Hastings Children's Aid Society
The Ontario Government & Children Aid Societies
In Ontario, child protection services are provided locally by 52 children's aid societies across the province.
Children's aid societies have exclusive responsibility for protection services under the Child and Family Services Act. The paramount purpose of the Act is to promote the best interests, protection and well being of children.
Each children's aid society is an independent, non-profit organization with a local board of directors. The main duties of children's aid societies are to:
- investigate allegations or evidence that a child may be in need of protection;
- provide care for children who cannot live with their parents by placing them in foster homes or group homes;
- provide guidance, counseling and other services that help families to protect children living in the home; and,
- provide adoption services for children who are Crown Wards and could benefit from a family.
Most children in the care of a children's aid society are placed in foster homes or group homes, with plans to return the child to the natural family following counseling and visits. Placements are usually temporary. However, when the family situation cannot be restored the child becomes a permanent ward (a "Crown" Ward) of the society. If it is appropriate, these children can be placed in adoptive homes.
The Government's Role in Child Protection
The Child and Family Services Act legislates and regulates child welfare services in Ontario.
The Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services funds children's aid societies to provide child protection services. It also sets policy and provides program design for the child welfare system and licenses group homes and foster care homes. The Ministry's nine regional offices work closely with each children's aid society in their region.
Since 1995, the Ministry has strengthened the child welfare system substantially, increasing funding of child protection by 139 per cent. In 1998 the government announced a major reform of the child welfare system in Ontario which:
- made the governing of child welfare more accountable;
- brought in a new way of funding that is based on volume of service;
- increased the number of front-line staff in children's aid societies;
- implemented a risk assessment model for child protection in Ontario;
- created new child protection procedures, practices and standards of service;
- brought in new information technology that assists children's aid societies; and,
- developed a training program for children's aid society workers.
In 2000, the government proclaimed major amendments to the Child and Family Services Act that further protects children at risk of abuse and neglect.
*Courtesy Ontario Government Web page