Children’s Aid Society decries state of local family services

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF ALGOMA NEWS RELEASE

*************************** 'Health' of communities across the District of Algoma gets a failing grade, according to CAS report

Despite declining populations across the District of Algoma, the Children’s Aid Society has experienced a significant increase in all aspects of its services as communities across the District continue to struggle economically and supports for families continue to be scarce.

"The complete downloading of needs to the child welfare system has resulted in our agency bursting at the seams," stated CAS Executive Director, Jim Baraniuk.

The CAS's financial costs continue to exceed the government’s funding formula that was created in 1997, and the Society’s staff and resources are being pushed to capacity.

Due to dwindling community support services across the District of Algoma, and disproportionate funding for Sault Ste. Marie compared to other urban areas (Thunder Bay and Sudbury), the Children’s Aid Society has become the ONLY immediate option for services for many families.

The Society has experienced:

- a 36 percent increase in the number of families served in the last year

- a 32 percent increase in Intake investigations in the last two years

- a 44 percent increase in the number of transfers from intake after investigation into ongoing service in the last year – speaks to the severity of family situations where there are ongoing protection concerns

0ur legal services over the past 2 years have seen:

- a 23 percent increase in the number of matters brought to court

- a 31 percent increase in court orders

- a 49 percent increase in supervised access hours

The number of children in care has increased 55 percent over the past five years.

Families who are most in need must have immediate, comprehensive services to address their problems. Prevention programs must shift more resources to higher-risk populations.

Key children’s services providers must design programs that are targeted to more disadvantaged, high-risk families.

Despite the dismal report on our communities’ health, corporate citizens are stepping forward to assist the CAS. At its annual general meeting on Thursday, June 24, 2004, the Society honoured Vic Fremlin with its Community Partners Award for his efforts and ongoing support of the Society’s programs.

A co-ordinated community response to the service needs of vulnerable children and families across the District must be established.

It takes a community to raise a child!

***************************