If You're a Teen In Foster Care

You may be dealing with a lot of different feelings because you need to live with another family for a while. Please know that every effort is being made to:

• Keep you safe
• Help you stay connected with your family
• Help you return to your family home or another permanent home as soon as possible

While you're in care, there's a team that supports you – it includes your social worker, your foster family and community supports. These adults have a shared responsibility to make sure you're protected and that you know your rights.

• What foster families need to do for kids

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Your Rights

Every kid in care should know their rights – if you would like them explained to you, ask your caregiver, social worker, or anyone else you trust, to explain them to you.

• See the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in American Sign Language (ASL)

All children in care have the right to:

• Live in a comfortable home with adults who care about you
• Proper food and clothing
• The same quality of care as other children in foster care
• Know about your care plan
• Say what you think about important decisions
• Privacy – especially when talking to family members or when discussing personal things
• Have your own personal items
• Be free from physical punishment like spanking or hitting
• Know what's expected of you and what will happen if you don't listen
• Get medical and dental care
• Do social, recreational or religious activities that you choose
• Stay connected with your family, culture and community
• Have access to an interpreter, if needed
• Talk to people who can support you like the Representative for Children and Youth or the Ombudsperson
• Know your legal rights and the supports available

Read more about the rights you have as a child in care and how to speak up and be heard.

• Know Your Rights (PDF, 1.0MB)
• This Is Me and I Have Rights - for children ages 3 to 8 (PDF)
• Youth Rights – Ontario Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth

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Leaving Care

Find guidance, tips and advice to help navigate the exciting, yet difficult time of becoming an adult and going out on your own.

• Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)
• AgedOut.com
• Aging Out of Foster Care

Youth Agreements offer an alternative to teens (16 to 18 years old) who feel at risk in their current care arrangement and there’s no parent or other adult who can take responsibility for them.

• Youth Agreements

You may be eligible for scholarships or bursaries or financial help with training and education costs if you were in care.

• Learning for Future Grant  
• Youth Futures Education Fund 
• Life-skills, Training, and Cultural Connections Funding