Every October, the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) and children’s aid societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies (child welfare agencies) across the province, in partnership with government, community-based organizations, service providers, direct service staff, and individuals, raise awareness about the important role individuals and communities play in supporting children, youth, and families facing challenges through the provincial Dress Purple Day campaign. The campaign engages partners to raise awareness about the supports and services available in communities across Ontario and how they can be accessed. Dress Purple Day 2024 is this Friday, October 25.
Though the provincial Dress Purple Day campaign endeavours to remind children, youth, and families facing challenges that they are not alone and encourages them to seek support, far too many do not have access to the resources they need to thrive and succeed. Community-based organizations and service providers in communities across the province are struggling to keep up with demand.
That is why OACAS is visiting Queen’s Park today in honour of Dress Purple Day 2024. We are meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to remind the Ontario government that children, youth, and families are facing significant challenges, and many do not have the resources vital to their safety, health, and well-being.
We will be reminding MPPs about the open letter we delivered to Premier Doug Ford on October 1, alongside 28 national and provincial partners. The open letter outlines ways that the Ontario government can help strengthen social infrastructure so that community-based partners and service providers can effectively work in partnership to wrap around children, youth, and families facing challenges. We will also be inviting them, as well as our members, community-based organizations, service providers, direct service staff, and individuals to wear something purple on October 25 to show children, youth, and families in their communities that they are not alone — they are part of a community that cares.
To learn more about Dress Purple Day 2024 and how you can get involved, visit oacas.org/dresspurpleday.
