Aging Out of Society Care at 18 in Ontario: What to Know

Turning 18 can feel like a cliff for a youth who has been in the care of a children's aid society. Housing, school, money and support people can all change at once. Many youth want to know what help is still available.

This article explains how extended society care works under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) and what changes at 18. Voluntary supports for older youth depend on individual eligibility and on the agreement offered, so the article tells you what to ask rather than promising what you will get.

What extended society care is

When a court finds a child in need of protection, it can make several kinds of order, including supervision, an interim society care order of up to 12 months, or an extended society care order. Extended society care is the longest-lasting option.

An extended society care order lasts until the court terminates it under section 116 or it expires under section 123. In practice, the child stays in the care of the Children's Aid Society until a judge changes the order, the child is adopted, or the child turns 18.

What changes when you turn 18

Under section 123, every order under Part V of the CYFSA expires when the child turns 18 or marries, whichever comes first. That means the court order that placed you in society care ends at that point.

The end of the court order is not necessarily the end of all support. Whether a society offers a voluntary agreement or other services to a youth over 18 depends on the youth's history, needs and the society's requirements. Because those details can vary, ask your worker about options well before your birthday.

Things you can do before 18

• On a status review the court can vary or end the original order, make a new order, or make a custody order.
• Existing access orders end when extended society care is ordered, and the court can make or vary access only if it is in the child's best interests.
• No access order about a person aged 16 or older can be made without that person's consent.
• If you are unhappy with a society decision, you can make a written complaint, ask the Child and Family Services Review Board to review the decision, or complain to the Ontario Ombudsman.

The court must end an access order for a child in extended society care once it is no longer in the child's best interests. If the child has been placed for adoption and still lives with that family, no access application can be made.

Asking about supports after 18

Every order under Part V of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act expires when the child turns 18 or marries, whichever comes first, so any supports after that point are not part of a court order under that Part. The terms, length and eligibility rules depend on the program, so do not assume that a friend's arrangement will match yours.

Useful questions to ask your worker include: What services can I get after 18? What do I need to do to qualify? How long would an agreement last? What happens if I move, change schools or want to end it? Ask for the answers in writing, and ask who to contact if you disagree with a decision.

What to do next

• Find out your exact birth date and when your current order or agreement ends.
• Ask your worker, as early as possible, what supports exist after 18 and what the eligibility requirements are.
• Gather your identification, school records and any court documents.
• Keep a list of people who can support you, such as relatives, mentors or teachers.
• Write down any concerns about your plan of care and raise them with the society.
• Speak with a lawyer if you are unsure about an order, an agreement or a decision you want to challenge.

Frequently asked questions