After its initial launch a year ago, Call to Action–related projects are now up and running, and the transformation of child welfare in Ontario is well underway. The Call to Action was designed to guide province-wide collaborative work aimed at creating the best child welfare system and achieving the best outcomes for all children, youth and families in Ontario. It is a pledge to be accountable and transparent, and to use provincial information and best practices to improve services to communities.
“Much of the Call to Action work addresses issues identified in coroner’s inquests, the auditor general’s review, reports from children’s advocates and review panels, and the media,” explained Wendy Miller, OACAS Lead for the Call to Action. “Children, youth, and families expect a transparent and responsive child welfare system that provides consistent, culturally relevant, and high-quality services, regardless of where they live.”
“I don’t think anyone questions that we’re all committed to helping vulnerable children and families. But what we’ve heard is we must start doing things differently,” said Wendy. “This year, expect child welfare in Ontario to change significantly.”
The Call to Action central pillars are:
- children, youth and families are treated with respect, supported with culturally relevant practice and have an equitable chance at a successful outcome
- children, youth and families are served by compassionate, competent, trained, and skilled professionals
- Ontarians can trust that agencies place the child at the centre of their work, are accountable for public resources, transparent about performance, and willing to make changes to ensure successful outcomes
The Call to Action projects are being led by staff from agencies across the province and facilitated through the OACAS. In some instances, these projects will result in significant changes in the way agencies function, report their progress, and hold themselves accountable.
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