The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) recently participated in a province-wide audit of child welfare organizations conducted by KPMG. The audit consisted of two phases: an initial survey questionnaire completed by all agencies, followed by a more detailed review of 13 selected organizations, including CASO. The process concluded at the end of September, and we are now awaiting the final report from MCCSS.
Meanwhile, we are pleased to share that the deep dive review for CASO confirmed that we are a well-managed organization, with only minimal observations for improvement. We take any recommendations seriously and will use them to further strengthen our services and practices.
Protecting children and youth also means supporting families before they reach a crisis. In Ottawa, families are increasingly facing challenges related to homelessness, mental health needs, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and addictions. CASO continues to serve as a safety net for children and youth, and our priority is to work collaboratively with families and community partners to keep children safe at home whenever possible.
CASO is committed to working hand-in-hand with community partners to ensure families can access the right services at the right time. This commitment aligns perfectly with Ontario’s Child Welfare Redesign launched in 2020, which emphasizes on prevention, early intervention, community-based support, and culturally responsive services. Together with our partners, we are piloting new approaches that reflect these principles and are dedicated to providing timely, coordinated support to children, youth, and families. We firmly believe that prevention, early support, and collaboration are essential to keeping children safe and families strong.
We consider the provincial review an opportunity to learn and improve, at the same time, CASO remains focused on advancing system-wide changes that better meet the needs of children, youth, and families today. These priorities are reflected in our three reach goals:
- No child shall grow up in our care: By working collaboratively with families and leveraging early support through community partners—as emphasized in Ontario’s 2020 child welfare redesign—we aim to help families remain safely together and reduce the need for children and youth to come into care.
- No youth shall exit care into loneliness: We support youth as they transition toward independence and stability, ensuring they have strong, enduring relationships and meaningful adult connections.
- Every child and youth shall have the support they need to thrive: By expanding complex care support, strengthening foster and community care options, and prioritizing family-based solutions over private placements.
Every child and youth deserves the chance to grow up in a safe, supportive family environment and to have access to timely health care, stable housing, and nutritious food. CASO remains committed to collaborating with our partners and the broader community to turn our reach goals into basic child welfare standards.
