Camille Bains
Savvoi Pessoa of Toronto says he s glad the Ontario government extended a moratorium on aging young people out of the child welfare system due to the pandemic, but he s worried he ll face systemic racism as he tries to get a job and housing when he has to make it on his own. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO March 10, 2021 - 11:22 AM
Advocates for youth in government care are calling on the provinces and territories to continue supporting those who are aging out of the child welfare system and trying to make it on their own during the pandemic.
Melanie Doucet, senior researcher at the Child Welfare League of Canada, said vulnerable youth who transition out of foster care or a group home, at age 18 or 19 in most jurisdictions, already experience higher rates of unemployment, homelessness and mental health issues.