Parental Rights

Your rights as a Parent/Caregiver

Parents, family and caregivers are integral to the well-being of children and youth, our most sacred gifts. There may be times when you, as a parent or caregiver, need additional support to be able to care for your child(ren) in the best way possible. We are here for that support, and we want you to be an active participant in the journey. Together, we will make important decisions about the well-being of your child(ren), yourself and your family. While there may be legal and other Ministry requirements involved in our work together, we want you to know that we do our work differently, in our own way, in a wholistic way that better serves our people, communities and Nations. And if mistakes are made along the way (we are all human!), there are ways for you to hold us accountable. Our complaints policy can be found here.

The information that follows is to help you know your rights as a parent or caregiver at various stages, and more so, our commitments to you while we are walking this path together.

Voluntary Services

The following are some of your rights as parents/caregivers when walking alongside our agency for voluntary services:

Right to be clearly informed about the child protection concerns
Right to know the expectations of you as a caregiver
Right to know the assessment (investigation) process
Right to support services and to know how to access them
Right to financial assistance to alleviate child protection concerns
Right to be informed of and help develop your service plan
Right to help develop a cultural plan and place of care

Right to the protection of your privacy and confidentiality
Right to share open and honest feedback
Right to ask for file disclosure
Right to know about their child’s medical needs or needs that we identify
Right to revoke consent
Right to speak directly with your First Nation Band Representative* on how they can support you and your family
Right to seek independent legal advice whenever you feel necessary
Right to a support person

*Band Representatives act on behalf of the First Nations’ interests in their children, youth and families. They have a legal mandate to be involved to ensure child welfare matters are attended to responsibly and according to community standards. They are true and equal partners in the planning and decision-making processes.

Alternative Care Services

The following are some of your rights as parents/caregivers of children and/or youth in an alternative placement either voluntary or through the agency seeking a court order:

Right to be involved in your child/youth’s plan of care
Right to know the steps to reunification
Right to Sàgìhidig Family Time
Right to help develop a cultural plan

Right to request support services and to know how to access them
Right to share open and honest feedback
Right to a Resource Person
Right to terminate a voluntary agreement

Legal Services

The following are some of your rights as parents/caregivers when your child(ren) and/or youth may be involved in a court matter:

Right to counsel
Right to seek legal aid (Legal Aid Ontario toll-free: 1-800-668-8258 or online)
Right to be served your court documents in a timely manner

Right to be notified of the court matter if you are a party to the proceeding
Right to be informed about the agency’s expectations and how to address and mitigate the child protection concerns