This toolkit was published by the Crown Ward Education Championship Team for Dufferin, Halton, Peel & Upper Grand Regions.

HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT:

The toolkit for Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth with Crown Ward Status has been developed to assist Children’s Aid Society Workers and CAS caregivers to better understand the school system and to work in partnership with school boards while supporting youth with Crown Ward status by:

• Assisting with the transition into schools.
• Monitoring appropriate credit accumulation for grade level.
• Supporting students to engage in the learning process, complete graduation requirements, and plan the transition to a future apprenticeship, college, university, and work.

Research information provided by the Ministry of Children & Youth in 2009 indicates that:

• Outcomes for former youth with Crown Ward status are dramatically lower than the general Canadian youth population.
• They are less likely to graduate from high school.
• They are absent more from school.
• They have lower school engagement.
• Youth leaving care often have limited opportunities to access resources, and are at greater risk for long-term negative outcomes.