The London and Middlesex Children’s Aid Society made national headlines in mid-November when they cried out to the province for intervention, after they had to place children in homes as far away as Ottawa, or in local hotels and motels.
Executive Director of the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society (CAS), Kristian Wilson, MSW RSW, says that locally, they’re also grappling with a diminishing number of placements for children and youth.
Wilson says that the goal is to keep the 74 children currently under their care within their communities whenever possible to maintain crucial connections with family, friends, and support networks.
Wilson says that they need the support of the community going forward | Photo by: B. Shakyaver
Although Huron Perth CAS doesn’t have any children in hotels currently, the risk is looming, and Wilson emphasized the urgent need for more foster parents. With only 30 to 40 families currently fostering, there is a critical need for additional support to ensure children can be placed in family-based settings rather than in institutions.
There is also a chronic underfunding of programming for families with children that have special needs – whether that’s mental health supports, specialized programming, or home care. Wilson says that this creates a knock-on effect.
Wilson stressed the need for increased resources and support programs for struggling families to prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their homes.
Mounting economic pressures also contribute to family stress, increasing the pressure on parents and caregivers, and exacerbating underlying issues.
If you ask Wilson, one of the root causes is the chronic underfunding of children’s aid societies over the years, leading to staff reductions and program cuts. He called for investments in mental health supports, homelessness strategies, and living wage initiatives to ensure a holistic approach to family well-being, preventing the intervention of CAS.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
