Rights

• To be told your rights in a way you understand.
• To participate in the decisions and affect you.
• To know the decisions that were made about you.
• To share in and contribute to family, culture, and social life.
• To receive preventative and supportive services directed to preserve the family unit.
• To connect with your culture, language, religion, and spiritual upbringing and heritage.
• To learn and develop.
• To know about and speak privately to an Advocate
• To appeal any decision that was made regarding your support services.
• To know what information is being collected about you, who has access to your information, and who is collecting it.
• To be protected from harm, including in your foster or group home.
• Once you turn 18 years old, you have a right to your CFS file.
• If you are 12 or older, you have the right to attend court cases regarding you and have an opportunity to speak to the judge about your preferences.
• To maintain a connection with your biological and/or adoptive family (unless the court decides it’s not safe for you).
• To receive your money and possessions if you move out of your foster or group home, but your worker has to ask for it.
• To receive a personal allowance from your foster or group home. If your agency agrees that you shouldn’t receive your personal allowance now, they have to hold onto the money and give it to you at a later date.
• To receive medical and dental exams every 24 months.
• To have three nutritious meals a day that meet Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating standards, unless your doctor recommends a different diet, or if you have allergies incompatible with the Healthy Eating standards. You do not have a right to meals that meet your religious or cultural beliefs, or personal preferences. 
• To have adequate clothing for all seasons and age-appropriate hygiene products.
• To sleep on a bed with a clean mattress that is appropriate for your size.
• To have access to a telephone in your home.
• To have access to a bathroom that locks in your foster or group home.
• To live in a home that is free of physical punishment, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, or denying any of your rights as a form of punishment.
  • Your foster parents or staff can physically restrain you only if they believe you are going to hurt yourself, or another person in the home, or damage property.

This is a small list of the responsiblities of your caregivers, workers, their supervisors. If you want more information about the “rules” check out the CFS Standards manual.

• To tell you who your CFS worker is and how to contact them. In Manitoba, your CFS worker doesn’t have to be a social worker.
• To meet with your worker in person at least once a month.
• To have a care plan within 30 days of entering into care.
• To explain to you the Agreements with Young Adults program (AYA/ Extension of Care) to permanent wards starting at age 15.
• If you are denied an AYA, you are entitled to a letter explaining the reason for the decision.
• To prepare youth in care with a detailed transition plan starting at age 15. This plan must include your opinions and what you would like to see happen.
• Your foster parents, group home staff or workers are

not allowed to:

• • • encourage you or any other youth to put down anyone. This includes racism, homophobia, and bullying.
    • have an isolation room.
    • stop you from entering your home.
    • isolate you for an excessive amount of time.
    • cancel home visits as a punishment.

 Peguis CFS Rights