In 2015, WoodGreen Community Services began to investigate a critical gap in services for young people transitioning out of the child welfare system in Toronto. With extensive experience developing and delivering highly innovative wrap-around programs, WoodGreen began to engage key stakeholders in the child welfare sector, to explore whether there were opportunities to leverage our assets to improve outcomes for youth leaving care in the community. In September 2016, in partnership with Covenant House Toronto, and with support from the Toronto Children’s Aid Societies and the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth, WoodGreen received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to conduct a one-year community-based action research project to design an evidence-based model in order to improve the outcomes of youth transitioning out of care.

This report provides a synthesis of key literature findings, as well as specific feedback from the project’s stakeholder engagement activities. The report also provides key recommendations to inform policy and service delivery aimed at improving outcomes for youth leaving care.