Timely help

A concerned adult contacted our Office on behalf of a youth who was denied a This link opens in a new tabVoluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) by a children’s aid society (CAS). VYSAs are available to 16- and 17-year-olds who have left home because of concerns about their safety, and who are in need of child protection services.
 
The agency was claiming there wouldn’t be enough time to process the youth’s application before she turned 18 – the cutoff age for child protection services.
 
After we spoke to the youth, who had been abandoned by her family, we contacted the CAS to inquire how they determined there was insufficient time to process the application. Acknowledging the urgency and seriousness of the situation, they agreed to expedite the paperwork and offer the youth a VYSA, making her eligible for further supports from CAS after she turned 18.

Learn more about the Children and Youth Unit which answers questions and takes complaints about child protection services.
Read about how we helped other people in our Selected cases.