● A Fragmented System: The lack of Children Aid Society amalgamation has led to massive challenges and
   deaths within the system due to fragmented record keeping and disorganized tracking.

● Overrepresentation: The amount of young people being admitted into the child welfare system is declining
   as a whole, however Black and Indigenous youth are still overrepresented.

● Accountability: Group Homes are the epicenter of the problem, they are more dangerous than family
   homes, there is very little accountability, poor service provision and data sharing.

● Suicides: here are high suicide rates among youth that have been constantly moved from home to home.

● Information Vortex: young people and families do not know have a solid understanding their rights as well
   as they should under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.

● Justice Interactions: approximately 50% of youth in care come into contact with the law/justice system.

● Unfortunate Options: Youth often find being taken into custody more amicable than living in a group home
   and will act-out in order to be detained.

● Systemic Racism: 70% of crossover youth  are racialized, 77%  of youth were charged while in residential
   care. Of the 77%, 60% of the youth were charged for the first time, many of the charges are minor
   (i.e. missing a curfew).

● High possibility of recidivism.

● Pre-trial detention is the worst place for a youth/child to be. 90% of youth in pre-trial detention are from
   Children's Aid Societies. Youth are rarely bailed out and detention terms can last as long as 100 days.

While this list is not exhaustive, Laidlaw, through its public policy advocacy, granting and convening is actively invested in addressing many of these issues so that young people can receive the care and justice they deserve.

For more on our Child Welfare improvement efforts feel free to contact us at info@laidlawfdn.org.