TORONTO - Youth under the legal care of Ontario -- those known as Crown wards -- are holding public hearings on the challenges they face in leaving care.
The hearings will be held at the provincial legislature at Queen's Park over the next two Fridays.
They will include submissions from the young people themselves as well as professionals working in the field.
It's hoped they will offer ideas on how to improve the outcomes for youth leaving care, which happens when they turn 18.
Experts say these young people are less likely to have a high school diploma and make good wages, and are more likely to be homeless, struggle with mental health issues and have run-ins with the law.
The province is the legal guardian of more than 8,300 children and youth connected to the child welfare system.
Crown wards -- young people who have been permanently removed from their families -- live in foster homes, group homes, transitional housing programs or in judicial custody.
The public hearings are being organized by youth in care with the support of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, which reports directly to the legislature.
"We know that the advocate and other organizations have been trying for decades to deal with issues that youth leaving care face. We thank them for their efforts, but now it's our turn to lead," said a member of the youth team organizing the hearings.
"It's time to listen to our ideas and to hear what we have to say about issues that affect us."
Under Ontario's Child and Family Services Act, there is effectively (with few exceptions) a statutory ban on publishing information that identifies a person as a ward of the province, or as someone who has been a ward of the province.
