In December 2023, the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson released part one of a 3-part issue brief series. The series is based on the Youth Residential Placement Task Force’s 2019 report, which highlighted 19 recommendations for youth residential placement. The OYO narrowed these 19 recommendations down to three overarching goals:
- Reduce the Use
- Improve Safety and Quality
- Improve Aftercare
The issue brief series is published in reverse order because it is the OYO’s belief that immediate action must be taken on behalf of the youth who are already in care. The first issue brief focused on aftercare, to ensure that the youth leave placement with a plan for success. This second installment makes recommendations about quality of services and safety in placement. The final issue brief will address our ultimate goal: that congregate care placement can be reduced and eventually ended.
The second part of the series, titled Improving the Safety and Quality of Youth Residential Placements, can be found below.
