The Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society

Overview

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society (KHCAS) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children and youth from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect. It operates within the jurisdiction of the Ontario government and is legally mandated to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

Services

The society offers a wide range of services, including:

• Children's Services: Provides protection and support for children at risk.
• Family Services: Works with families to strengthen their ability to meet their needs.
• Foster Care Services: Offers safe and enduring placements for children when necessary.
• Adoption Services: Facilitates adoption processes.
• Intake and Investigation Services: Handles initial reports and investigations of potential abuse or neglect.
• Protection Support Services: Offers additional support to ensure the protection of children.
• Volunteer Services: Engages volunteers in supporting the organization's mission.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Provides alternative methods for resolving disputes.
• Supervised Access: Manages supervised visitations between children and their parents or guardians.
• Behavioral Intervention Programs: Offers interventions to address specific behavioral issues.
• Community Capacity Building: Works to enhance community resources and capacities.
• Kinship Services: Supports kinship caregivers.
• Legal Services: Provides legal support in relation to child protection.
• Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations Substitute Family Care Program: Offers culturally appropriate care services for Indigenous children.

Areas Served

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society serves communities in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County, as well as Peterborough County.

Governance Challenges

In 2024, the entire board of directors of KHCAS resigned following the Ontario government's decision to install a supervisor to oversee the agency. This move was part of a broader review of the province's non-Indigenous children's aid societies, focusing on issues such as service quality and financial management.

Legal Status

KHCAS is registered as a nonprofit organization with a Business Registration Number of 107559676RR0001. It operates under the legal framework governing children's aid societies in Ontario, which requires them to protect children from harm and provide support services to families.