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Ombudsman Ontario - Children and Youth Unit
Ombudsman Ontario receives and reviews complaints about services provided to children and youth under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, including residential care, youth justice facilities and secure treatment. This work is carried out by the Children and Youth Unit.
The Children and Youth Unit receives complaints from children and youth, adults, service providers, and anyone concerned about services under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017. The Unit reviews issues, helps resolve them, and may flag broader concerns for possible systemic review.
The Children and Youth Unit listens to concerns, helps young people understand their options, and works with service providers to find solutions. Ombudsman Ontario is independent and impartial, and organizations within its mandate must cooperate with its reviews.
Your Responsibilities to Ombudsman Ontario
Service providers, including children’s aid societies and residential licensees, must:
- Inform a child in care, in a way they can understand, about Ombudsman Ontario, what the Ombudsman does, and how to contact the Office (1-800-263-2841, cy-ej@ombudsman.on.ca)
- Ensure that any child or youth who wishes to contact Ombudsman Ontario can do so privately and without delay.
- Provide the Ombudsman with private access to children in care who wish to speak with the Office without unreasonable delay.
- Display clear and visible information about Ombudsman Ontario, its role, and how to contact the Office.
- Make Ombudsman Ontario’s informational materials available upon request. Notify the Ombudsman Ontario in writing and without unreasonable delay of the death or serious bodily harm of any child or youth who have sought or received services from a children’s aid society within the past 12 months. The notification form is available on the Ombudsman Ontario’s website .
You can read all of the requirements under the Ombudsman Act.