Happy New Year!  

During 2011, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa and community partners collaborated to successfully achieve many events, campaigns and exciting changes for children, youth and families.  

The achievements summarized represent the combined efforts of the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa and community members who are all working together to keep children safe and secure, both within their families and the communities in which they live.

2012 is upon us and the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa looks forward to another great year of continuing to work together to make life better for children and youth in Ottawa!

Foster/Adopt a Snow Angel

On Monday February 21, 2011, the Children's Aid Society held their fourth annual "Foster/Adopt a Snow Angel" event.  Held on Parliament Hill on Ontario Family Day, families of all kinds were invited to come and make colorful snow angels.  Each snow angel represented a child in the care of the Children's Aid Society in Eastern Ontario.

Through this event, it is our hope that more families will come forward to help care for children and youth in care.

In March, two staff members had the opportunity to visit the Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Agency in Thunder Bay. It was noticed by the Provincial Communications Working Group that Aboriginal agencies were not present around the table and wanted to understand why, and what could be done differently to create an environment where Aboriginal agencies felt welcomed, and where their contributions were valued.

What started as a learning experience, quickly turned into an immersion of the Anishinabek culture.

Reflection of their experience:

"We have just spent the last 12 hours completely immersed in the aboriginal culture; all of it for the benefit of our learning and all of it hosted especially for us. Between the sweat lodge experience and our fresh catch fish dinner with a residential school survivor who shared his experience in detail, the whole thing has left me in awe of the welcome and sharing that everyone here has offered to us so freely. Our hosts and our new friends have literally opened their lives and their hearts to us. Their generosity is overwhelming. Their wisdom is undoubtable".

In March, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa announced the launch of a new and improved website. With a new look and feel, the website features improved search capabilities and a pleasant and efficient user experience.

Resources serving various groups found within the community have been increased at the CAS and the website re-design showcases some of the hard work behind the improved services offered to our diverse population.

Please visit www.casott.on.ca for more information.

On June 2, 2011, the Provincial Government passed the Building Families and Supporting Youth to be Successful Act, 2011. The Act focuses on changes in legislation for children and youth in care and adoption.

Some of the requests set out by the Government of Ontario include: 

• Allowing youth whose Crown Ward status has been terminated the ability to return to our care until the age of 21.
• Facilitating college or university education for Crown Wards by exempting CAS benefits from the OSAP assessment.
• Removal of court ordered access creating fewer barriers for Crown Ward adoption.
• Increasing relationships between CAS and First Nations to further support traditional customary care as a permanency option for Aboriginal children.

This is a great step toward removing barriers so that more children in the care of CAS's across Ontario can be adopted.

The Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO), formerly known as Champions For Children Foundation unveiled a new identity consisting of a new name, new logo, renewed messaging and a revamped website.

The new brand identity brings clarity to the mission of the Foundation and the support it provides to the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CAS).

With the help of their many donors and partners, the Foundation looks forward to a strong future of supporting children and young adults in the community who need a helping hand. 

A very fine dining experience for a very fine cause

On Thursday, May 19, 2011, the Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa held their eighth annual dinner and wine tasting event, Salut!

Restaurant International at Algonquin College was the perfect setting for the evening that raised over $21,000 to help fund education and enrichment programs for children and young adults supported by the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful gourmet four-course meal prepared by Algonquin College Culinary students and sipped on a variety of Niagara region wines.

Many thanks to Presenting Sponsor, MBNA and supporting sponsor Bell for making the evening so special!

On May 30th, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa held their annual Youth Recognition Awards. This event recognizes and celebrates Crown Ward youth who have excelled in areas such as academic, personal, artistic, recreational or team player, as well as awards bursaries to youth to assist with their post-secondary education.

The event was held at the NAC which made this night extra special for youth and their guests. Over 70 youth received an award or a bursary to pursue a post-secondary education.

On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, the Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa held their 15th annual Charity Golf Tournament, presented by National Bank.

Golfers enjoyed a beautiful day on the course at GreyHawk Golf Club while lending their support for the kids. More than $32,000 was raised for the Foundation's education and enrichment programs for children and young adults supported by the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

Thank you to Presenting Sponsor, National Bank and thank you to our generous supporting sponsors, participants and volunteers who made the day a great success!

Community Recognition Awards

On September 21, 2011, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa held their annual Community Recognition Awards. This event recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the mission of the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

Thank you to this year's award recipients for making a difference for children, youth and families in the Ottawa community!

Claudette and Karl Smith, Foster Parent Recognition Award

Louise Gauthier, Canada Revenue Agency, Champion Donor Award

LASI World Skills, Community Service Provider Award

Dr. David Palframan, CHEO, Individual Service Provider Award

Tripp Photography, Friend of the Society Award

October is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Ontario.

The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa is committed to protecting children and youth of our community from all forms of abuse and neglect, but we cannot do it alone. The well-being of children, youth and families is essential to the quality of life in our community, and must be considered a community responsibility.

The CAS of Ottawa declared the launch of the second "I Am Your Children's Aid" campaign, which continues to bring awareness to everyone's responsibility in protecting children and youth from abuse and neglect.

During Child Abuse Prevention Month, public education and awareness is at the forefront of the Children's Aid Society's agenda. Education materials, bracelets and posters were distributed across the city, and Mayor Jim Watson proclaimed, October 29th as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Day in Ottawa.

On October 29, 2011, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa partnered with Hot 89.9 and Place d'Orleans to bring awareness to the community's responsibility and role in ensuring the well-being of children and youth in Ottawa.

Hot 89.9 was on site at Place d'Orleans and encouraged consumers in the mall to Use their Voice and record a personal message to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

To view the PSA, please click here.

During the week of October 16 -22, the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa recognizes foster families who have been fostering for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service, as well as those that are retiring.

This year's recognition event took place at the Hellenic Centre and honoured over 30 foster parents to thank them for their valuable time and effort they take to nurture and foster vulnerable children and youth in our community.

On Friday, November 18, 2011, the Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa held their 17th annual World Trivia Night, presented by Scotiabank Group. With over 1,900 attendees, this year's event raised more than $60,000 to help fund education and enrichment programs for children and youth in the care of the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor, Scotiabank and thank you to all participants, sponsors, volunteers and Champions for making World Trivia Night 2011 a great success!

Children need to have roots. To experience healthy development and create a sense of self-worth, children need to feel a sense of belonging, with a permanent family who cares for them.

The reality is that for some kids, this is not possible, and children come into the care of Children's Aid.  Sometimes it is because they have parents who are not able to provide a safe living environment. In other cases, parents choose to make an adoption plan for their child.

Children who are in the care of Children's Aid may become available for adoption into a permanent family. The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa helps children make successful transitions into their adoptive families.

On January 5, 2011, CTV aired a news report on Adoption of Older Youth and featured Children's Aid Society of Ottawa's Andre Fontaine, Foster Recruitment Worker and adoptive father.

Click here to view the news report.

The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa is pleased to announce that they have launched a social media platform designed to communicate with the public more effectively on their campaigns, events and information pertaining to children, youth and families, both within the Ottawa community, and provincially.

Three social media outlets now feature easy to share news and insights from CAS in the form of Twitter tweets, Facebook posts and YouTube videos.

We invite you to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and stay tuned to our YouTube channel!  

Family Day - February 20, 2012

Ski for Kids Day - Supports the Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa, CHEO and Club Mont Ste. Marie.

February 17, 2012 - Mont Ste. Marie

www.skiforkids.ca 

Salut!- Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa's annual food and wine tasting event.

Thursday, May 17, 2012 - Restaurant International, Algonquin College

www.cafott.ca 

The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa is committed to protecting the children and youth of our community from all forms of abuse and neglect. We work to keep them safe and secure, both within their families and the communities in which they live.