Organization
Organization
OARTY represents a major source of long and short term residential care and treatment for children, youth and adults in Ontario. The association is a collective voice composed of members and associate members working to make a profound difference to the future of vulnerable children, youth and adults in Ontario. In June 2012 OARTY released a longitudinal study as the fifth research publication as part of the Partners in Care (PIC) series. The Partners in Care V Executive Summary provides an overview of this report, which is used to further our advocacy efforts on behalf of the province’s most damaged children. Within OARTY’s most recent Annual Report released in June 2012 are statistics from our membership, highlights of the extensive work of our members, and some of the association’s achievements within the 2011/12 member year.
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The Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth (OARTY), through its member agencies, promotes the provision of high quality residential (group & foster) care for vulnerable children, youth, young adults and their families.
OARTY, because of its role in advocating for the most vulnerable children, youth and adults in out of home care in Ontario, believed it important to develop a set of standards that would assist residential care providers in their day to day activities and practices.
OARTY developed these standards as part of the association's broader effort to ensure the highest quality of care for children, youth and adults in need in Ontario, and these standards are meant to go beyond the standards legislated by our licensing Ministry.
The standards along with the supporting principles and beliefs, specify the criteria against which the performance of persons, programs or agencies can be measured, thus providing a basis for holding member agencies accountable to each other and to the communities they serve. They are intended to define clearly and consistently our associations' beliefs about the welfare of children requiring residential care and further, to raise the quality of services provided to children, youth, adults and their families. It is the further intention of this document to strengthen the existing collaborative processes between OARTY member agencies and their community and professional partners.
OARTY recognizes that its member agencies provide a wide array of services and vary in settings and client populations. The standards have been developed with respect and appreciation for the unique blend of services offered by OARTY members. It is also understood that an excess of regulation can limit flexibility and may inhibit the exercise of professional judgment in the delivery of service. OARTY seeks to balance this reality with its desire to provide a measuring tool by which the highest quality care can be ensured.
These Standards, then, should be viewed as directing principles toward the most desirable, beneficial, effective, and ethical levels of performance. They are designed to assist OARTY members in the development of their policies and practices, in the operation of their day-to-day activities and to help caregivers understand their respective roles and responsibilities. Toward that end these guidelines can be used as a constant resource and reference manual. It is also understood that this working document will continue to be developed and modified so that it reflects best practice as supported by the current research and literature.
 Download OARTY Standards & Beliefs (PDF)
The establishment and operation of a provincial network of direct service organizations providing residential care for children and youth in need who are physically or sexually abused, emotionally disturbed, developmentally challenged, autistic, medically fragile, young offenders, dually diagnosed, conduct disordered, psychiatrically disordered and other hard to serve children and youth, and funded on a per diem basis:
1. To develop and coordinate resources to benefit children and youth in need living in residential care;
2. To provide support, encouragement and to facilitate the healthy development of children and youth in need living in residential care;
3. To liaise and consult with other children's and youth's service providers in the children's and youth's sector to maximize efforts and initiatives;
4. To create, maintain and share relevant communications amongst service providers, within the association and without, to facilitate the above objectives.
Charitable Registration Number: 88952 8394 RR0001
OARTY's partners in caring for children include Children Aid Societies, Children's Mental Health Centres, educational institutions including Ryerson University and George Brown College, hospitals, school boards, Associations for Community Living, police officers, probation officers, psychiatric facilities and the Ministries of Children's and Youth Services and Community and Social Services.
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