Note
In 2018, the OACAS LBGTQ2S+ Committee developed a self-assessment tool to evaluate the readiness and capacity of Ontario child welfare agencies to provide effective, affirming, and equitable services to 2SLGBTQ+ children, youth, and families. The assessment tool focused on three benchmark areas: governance/leadership, environment/climate, and service delivery.
A provincial evaluation report summarizing findings was published in 2021 and includes an analysis of the aggregate findings and recommendations to build agency capacity to continue to support 2SLGBTQ+ children, youth, and families. That report can be found here in both English and French.
Resources for agencies and sector leadership
- Toolkit to support child welfare agencies in serving LGBTQ children, youth, and families [2016]Toolkit created by the Capacity Building Center for States with knowledge- and skill-building resources, tip sheets, information briefs, and more
- All Children—All Families report: Change-makers in child welfare 2020Annual report of the Human Rights Campaign's All Children—All Families project. The child welfare agencies featured in this report conducted an internal self-assessment and implemented “Benchmarks of LGBTQ Inclusion” which track policy and practice changes within agencies
- Benchmarks of LGBTQ inclusionBenchmarks from the Human Rights Campaign's All Children—All Families project. Benchmarks are organized into seven areas or themes that organizations should implement
- Creating authentic spaces: A gender identity and gender expression toolkit to support the implementation of institutional and social change [2015]Toolkit from the 519 providing information and steps for organizations to take to implement anti-discrimination policies around gender identity and gender expression
- Ontario Child Welfare LGBT2SQ+ Organizational AssessmentThis first-of-its-kind report in Ontario summarizes the findings of an online organizational self-assessment tool developed to evaluate the readiness and capacity of the province’s Children’s Aid Societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies to provide effective, affirming, and equitable services for diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
- We’re Here: 2SLGBTQ+ Youth across Ontario Assert Needs and Experiences [2020]A summary report based on LGBT YouthLine’s Provincial Youth Ambassador Project (PYAP) which brought together 18 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Ambassadors from across Ontario to lead an assessment about the experiences and needs of 2SLGBTQ+ youth (29 and under) in Ontario. The report details seven recommendations calling on organizations, government, service providers, educators, health care professionals, and community leaders in Ontario to #DoBetter to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Ontario.
