Ontario's Ready, Set, Go Program Explained

For decades, youth in Ontario foster care faced a sharp and largely unplanned cliff at age 18: legal adulthood arrived, and with it the expectation that they would manage housing, finances, and life independently — often without the family safety net that their peers take for granted. The result was predictable. Youth "aging out" of care were disproportionately represented in homelessness statistics, disconnected from employment, and struggling to access education.

Ontario replaced the old Continued Care and Support for Youth (CCSY) program with the Ready, Set, Go (RSG) program in April 2023. The change was not cosmetic. RSG extended the age of support from 21 to 23, restructured payments as a descending staircase to incentivize gradual independence, and added a separate educational bonus that didn't exist before.

Here is what the program actually provides.

Who Is Eligible for Ready, Set, Go

RSG is available to youth who were in the care of a Children's Aid Society or Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency in Ontario immediately before turning 18. It does not matter whether the youth was under a Society Agreement, Extended Society Care order, or a Temporary Care Agreement — the pathway into care matters less than the exit.

To receive RSG support after turning 18, the youth must:

• Sign an RSG Agreement with their CAS or agency
• Participate in the development of a Youth Plan (a document that outlines goals and transition supports)
• Continue to meet with their assigned CAS transition worker on a regular basis

The program is voluntary. Youth who decline it at 18 may be able to re-enrol later, but the process for doing so varies by agency.

Monthly Payment Structure

RSG payments decrease as the youth gets older, reflecting the expectation that they will gradually build independent income and support networks. The amounts are:

Payments stop at the youth's 23rd birthday. The staircase is intentional — the sharp drop from $1,800 at 18 to $500 at 22 is designed to make continued reliance on RSG unsustainable, nudging youth toward employment or education before the support ends.

The Education and Training Bonus

Starting at age 20, youth who are enrolled in post-secondary education, skilled trades training, or an apprenticeship program receive an additional $500 per month on top of their base RSG amount. This bonus can make a meaningful difference: a 20-year-old in college receives $1,500/month total ($1,000 base + $500 educational bonus).

The definition of "eligible education" is deliberately broad. It includes:

• College diploma and certificate programs
• University degrees
• Ontario College of Trades apprenticeships
• Registered apprenticeship programs in skilled trades

Youth must provide documentation of active enrolment each semester to retain the bonus.

Aftercare Benefits Initiative

Money is only part of what former youth in care need. The Aftercare Benefits Initiative (ABI), which runs alongside RSG, extends health and dental coverage beyond the RSG payment period:

• Health and dental benefits are available until age 25
• Counselling services are available until age 29

These benefits are accessed through the youth's CAS or agency after they leave care. The dental and health coverage typically mirrors what was available while the youth was in care (including prescriptions and vision in many agencies). Counselling services are available even if the youth is no longer in contact with their CAS on a regular basis.

What Ready, Set, Go Means for Foster Parents

If you are caring for a youth approaching 18, RSG is relevant to you in two ways. First, you can help them prepare for it. The transition from care is smoother when youth understand the program before they hit their 18th birthday — not after the CAS caseworker hands them a form at discharge.

Second, RSG allows you to continue a meaningful support relationship with the young person after they officially leave your care. The CAS assigns transition workers, but many youth maintain contact with their foster families as a primary informal support. Knowing that RSG, the ABI, and the education bonus exist means you can actively direct them to claim what they are entitled to.

Youth who do not sign an RSG agreement at 18 do not automatically forfeit the ability to rejoin — but the re-enrolment process takes time, and they may lose months of payments while paperwork processes. Encourage early enrolment.

The Gap RSG Does Not Fill

RSG provides financial stability, but it does not replace housing. Youth leaving care at 18 still need help navigating rental markets that typically require proof of income, credit history, and a guarantor — none of which most 18-year-olds in care possess. Some CASes have transitional housing partnerships or can advocate with landlords, but this varies significantly by region.

If you are a foster parent supporting a youth through this transition, the Ontario Foster Care Guide includes a full section on transitional supports and the practical gaps that RSG doesn't cover, along with the provincial resources youth can access at each stage.

The program is a significant improvement over what existed before 2023. But the youth who navigate it most successfully are the ones who enter it informed, with an adult in their corner who understands how it works.

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