Children and Youth in Care (CYIC)

4.14 Rate of CYIC per 1,000 Population

Rationale

Evidence shows that, where appropriately safe, keeping families together rather than placing a child into care results in better outcomes overall for these children. Consequently Ministry of Children and Family Development's (MCFD)'s practice emphasizes family preservation, when appropriately safe, keeping children and youth from coming into care. Similarly, if a child needs to be placed in care, evidence stresses the importance on outcomes of finding permanency for CYIC through either reunification with parents, adoption or permanent transfer of guardianship.

Keeping more children and youth safe through family preservation and finding permanency for CYIC will influence the rate of CYIC downwards.

While the overall downward trend continues across all groups, the latest 2024/25 data suggests a gradual slowing of declines, particularly among Indigenous children, where rates decreased only slightly from the previous year. Non-Indigenous rates remain consistently low and stable, while total rates continue their long-term reduction. This pattern reinforces the progress made through family preservation strategies (such as Out-of-Care (OCO) placements with relatives or extended family) and higher permanency outcomes (returns to parents, adoption, or permanent transfer of guardianship).

Children and youth may be in care through a court order for protection reasons (89%) or through either a Voluntary Care or Special Needs Agreement with parents (11%). Of all court order induced in care admissions, the most common reason is due to neglect with 73% overall CYIC, 76% Indigenous CYIC and 65% non- Indigenous CYIC.

Younger children are more likely to be admitted into care. This is especially true for Indigenous children. Because younger CYIC are more likely to find permanency through adoption, return to parents or permanent transfer of guardianship, most CYIC are aged 0-12 and Indigenous CYIC are younger than non-Indigenous CYIC.

5.01 CYIC Who Exited to Permanency

Rationale

Permanent, stable relationships are a major determinant of whether children feel safe and secure and therefore, of well-being overall. Permanency is achieved by leaving the care of the Director of Child Welfare through family reunification, adoption or permanent transfer of custody under the CFCSA.

Since it is possible for a CYIC to re-enter Care after achieving permanency, whether a former CYIC has achieved permanency can only be measured over a span of time. This indicator is calculated using CYIC that achieved permanency over the twelve month period ending March 2024

Over the twelve month period April 2023 to March 2024, 727 CYIC (15.7% of all CYIC) found permanency, compared to the corresponding figures of 788 CYIC (or 16.5% of all CYIC) over the twelve month period one year earlier. There was an upward trend since September 2012 until the onset of the global pandemic. A similar pattern is also observed for the Indigenous and non-Indigenous CYIC.

It is commonly accepted that the longer children remain in Care, the less likelihood they have of unifying with their parents or being adopted. Thus, the extra time spent in Care would reduce their chance of ever achieving permanency. Of these 727 CYIC who exited for permanency during April 2023 – March 2024, the median amount of time spent in Care was 22 months. Although a similar percentage of CYIC who exited into permanency compared to September 2012 (16% in September 2012 vs. 15.7% in March 2024), the median time to permanency has gone up by 5 months, from 17 months in September 2012 to 22 months in March 2024. The median length of time to permanency also varies across SDAs, from as little as 17 months in the Northern SDAs to as long as 28 months in the North East Fraser. For those CYIC who remained in Care, the median length of stay in Care is 70 months up from 59 months in September 2012 (it should be noted that, due to the calculation criteria, all children and youth had to be in Care for more than two months). At the SDA level, the largest improvement in the median duration in Care occurred in the South Fraser SDA with a decrease of 9.5 months; while the largest deterioration occurred in the Indigenous CFS Agencies (up from 85 months to 100 months).

A positive implication of higher permanency rates is fewer CYIC becoming continuing wards of the province; children under Continuing Custody Orders (CCOs). CCOs, as a proportion of all CYIC, have been declining since 2004.

5.76 Per Cent of Children Eligible for Adoption Placed in Adoption Homes

Rationale

Evidence has shown that children require a stable and continuous relationship with a nurturing caregiver to maximize physical, social emotional and cognitive development. If this relationship is not possible with the birth family or other OCO options, then for children whom the ministry has legal permanent guardianship, adoption is an alternative.

This indicator trended upward between late 2013 and early 2016, driven by strategic initiatives and investments to increase permanency for children and youth in care. Following a peak in early 2016, the rate declined, particularly for Indigenous children. The trend remained relatively flat until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, which led to a further drop. Since then, rates have remained lower, with a slight rebound observed in early 2025 for non-Indigenous children, while rates for Indigenous children continued to decline.

The adoption rate for Indigenous CYIC continues to be significantly lower than that of their Non-Indigenous counterparts. While both groups experienced a decline at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indigenous rate has continued to fall more sharply through 2024 and early 2025. This persistent disparity may reflect ongoing challenges such as the need for culturally appropriate placements and sibling group considerations. In contrast, the Non-Indigenous adoption rate has shown signs of stabilization and modest recovery.

5.06 Recurrence of Maltreatment of Former CYIC

Rationale

One of the ministry’s core objectives is to protect children that have been victims of abuse or neglect from further maltreatment. The maltreatment recurrence rate measures how often children that had to leave their homes because of abuse or neglect fell victim to further suspected abuse or neglect after reunification with their family. A lower maltreatment recurrence rate means that, of the children that returned home, more did so safely.

Provincially, 19% of CYIC that left Care in 2023/24 (excluding CYIC that transitioned to adulthood at age 19) came back into Care within the next 12 months, similar to the 20% between 2012 – 2017.

5.11 Placement Stability in the First Year of Care

Rationale

Placement stability is essential for children and youth to develop secure attachment to a caregiver (a fundamental determinant of their well-being) and sense of belonging. Some placement changes are necessary and can be beneficial in terms of ensuring the right fit for the child or youth, but generally avoiding or minimizing moves while in Care is an important goal. Evidence shows that attachment to a caregiver for children under six can occur within as little as two to three months, and takes only slightly longer for older children and youth. Additionally, most moves occur within the first year of care.

The following table presents the count and percentage of CYIC who move zero times, one time, and two or more times within their current episode of care.

The stability indicator has remained relatively stable between September 2012 and March 2020. From April 2020 to March 2022 CYIC increasingly did not move placements. From April 2022 to the current fiscal year, the stability indicator has returned to it's pre-pandemic levels. Since June 2020 both Indigenous and non-Indigenous CYIC moved placements less than pre-pandemic levels but the gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous CYIC stability widened. This gap has narrowed once again since October 2022, as the trend returned to pre-pandemic values.

Older children are more likely to experience a placement change. The chances of having a placement change for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children increases with age.

Historically, Indigenous children have been more likely to have a placement change than non-Indigenous children even after accounting for age differences. However, the trend shows the gap between the proportion of zero placement changes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children narrowing between October 2017 and June 2018. The gap widened significantly between 2020 August and 2022 June, but has since narrowed once again. Over the last 12 months, Indigenous CYIC were as stable as non-Indigenous CYIC placements.

5.12 Foster Parent Retention Rate

Rationale

Foster parent retention allows for stability of placement for the children and youth who cannot be placed in kinship care. Additionally, experienced foster parents may also be better able to provide complex care that is required for the children and youth in MCFD care. Effective support for foster parents is a significant factor in their decision to continue fostering over time. The effectiveness of this support will be reflected in rates of retention for foster parents from year to year.

About 82% of all active foster parents under the age of 64 on March 31, 2024 were still active twelve months later. The Okanagan West Kootenay , North East Fraser, South Fraser, Vancouver Island and Northeren SDA had the highest retention rates in the province this period, all over 80%.

50% of active foster parents on March 31, 2024 were aged 50 or older. Older foster parents were just as likely to still be fostering a year later than their younger counterparts.

Age and foster home specialization level often are related so more experienced foster parents tend to be older. As such, it is not surprising to see that foster parents in the more specialized foster homes tend to have a higher retention rate.

5.66 Residential Cost per CYIC Excluding CYIC with Support Needs

Rationale

Cost pressures often stem from a shortage of skilled foster parents, which translates into a higher usage of more expensive contracted resources. Other factors that can impact costs per case include the use of exceptional payments to service providers and the level of care required by the current caseload composition.

In April of 2023 government increased the rates for foster caregivers. This is accounts for part of the increase in average costs.

Since data that is used to generate the numbers for this Indicator is updated retroactively, the numbers may change overtime. Numbers in this section are current as at September 19, 2024.

The average annualized residential cost per CYIC increased by a total of 65% since 2020/21. During the same time, the number of bed days continued to drop. Since 2020/21 period, approximately 110,000 fewer residential care days were required by MCFD annually, or the equivalent to care for 301 full time children or youth. This echoed the drop in the CYIC caseload, as practice shifted towards working with families to help children stay at home, a greater use of Out-of-Care (OCO) options, and a focus on finding permanent homes for CYIC.

A total of 2,401 distinct children in care without identified support needs were in the paid residential care of MCFD at some point over the 12 month reporting period. This an 14% drop in the number of children, since 2020/21.

Indigenous identified CYIC continued to make up a greater proportion of the total residential care use this period (54%). In the 12 month period ending in March 2022, it cost MCFD on average 19% more to care for non-Indigenous CYIC than for Indigenous CYIC.

The use of contracted resources for non-support needs CYIC decreased since the last report. They represented 15% of all bed days used this period. Their costs continued to increase such that contracted resources were responsible for most of the residential cost increase for non-support needs CYIC.

In April of 2023 government increased the rates for foster caregivers. This is accounts for part of the increase in average costs.

5.71 CYIC Funded Bed Utilization Rate

Rationale

In order to ensure sufficient quantities of appropriate homes for children and youth that come into Care the ministry needs to fund some empty beds. Foster parents with specialized skills are provided with a monthly fixed payment regardless of whether a child is living in the home.

This is an indicator of the ministry’s ability to manage its contracts with foster care providers in order to optimize resources. Generally, a higher utilization rate (with sufficient capacity) is associated with more efficient use of foster home capacity.

Utilization rate for purchased bed days continues to show a decreasing trend sinc the basline 2012/13. There is a 12% decrease in the number of beds available since 2020/2021.

While the volume of beds days purchased continues to decline, 56% since September 2012, the current period is experiencing a small upturn in the utilization rate. Contract Resources account for almost 30% of the bed days purchased.

The upturn in the utilization rate is the result of the bed days used decreasing at a slower rate than bed days purchased.

Regular, Restricted and Level 1 foster homes inventory is purchased on an as needed basis so it is always fully utilized. Approximately 90% of other home categories saw their utilization rates at or above 87% for the current period.

Within the SDA’s, the types of foster homes used varies across all 8 areas. On average, a majority of SDA’s have Contracted Resources utilization rates below 90% in any given period, since the baseline. In contrast, the remaining foster home types have significantly higher utilization rates on average, over the same period.

Within the current SDA structure, over 60% of the SDA's have a ute rate of 90% or more, with only Okanagan West Kootenay having a rate significantly lower than 90%