Quotes from Youth in Care

On raising the age of eligibility

“Two months ago I had a house fire and I lost absolutely everything in my house. I called my CAS and they helped me. All I had was the clothes on my back. If I was older than 21 years old, I would be left with nothing.” - Jim

“I have a worker that I can call, I have an entire agency that I can go to for a simple phone call, a simple hello. A message in the morning at 630 - saying ‘have a good day,’ or even on a holiday having someone call you when you don’t have your biological family there to give you a call. I have a worker who calls me on my birthday and calls me on Christmas morning and says have a good Christmas. And, since I came into care, that is something that I will never let go of.” – Karley

“Think back to how young you were when you first started working, and how scary it was to be taking those big steps. I don’t know your situations, but I bet that a lot of you had support systems to help you. I can’t picture myself getting through my first year without my worker to help me.” – Alexis

On emotional support

“I am a student, a sister, a photographer, an addict. I just finished my first year of university, but not without crisis. What would happen if I wasn’t supported? I traveled to my home base to recuperate and be reminded of who I am. My entire Children’s Aid family rallied around me, reassured me and connected me with a therapist close to my university. I returned to school and proceeded to maintain a B average, as well as a part time job. Without the unconditional love and support from my ‘parents’, I would be that girl, the drop out, the addict, the prostitute, the person I would have become. – Amber

On financial support

“We would like it to be made mandatory for workers to help youth with opening bank accounts, understanding credit, creating and establishing independent savings plans and RESPs, learning about how to access OSAP, co-signing and other money management skills.” - Emily

On educational support

“Help us with books until we are 25. You are my parents. I am your child. You can give me a minimum of $500 each semester to cover the cost of my books and equipment for school.” - Tonya

“You could help by paying the $80 needed to apply to colleges and universities. Eighty dollars may not seem like a lot of money, but it is to me when I am trying to make ends meet. Help us with our tuition until we are 25. Meet me half way. Let me stay focused on my studies instead of worrying all the time about money.” - Cathy

“Youth in care have experience and want to help. Give us the summer job rather than someone who has not been through what we have.” - Joe

“Psychological educational assessments are required in order to get us the help we need. Without the assessments some youth will not get the services to help with learning disabilities.” - Frances