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The Blueprint
Our vision
High quality residential services in Ontario will effectively meet the needs of children, youth and families, contribute to lasting, positive outcomes and enable the fulfilment of each person’s individual and unique potential.
Guiding Principles
The reform is underpinned by the following guiding principles. They reflect the voices of young people and guide the changes outlined to achieve quality of care as defined by youth themselves.
- Anti-oppression and inclusion
- Cultural relevance, diversity and accessibility
- Consistent, responsive and high quality care
- Strong oversight and a commitment to improvement
- Respect for the knowledge, customs and rights of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous communities
- Child and youth voice at the centre, with a family-focused approach
- Services in the right place, at the right time, for as little time as necessary
- Data-driven transparency and accountability
- A home for now
The guiding principles are described in Appendix B: Guiding Principles.
Three Quality Pillars for Reform
Enhancing the quality of care that children and youth receive is at the heart of this reform. The success of these changes will be measured by how children and youth experience services and the fulfilment of their individual and unique potential.
PILLAR 1: Safe and Healthy Places
Children and youth are physically safe. The physical space in which services are provided is welcoming and meets the needs of children and youth, including food, shelter and clothing, in the context of what is culturally appropriate for them. Their physical space supports their ability to thrive and to be healthy. It provides space for play and leisure in a comfortable and caring environment.
PILLAR 2: A Sense of Belonging
All children and youth in residential care feel at home, are supported to form and maintain attachments, and to be the best they can be. They are supported by caring, qualified adults to have a sense of stability, continuity and hope for the future. Children and youth are supported to have a voice in decision-making about their care, and matters that affect them. Residential settings are inclusive and accepting places that provide culturally appropriate services to meet the needs of a diverse population.
PILLAR 3: Places and Services to Meet the Needs of Children and Youth
All children and youth have the right placement at the right time. Access to services is as close to home as possible, and appropriate for their needs. A range of services are in place in the community to meet their needs. Decisions about their care are made with them using sound clinical and evidence-informed practice and high quality data. Multi-sector professionals work together to support them moving into, through and out of residential services.
In Their Own Words: A Youth Developed Definition of Quality of Care
The Residential Services Youth Panel told us specifically what quality of care means to them. We will use their quality of care domains to anchor our thinking as we develop regulations and policies on all aspects of licensed residential services. Their work will also guide the training of staff working in the residential services sector. It will help us to begin new conversations about the quality of care children and youth are receiving in licensed residential settings.
"The purpose of the domains is to demonstrate the most important areas of quality of care identified by the panel members. These six domains provide an overview of the key elements that must be visibly, reliably, and consistently present in the lives of young people in residential care at all times. These domains will ensure that the experience in care is a positive one ... These domains come from lived experiences, and are what we wish we had."
(Excerpt from Envisioning Better Care for Youth: Our Input Into the Blueprint (2017).)
| Quality of Care Domains | Elements |
|---|---|
| Voice, Rights and Communications |
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| Homes and Ongoing Support |
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| Individual Paths and Fulfilment |
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| Belonging, Relationships and Accepting Environments |
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| Identity and Culturally Relevant Care |
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| Service Providers and Caregivers |
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The youth panel’s input to this Blueprint can be found in its entirety in its report Envisioning Better Care for Youth: Our Input Into the Blueprint (2017).