Kids in Care

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If you are a child or youth in the care of Family & Children Services of the Waterloo Region, you have many rights and responsibilities. This page and the booklets below can help you understand what rights and responsibilities you have.

A Guide for Kids in Care
A Guide for Youth in Care

• Be respected for who you are:
• To feel safe;
• Visit with your family;
• Speak with your social worker and your lawyer without anyone else around;
• Have time by yourself and to keep your own things;
• Send and get letters that only you read. Sometimes your social worker may check your mail, if she or her thinks there is something in it that might hurt you.
• Be given food that is good for your body;
• Go to school;
• Visit the doctor and dentist to keep you healthy;
• Have clothing that fits well and keeps you warm;
• Play games and sports;
• Practice your religion;
• Participate in cultural activities that are important to you;
• Be heard, especially when people are making decisions about your life.

• Know the rules in the place where you live and you have you the right to know what will happen if you break the rules.
• Talk with your worker;
• Go to school when you should and do your homework;
• Talk to your foster parents and what's going on in your life;
• Make sure your foster parents know where you are when you're not at home;
• Respect other children, neighbours and property;
• Respect the privacy of others - don't take other people's things unless you have permission;
• Respect that every person is different in race, culture and religion;
• Be helpful to others in the home and do your share of chores;
• Follow the rules of your placement and accept the consequences if rules are broken.

If you are over the age of 12:

• You have a right to see information in your Family & Children's Services file. The only exception is confidential information about other people.
• You have a right to be notified of, and to attend, court hearings that may affect your life - unless the court decides it's not in your best interest.
• You have a right to request a placement review if you become unhappy where you are living. You can ask your worker, lawyer, parent, foster parent or advocate to help you with this.

If you are a Crown Ward at age 18 you have the right to ask for Extended Care and Maintenance to help you achieve your goals for self support up until you turn 21.
We want you to do your best and we will help you to succeed. If you want to go to university or college or a specialized training program, talk to your social worker about your opportunities.

If you have any problems or concerns, we are here to help you.
First talk to your foster parent or social worker. If that doesn't help, talk to another person, such as a teacher o r friend, or your social worker's boss.

If you have tried to solve your problem, but it keeps happening, you can:
Call the ADVOCACY Office for free: 1-800- 263-2841
TTY (For people with hearing impairments): (416) 325-9756

Or write a letter to:

The Office of the Children's Lawyer
393 University Avenue, 14th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1W9

-or-

Office of Child & Family Service Advocacy
2195 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1G2

You may need help to write your letter. Ask your social worker or someone you trust.