The Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society recognizes November as Adoption Awareness Month, raising awareness about the role that everyone can play in helping children and youth achieve permanency and lifelong connections through adoption.
They are committed to finding families that have the strengths and skills to support children who may have siblings, complex needs or open adoption relationships with their family of origin, as it can be challenging to find families who are able to meet the needs of older children, large sibling groups or those with complex medical, developmental and behavioural needs.
Adoption is one of several permanency options that children’s aid societies consider when looking for life-long connections for children in care. Kinship, customary care, legal custody and adoption are all options that are considered.
“The benefits of maintaining lasting family connections are numerous and all young people, including those in care, deserve those benefits. These changes offer a more consistent and responsive adoption experience for children, youth and families,” says Karen Kartusch, manager of the Regional Adoption Program for Highland Shores Children’s Aid, Kawartha-Haliburton CAS and Durham CAS. “Our goal is to find the right families for children and youth, and connect them as quickly as possible.”
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) continues to prioritize the government’s strategy to redesign the child welfare system by focusing on the needs of children and youth and by creating solid foundations to support strong families.
According to the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, children living with their own families, in their own culture and in their home communities is the priority. However for some children living with their kin may not be an option, and when it is not, the child deserves a family that is a good fit for them.
The number of children and youth in society care and available to be adopted has steadily decreased over the last five years because the primary goal of children’s aid societies is focused on supporting children to live safely in their own homes.
Learn more about adoption by visiting the Central Adoption Intake Service via the Adoption Council of Ontario website www.adoption.on.ca.
The Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society (KHCAS) urges the community to wear purple to raise awareness for vulnerable children and families and the groups that support them on Oct. 27.
Every October, Dress Purple Day brings awareness to the support and intervention services that are available for families through Children’s Aid Societies. Wearing purple shows that help is available and no one is alone.
“Dress Purple Day offers an opportunity to remind our local communities that the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society works together with many other social service providers to help children, youth and families facing challenges,” says Jennifer McLauchlan, KHCAS executive director. “We are wearing purple today to show children, youth and families that we care and are here to help.”
The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies is running the Dress Purple Day campaign encouraging anyone to wear purple to raise awareness for support availability for Ontario families this Wednesday.
Every October, Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario raise awareness about the role that people and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families through the campaign.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional stressors for families with some cases having increased risk for the well-being and safety of children and youth according to Children’s Aid Societies.
“Help is available to anyone facing challenges,” said Brynn Clarke, Children’s Aid Societies communications specialist and provincial lead. “We are shifting our campaign message to really focus to making sure families across our province have access to the resources, information and support they need.”
The organization is encouraging anyone to make a video explaining why they will wear purple Wednesday and how they help children, youth, and families facing challenges. All videos are asked to have the hashtag #IDressPurpleBecause when posting to social media.