Know Your Rights

My rights as a child or teen in care

Know your rights. Read more to find out what your rights are and what to do when you disagree with, or are dissatisfied with, the service you are receiving. As a child or teen under the care of Toronto Children’s Aid, you have the right to...

You Have The Right To... Know and understand your rights.

  • Be and feel safe.
  • Be treated fairly no matter your race, sex, culture, religion, abilities, or sexual orientation.
  • Have a say about what happens to you and express your thoughts and feelings.
  • Be properly fed, clothed and cared for.
  • Go to school.
  • Receive medical and dental care.
  • Participate in social and recreational activities.
  • Participate in your religion and culture and speak your language.
  • An interpreter if you are not being understood because of language or abilities.
  • Reasonable privacy.
  • Know and understand the rules, responsibilities and consequences.
  • Talk privately with your lawyer, the Ombudsman, your Member of Parliament or an Advocate.
  • Be told how to contact the Advocates Office.
  • Live in an emotionally caring home that respects you as an individual.
  • Expect that the agency will protect your well-being and protect you from harm.
  • While you are in the care of the agency, have any concerns about your safety and well being fully investigated and the investigative process explained to you.
  • Be consulted and express your views on major decisions about your medical needs, education, religion and placement.
  • Be informed when you come into care about your rights, the complaints procedure, and the existence of the existence of the Advocates Office.
  • Know about the placement review process if you are 12 years of age or older.
  • Be informed of your responsibilities in the place where you are going to live and know the house rules and discipline procedures.
  • Receive appropriate clothing and have a place to store it.
  • Receive an education according to your abilities and in a community setting where appropriate; participate in recreational activities according to your abilities and interest and in a community setting if possible.
  • Visit and speak with your family in private unless the court rules otherwise.
  • Send and receive mail that is not opened by another person, unless there are concerns that it may be harmful.
  • Have reasonable privacy and possession of your own personal property.
  • Receive religious instruction and participate in the religious activities of your choice.
  • Have a plan of care designed to meet your needs and prepared within thirty days of your admission to care, and participate in developing your plan of care.
  • Have your plan of care reviewed regularly with your involvement and, if needed, have the plan changed.
  • Not be physically disciplined or locked up.
  • Speak in private with and be visited by a lawyer, a representative of the Child Advocacy Office; his or her ombudsman or staff; a member of parliament or legislature or your social worker.
  • Live in an emotionally caring home that respects you as an individual.
  • Expect that the agency will protect your well-being and protect you from harm.
  • While you are in the care of the agency, have any concerns about your safety and well being fully investigated and the investigative process explained to you.
  • Be consulted and express your views on major decisions about your medical needs, education, religion and placement.
  • Be informed when you come into care about your rights, the complaints procedure, and the existence of the Provincial Advocates office
  • Know about the placement review process if you are 12 years of age or older.
  • Be informed of your responsibilities in the place where you are going to live and know the house rules and discipline procedures.
  • Receive appropriate clothing and have a place to store it.
  • Receive an education according to your abilities and in a community setting where appropriate; participate in recreational activities according to your abilities and interest and in a community setting if possible.
  • Visit and speak with your family in private unless the court rules otherwise.
  • Send and receive mail that is not opened by another person, unless there are concerns that it may be harmful.
  • Have reasonable privacy and possession of your own personal property.
  • Receive religious instruction and participate in the religious activities of your choice.
  • Have a plan of care designed to meet your needs and prepared within thirty days of your admission to care, and participate in developing your plan of care.
  • Have your plan of care reviewed regularly with your involvement and, if needed, have the plan changed.
  • Not be physically disciplined or locked up.
  • Speak in private with and be visited by a lawyer, a representative of the Provincial Advocates office, the Ombudsman; a member of parliament or legislature or your social worker.

Some of the rights you have are basic human rights such as food and water.  Keep in mind, this doesn't mean that you everyone receives those rights. There are Rights, Responsibilities and Realities. Some of the rights come with responsibilities when you enter an agreement or contract. What responsibilities do you have when you rent an apartment? What responsibilities do you have to meet to keep a job? 

You also have to responsibility to meet the expectations of the agreement between you and your worker such as your CCSY agreement/contract. Things like going to school, maintaining a part-time job, or doing volunteer work could be expectations on your contract but are also your rights.

If you are under 18 you can ask your worker to review your rights with you during any private visit you have with them.

What are human rights? What rights do you have if you are still in care? What rights do you have as an employee, as a tenant, as someone who receives a government service? Find out what your rights are.

Who to Call to Learn About your Rights

You can call these numbers to learn about your rights and get support if you think your rights are not being respected.