staffed by individuals with the appropriate range of skills and abilities necessary to respond effectively to the housing needs of youth; and
  • Based on the individual's assessed needs and preferences, and available individual, agency, community and contracted ministry resources

Ministry expectations

The transfer payment recipient will

  • Provide for effective delivery of the YITW and/or HSW program
  • Establish and build both informal and formal inter-agency linkages and/or partnerships to strengthen/enhance service provision. This includes implementing referral processes with the local societies (YITW and HSW program), and other local community agencies (YITW program). The transfer payment recipient should consider completing a protocol with the CAS(s) outlining the referral process, communication, dispute resolution, monitoring and evaluation
  • Provide statistical and/or qualitative data requested by the ministry relating to service performance measurement, and, as requested, participate in program and service evaluation initiatives established by the ministry

The transfer payment recipient is responsible for the following activities

  • Overall YITW and/or HSW program administration and delivery, including agreed upon program activities
  • Financial and service performance reporting, including submission of required and requested reports within established time frames
  • Employing the agreed number of YITWs/HSWs (full-time equivalent positions) Providing or ensuring supervision of YITWs/HSWs
  • Providing or ensuring training of YITWs/HSWs, including training on personal safety in a community setting
  • Reporting serious incidents involving YITWs/HSWs and youth participants when in the company of YITWs/HSWs, to the ministry’s Regional Office
  • Developing appropriate policies and procedures for protecting the privacy of personal information collected from youth participants. The policies and procedures that are developed by the transfer payment recipient shall comply with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, including Part 6, when the information and records relate to young persons as defined by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and the confidentiality provisions relating to children who are the subject of a child welfare proceeding under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

Reporting requirements

  • The transfer payment recipient will monitor and evaluate the interim and annual data collected through Transfer Payment Ontario to ensure service objectives are being met.
  • The transfer payment recipient will provide a narrative report for the HSW and YITW program(s) to the ministry on May 15 of each year using the existing word template provided by the Child Welfare Secretariat to the Regional Offices.
  • YITW narrative report (Due May 15th)
  • The transfer payment recipient will complete a narrative report which includes the following information

Program description

Briefly describe the program as it relates to your community. This section can include community characteristics, profile of youth served ( e.g. main sub- populations by ethno- cultural group, disability, age, etc.), community response to program; changes in access to community services for youth, as well as information about what services and resources are not available for youth; results from agency collaborations.

Summary and interpretation of performance measures

Provide an overview and analysis of the annual results on the performance measures outlined above.

Successes

Describe what made the program work well in your community, including linkages or partnerships formed with schools, service providers and other community resources, and provide examples. Examples could include quotes and/or anecdotes (with personal and identifying information removed).

Challenges

Describe the challenges your agency encountered in planning and delivering the program and the strategies employed, or planned, to overcome the challenges.

Summary

Briefly summarize the key information in the report. This section could include your agency’s reflections/learning from planning and delivering the program.

HSW narrative report (due May 15th)

The transfer payment recipient will complete a narrative report and submit to the ministry on May 15 of each year using the existing template provided by the ministry which includes the following information

Program description

Briefly describe the program as it relates to your community. This section can include community characteristics, profile of youth served (e.g. main sub- populations by ethno- cultural group, disability, age, etc.), community response to program; changes in access to community services for youth, as well as information about what services and resources are not available for youth; results from agency collaborations.

Summary and interpretation of performance measures

Provide an overview and analysis of the annual results on the performance measures outlined above.

Successes

Describe what made the program work well in your community, including linkages or partnerships formed with schools, service providers and other community resources, and provide examples. Examples could include quotes and/or anecdotes (with personal and identifying information removed).

Challenges

Describe the challenges your agency encountered in planning and delivering the program and the strategies employed, or planned, to overcome the challenges.

Summary

Briefly summarize the key information in the report. This section could include your agency’s reflections/learning from planning and delivering the program.

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.

Service Data Name Definition

# of designated human trafficking YITWs.

Number of YITWs the agency currently has delivering the program that were approved by the ministry in 2017 and funded as part of the Anti-Human trafficking YITW expansion.

# of referrals & source: YITW program

The total number of referrals received by the YITW during the reporting period. Referral sources include: self, peer, children’s aid society (society), or other agency referral. A self- referral means that the youth sought the services of a YITW independent of a referral from another agency/individual.

Peer referral means that the youth was referred by another youth currently receiving services from a YITW. Society referral means that the youth was referred by their children’s aid society. Other agency referral means that the youth was referred by another community agency (e.g., youth shelter). The total number of referrals received by the YITW during the reporting period.

# of referrals and Source to the YITW for human trafficking and/or other victim related services

Out of the total number of referrals received for the reporting period, please indicate how many were made to the YITW to specifically provide human trafficking and/or other victim related services. These referrals can be made and should be tracked regardless if the agency has a designated Human Trafficking YITW.

# of YITWs not designated human trafficking workers but provided related services to youth

The total number of YITWs that are not designated Human Trafficking YITWs, but are still providing Human Trafficking and/or victim support related services to youth.

# of Youth in a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement receiving services from the HSW

The number of youth participants who have entered a VYSA with a children’s aid society and are now receiving services from the HSW.

# of Youth: Human trafficking and/or other victim related services from the YITW program

The number of youth participants that are receiving human trafficking and/or other victim related services from a YITW for the reporting period. Youth should only be counted once and recorded in the reporting period they began receive the human trafficking services and supports from the YITW.

# of Youth: New: YITW

A youth becomes a participant through a significant one-to- one interaction with a YITW where the YITW has gained sufficient information about the youth to establish a file with the youth. The interaction may be “face-to-face”, “voice-to- voice” or electronic (e.g. email, text messages), and occur for purposes such as introduction to the YITW program, general information sharing, discussion of the participant’s issues/needs or an exchange regarding specific community programming or services.

# of Youth: Re-opened files for additional service: YITW

A youth file is considered to be “re-opened” when a youth returns to the YITW for additional support and services after the YITW has closed the youth’s file (regardless of the reason for closing the file).

# of Youth: Referred by the YITW to other human trafficking or victim support services

The number of youth participants who received a referral during the reporting period to human trafficking or other victim support services. Referral means that the YITW provides specific service/program and contact information to a youth participant to address the identified needs as they relate to human trafficking. Includes referrals to other services within the YITW’s own organization. This number does not include providing general information on services/programs to youth who have not had a significant one-to-one interaction with a YITW. Each youth referred by the YITW is counted only once in the reporting period, regardless of how many services or opportunities they are referred to.

# of Youth: Social connections improved

The number of youth participants who said their social connections had improved. Social connections refer to stable relationships with family members, friends, partners, adult and peer mentors, and other significant persons in the youth’s life.

# of Youth: YITW

The total number of individual youth participants who had at least one significant one–to-one interaction with a YITW during the reporting period. Includes new and ongoing youth participants. Each youth is counted only once, regardless of the number of contacts with the youth. This number includes all youth served during the reporting period including new youth whose service was initiated in a previous reporting period. This number should not be the same as the number of ‘new youth’ participants served.

# of Youth: achieved personal goals: YITW

The total number of youth participants who reported achieving personal goals (e.g. attained high school diploma, maintained stable employment).

# of Youth: more than five interactions with the YITW

The total number of individual youth participants who has five or more additional personal interactions beyond the first significant one-to-one interaction with the YITW.

# of Youth: obtaining a high school diploma: YITW

The total number of youth participants who reported that they were working towards obtaining a high school diploma.

# of Youth: stable housing: YITW

The total number of youth participants who reported maintaining stable housing. Stable housing means a housing situation in which the youth has permanent, safe and appropriate housing and does not believe they are at risk of losing this housing and becoming homeless. Stable housing does not include couch surfing or staying temporarily with friends or family because the youth has no other option.

# of Youth: Stable employment: YITW

The number of youth participants who received a referral during the reporting period. Referral means that the YITW provides specific service/program and contact information to a youth participant to address the youth’s particular identified needs or interests. Includes referrals to other services within the YITWs own organization. Does not include providing general information on services/programs to youth who have not had a significant one-to-one interaction with a YITW. Each youth referred by the YITW is counted only once in the reporting period, regardless of how many services or opportunities they are referred to.

# of Youth; Referred by YITW to other community agencies and/or other services

The number of youth participants who received a referral during the reporting period. Referral means that the YITW provides specific service/program and contact information to a youth participant to address the youth’s particular identified needs or interests. Includes referrals to other services within the YITWs own organization. Does not include providing general information on services/programs to youth who have not had a significant one-to-one interaction with a YITW. Each youth referred by the YITW is counted only once in the reporting period, regardless of how many services or opportunities they are referred to.

# of individual youth participants served by age (i.e., 16 or 17): HSW

The total number of individual youth participants who had at least one significant one–to-one interaction with a HSW during the reporting period. Includes new and ongoing youth participants. Each youth is counted only once, regardless of the number of contacts with the youth. This number includes all youth served during the reporting period including new and existing. This number should not be the same as the number of ‘new youth’ participants served and reported.

# of new youth participants: HSW

A youth becomes a participant through a significant one-to- one interaction with a HSW where the HSW has gained sufficient information about the youth to establish a file with the youth. The interaction may be “face-to-face”, “voice-to- voice” or electronic (e.g. email, text messages), and occur for purposes such as introduction to the HSW program, general information sharing, discussion of the participant’s issues/needs or an exchange regarding specific community programming or services. This number will not necessarily be the same as the reported number of referrals for the same reporting period. In some cases it is expected that some referrals will not result in service.

# of referrals to the HSW program by referral source

The total number of referrals received by the HSW during the reporting period. Referral sources include: self, peer, children’s aid society (society), or other agency referral. A self- referral means that the youth sought the services of a HSW independent of a referral from another agency/individual.

Peer referral means that the youth was referred by another youth currently receiving services from a HSW. Society referral means that the youth was referred by their children’s aid society. Other agency referral means that the youth was referred by another community agency (e.g., youth shelter).

# of youth participants - improved social connections: HSW

The number of youth participants who said their social connections had improved. Social connections refer to stable relationships with family members, friends, partners, adult and peer mentors, and other significant persons in the youth’s life.

# of youth participants enrolled in post; secondary education or training programs: YITW

The total number of youth participants who reported that they were enrolled in post-secondary education and training programs.

# of youth participants that achieved personal goals: HSW

The total number of youth participants who reported achieving personal goals (e.g. attained high school diploma, maintained stable employment).

# of youth participants with stable employment: HSW

Total number of youth participants with stable employment: The total number of youth participants who reported maintaining stable employment. Stable employment means that a youth is currently in stable full-time or part-time employment and does not believe they are at risk of losing this job.

# of youth participants working towards obtaining a high school diploma: HSW

The total number of youth participants who reported that they were working towards obtaining a high school diploma.

# of youth participated in skill-building programs/services with respect to maintaining housing: HSW

The number of youth participants who attended group activities for skill building and life skills training provided by, organized by or referred by the HSW. Skill building and life skills training programs and services that support maintaining housing include activities such as financial literacy and budgeting workshops, good tenancy information sessions, cooking classes and tips for grocery shopping on a budget, training supports for laundry and cleaning etc.

# of youth referred by the HSW to other community agency: HSW

The number of youth participants who received a referral during the reporting period to other community programs and/or supports. Referral means that the HSW provides specific service/program and contact information to a youth participant to address the youth’s particular identified needs or interests. Includes referrals to other services within the HSWs own organization. Does not include providing general information on services/programs to youth who have not had a significant one-to-one interaction with a HSW. Each youth referred by the HSW is counted only once in the reporting period, regardless of how many services or opportunities they are referred to.

# of youth that received culturally relevant supports: YITW

The total number of youth participants who received culturally relevant supports from the YITW. Culturally relevant supports include programming and services that reflect the culture and identity needs of the youth. These services and supports can be provided by the YITW directly or be a service that YITWs refer the youth to.

# of youth who are 16 or 17 supported by HSW to connect with a society for services

The number of youth participants who are 16 or 17 years of age and are currently not in a VYSA or receiving services from a society but the HSW has capacity to work with the youth to provide service and connect them with a society.

# of youth who had more than 5 interactions: HSW

The total number of individual youth participants who has five or more additional personal interactions beyond the first significant one-to-one interaction with the HSW.

# of youth who secured a stable housing arrangement and by type: HSW

The total number of youth participants who reported maintaining stable housing. Stable housing means a housing situation in which the youth has permanent, long-term, safe and appropriate housing and does not believe they are at risk of losing this housing and becoming homeless. Stable housing does not include couch surfing, youth shelters, or staying temporarily with friends or family because the youth has no other option. Types of secured housing include group home, foster home, transitional housing, independent housing, other.

# of youth with a bank account: HSW

The total number of youth participants who reported they have a bank account.

# of youth with a high school diploma: HSW

Total number of youth with a high school diploma: The total number of youth participants who reported having a high school diploma.

# of youth with a high school diploma: YITW

Total number of youth with a high school diploma: The total number of youth participants who reported having a high school diploma.

# of youth participants enrolled in post- secondary education or training programs: HSW

The number of all individual youth participants (mentees) during the fiscal year who cannot identify their first and still understood language.

Youth in Transition Workers and Housing Support Worker: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the transfer payment recipient to administer and deliver the YJC program in the reporting year (April 1 – March 31).

# of Youth with a bank account: YITW

The total number of youth participants who reported they have a bank account.