Ontario's Child Welfare Crisis Is Everyone's Business
What happens when we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars responding to a young person's crisis but fail to provide the support they actually need?
Recent Toronto Star investigations into Ontario's child welfare system highlight troubling gaps in housing, specialized care, accountability, and public spending.
In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes draws on more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
She explores why these stories are not isolated, how brain-based challenges are frequently misunderstood, and why trauma-informed care, while essential, isn't always enough.
With FASD estimated to affect at least 4% of Canadians, this isn't simply a child welfare issue. It affects our schools, healthcare systems, workplaces, families, and communities.
A diagnosis matters. But understanding how to respond, and providing helpful and relevant support, matters just as much.
It's time to move beyond expensive crisis responses and invest in assessment, specialized training, safe housing, meaningful relationships, and individualized supports that actually improve lives.
Because when we understand the brain, we can change the approach — and sometimes, everything changes.
Listen to this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations and join the conversation about what needs to change.