The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Society (OACAS) provided its annual pre-budget submission to the provincial government on January 31, 2024. In the OACAS 2024 Pre-Budget Submission, we urge Ontario to make systemic changes and targeted investments so children’s aid societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies (child welfare agencies) can effectively work with community partners to support children, youth, and families across the province.
We call on Ontario to:
- Bring greater financial stability and sustainability to the Ontario child welfare sector by providing adequate funding to support the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally relevant services, and developing an updated funding formula that aligns with service principles (i.e., early intervention prevention, continued connections to family, kin, and community) and promotes improved, equitable outcomes for children, youth, and families.
- Ensure children, youth, and families with complex needs have access to adequate, affirming, and inclusive care by sufficiently funding organizations and service providers to deliver highly specialized, intensive community-based and licensed out-of-home care (i.e., live-in treatment programs, treatment beds).
- Adequately support youth from care as they transition to independence by continuing to fully fund Ready, Set, Go and making targeted investments in integrated youth services, housing, employment, as well as sports, recreational, and arts programming.
- Prioritize family-based and community-based placements for children and youth by ensuring kin and alternate caregivers have access to adequate financial assistance and local supports and services.
- Strengthen the capacity of organizations and service providers in the human and community services sector to respond to the increasing level of need from children, youth, families and effectively partner with their counterparts in the child and family services system, including child welfare agencies.
Child welfare agencies are part of the network of organizations and service providers dedicated to promoting the health, well-being, and safety of children, youth, and families. Alongside our members, OACAS remains committed to working with the Ontario government and provincial partners to ensure children, youth, and families get the supports and services they need to thrive and stay together.
To read our submission in full, click here.
