The term children in care is used to describe children who are under the care and custody of a children's aid society.[1] Children in care are considered to be at risk of, or victims of abuse or neglect.[2] These experiences can have significant impacts on a child's health and well-being throughout their life.
| Children in care served |
About the MeasureChildren in care served is the number of children in care at the start of the year plus the number of children admitted to care during the year. This count includes all children in care regardless of the number of times they were admitted during a single year. This measure does not include society wards where another agency is responsible for the child and the child's placement is supervised in Wellington, Dufferin, or Guelph. This measure has four age groups:
Key FindingsIn Guelph and Wellington, the number of children in care has remained similar since 2007. Children aged birth to six, and youth aged 14 to 18, make up the majority of children in care each year. In Dufferin, the number of children in care has steadily declined since 2007. This decline can be attributed to a decrease in the number of youth, aged 14 to 18, in care. This data can be found in the downloadable Excel file at the bottom of this page.
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Source: Family & Children's Services of Guelph and Wellington County. Extracted July 2016.
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Source: Dufferin Child and Family Services. Extracted July 2016. LimitationsNot all children who are at risk of, or are victims of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment are reported to children's aid societies. Additionally, children enter care for a variety of reasons. This measure does not present information on the primary reason for referral. Some children who are deemed to be at risk and cannot remain with their parents are not admitted to care, but are placed in the care of kin (family members or people close to the children who are known to the children). These children are not included in this data. Finally, it's important to note that the majority of children served by children's aid societies remain with their families and are not admitted to care.
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[1] Children and Family Services Act. 1990, c. 5, s.1. (2017). Available at: http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/children%20and%20family%20services.pdf
[2] Farris-Manning, C., & Zandstra, M. (2003). Children in care in Canada. Child Welfare of League of Canada. Available at: http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.com/nca/pubs/2003/Children_in_Care_March_2003.pdf