Bringing a smile
The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS).
Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Good care)
The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS). The youth had a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) – a program that extends child protection services to 17- and 18-year-olds – but her CAS had an internal policy that it did not fund orthodontic treatment for youths with VYSAs.
With the youth’s consent, staff from our Children and Youth Unit pointed out the specific terms of the youth’s VYSA to the service director at the CAS – which obliged the CAS to cover the cost of braces. The service director agreed with our assessment, and within two hours, we obtained written confirmation that the youth’s braces would be paid for. She was delighted with the result and thanked us for our help.
Learn more about the Children and Youth Unit which answers questions and takes complaints about child protection services.