Nova Scotia Youth in Care Vanish: A Growing Crisis

New quarterly reports from Nova Scotia's Department of Opportunities and Social Development reveal a critical issue: hundreds of youth in government care have gone missing from group homes in the past year. Between August 2025 and March 2026, 491 incidents involved missing children or youth, suggesting some are running away repeatedly. This represents a significant portion of the fewer than 150 children living in group homes across the province.

Experts like Lorna Ferguson, an assistant professor of criminology, stress the importance of tracking these missing persons trends, as group homes are the leading location for such reports nationwide. Ferguson notes that youth in care are particularly vulnerable and may face homelessness or human trafficking. The province's auditor general had previously criticized the department for not analyzing these incidents for trends, prompting the current quarterly reporting system.

Personal accounts from former youth in care, such as Grayson Balzan and Ashley Coggins-Comeau, shed light on the reasons behind these disappearances. They describe group homes as feeling unsafe due to bullying, lack of trust in staff, and the constant disruption of their social connections through frequent moves. These experiences of instability and feeling unheard contribute to long-term trust issues and emotional distress.

Department officials express deep concern over these numbers, actively working to understand the underlying causes and support the children involved. Policies require group home staff to report a missing child within 12 hours, with the province deciding on police notification. While some youth may be seeking familiar environments, the constant displacement and severing of social ties are identified as significant risk factors that the system aims to mitigate.