Who Do We Help?
- Children in need of protection, suffering from physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or emotional harm.
- Children before the courts.
- Families who are having difficulties with children under 16 years of age.
- Families in conflict.
- Single parents needing emotional support and guidance.
- Adoption Planning
What Services Do We Provide?
Intake - Available 24 hours a day
Our Intake Social Worker receives reports, gathers information and develops a plan to ensure the safety of the children involved. The plan might involve referral to appropriate community supports and services, or at times the child(ren) must come into care. When children come into care, the appropriate Band Representative is informed to ensure the rights of children to their culture and community are respected and supported.
Family Services
Family Services work with the families needing support in meeting the needs of their children. They might be called upon to help families whose children are in care, focusing on helping them change the factors contributing to risk for their children. Family Services also work with families and their children to improve the skills, resources and the home environment to better meet the needs of children.
Children's Services
Children's Services Social Workers support children in care, through ensuring social, emotional, medical and educational needs are met.
Resources
The Branch has its own Resources Social Worker who is responsible for recruitment and maintenance of Native foster and adoptive homes. Foster families provide care to children requiring out of home placement while parents deal with the issues and factors presenting risk to their child(ren). Adoption is a legal process wherein Native children are placed with Native families on a permanent basis.
Legislation Requires That:
- A person who believes, based upon reasonable grounds, that a child is or may be in need of protection shall report the belief and information to the CAS.
- A person in the course of his or her professional or official duties has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is, or may be suffering, or has suffered abuse, is required to report these suspicions and information to a CAS
- Failure to report abuse on the part of a professional could result in a $1,000 fine or imprisonment.
Serious situations and harm to children may be avoided if suspicions are reported early. Professionals and citizens should provide the Society with as much information as possible, regarding the suspicions of abuse and their knowledge of the child and family. It is helpful if the family is notified of the report by the professional.
We'll Keep You Posted
The Brant CAS and Mississaugas of the New Credit Nation are currently looking at updating the present protocol in light of the recent changes to the CFSA.
Consulting with The Children's Aid Society
Sometimes community professionals and citizens are uncertain whether to contact the CAS because they lack evidence or information about the child, but nevertheless have a real concern for the child's well-being. The CAS is prepared to discuss case situations and offer guidance to the family. Together, a decision can be made as to whether the CAS's services are necessary.
How to Report
Call the CAS and report your concerns to the Intake Worker as soon as you suspect there is abuse or neglect.
Together We Can Make a Difference
In order to provide quality child welfare services to our Native communities, we need your involvement. Native families need to be raising their own Native children. Culture can be passed from generation to generation. The children must learn by example through language, through teaching, through living.
- Become a Native Adoptive Parent
- Make a Difference
- Get Involved
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