Melanie Doucet I would like to answer one of Senator Pate’s questions, which I did not get a chance to during the panel. The question was the following: o Senator Pate: My question is again for both of you.

With some reports and over recommendations made since in this area, I’m curious about what you think has prevented more substantial change in these kinds of policies and outcomes for youth who are exiting care. o My answer: I did a scan of the reports that were published in Canada since the late 80s, back in 2020, which was published in the report titled A Long Road Paved with Solutions: 'Aging out' of care reports in Canada. Key recommendations and timelines (1987-2020).

One of the most recurring recommendations was the need for national standards on transitions from care – this is why myself and the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates decided to focus our attention on developing the Equitable Standards which we released the following year in 2021. We also wanted to step away from providing suggestions or recommendations, and developing the actual solutions – I think that is one of the main reasons why those reports tend to gather dust on a shelf after the crisis or sense of urgency has passed.

So we decided to develop the road map to establishing equitable standards for transitions to adulthood, with actionable, step-by-step solutions. We also released the Equitable Standards Evaluation Model in 2022, which is a tool for organizations to use to assess their fidelity to the Equitable Standards from a baseline standpoint, identifying the gaps in supports and services, and developing a concrete Action Plan to implement in the short, medium and long-term to meet the standards over time.

We are currently piloting the Evaluation Model with Pilot Partners across the country, including community-based organizations and government ministries (N.B., PEI & NWT). We plan on launching the finalized evaluation model on an online platform in 2025, funding permitting, with a National Call to Action Campaign to get more governments and key stakeholders on board.