2014-2015 Annual Report - York Region Children`s Aid Society

“A person’s a person,
no matter how small.”
– Dr. Seuss
YORK REGION CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY
2014/15 ANNUAL REPORT
Jill Moore​
CHAIR, BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, left
At York Region Children’s Aid Society, we
are continuously striving to ensure strong
community engagement and services that
complement and reflect the needs of children,
youth, and families. We remain committed to
passionately serving the growing communities
of York Region. It is an honour to work
alongside such dedicated staff, foster families,
and volunteers who together make a difference
in the lives of so many children and youth.
À la société d’aide à l’enfants de la région de York,
nous nous efforçons sans cesse d’offrir un engagement
communautaire solide et des services apportant un
complément aux besoins des enfants, des jeunes et des
familles. Nous demeurons déterminés à servir avec
ardeur les collectivités en croissance de la région de
York. C’est un honneur de travailler en compagnie
d’un personnel, de familles d’accueil et de bénévoles
dévoués qui, ensemble, font une différence dans la
vie de tant d’enfants et de jeunes.
– Colette Prévost,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE
Colette Prévost
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER, right
Excellent Service. Growing Partnerships.
Visionary and Forward Focused.
York Region Children’s Aid Society continues to be forward focused as we strive to deliver
evidence-based services and programs to children, youth, and families. We are dedicated to
meeting the particular needs of families within unique socio-environmental and cultural
communities through supportive and nurturing engagement.
We remain energized and eagerly engaged with our many community partners as we work to
champion a visionary service structure that is tailored to the highest standards of care. It is our
belief that a collaborative approach to leadership is instrumental in advancing the social fabric
of child welfare in our region.
We are guided by our interest in ensuring the safety, well-being, and permanency of children
and youth. Through an advanced strategic planning process, York Region CAS has positioned
itself as a strong partner in the continuum of children and youth services. We look forward to
building a collaborative energy aimed at an integrated service approach. Our recognition of
the value of partnership, engagement, diversity, and difference will help shape our vision as we
strive to achieve innovative service excellence.
I am proud to thank and applaud the staff, volunteers, board, and families who are committed
to changing the lives of children and families. Together we will continue building excellent
services and growing our community partnerships while maintaining a visionary forward focus.
Warmest regards,
Jill Moore
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Colette Prévost
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
2014/2015 Annual Report
1
At a glance
Aperçu
Un service d’excellence. Des partenariats
en croissance. Un organisme visionnaire et
tourné vers l’avenir.
5,530
La société d’aide à l’enfants de la région de York continue d’être
tournée vers l’avenir en s’efforçant de fournir des services et des
programmes fondés sur des données probantes pour les enfants,
les jeunes et les familles. L’organisme se consacre à répondre aux
besoins particuliers des familles au sein de collectivités socioenvironnementales et culturelles uniques, par l’entremise d’un
engagement de soutien et attentionné.
FAMILIES SERVED
FAMILLES SERVIES
341
STAFF
MEMBRES DU
PERSONNEL
191
VOLUNTEERS
BÉNÉVOLES
117
FOSTER FAMILIES
FAMILLES D’ACCUEIL
14
BOARD MEMBERS
MEMBRES DU CONSEIL
Nous conservons notre vitalité et demeurons vivement engagés
avec nos nombreux partenaires communautaires en nous faisant
les champions d’une structure de services visionnaire adaptée
aux normes supérieures de soins. Nous croyons qu’une approche
coopérative en matière de leadership contribue à faire progresser le
tissu social du bien-être de l’enfance dans notre région.
Nous sommes guidés par notre intérêt à garantir la sécurité,
le bien-être et la permanence des enfants et des jeunes. Par
l’entremise d’un processus de planification stratégique développé,
notre organisme s’est positionné à titre de solide partenaire dans
le continuum des services aux enfants et aux jeunes. Nous serons
heureux d’apporter une énergie coopérative axée sur une approche
intégrée en matière de services. En étant conscients de la valeur
du partenariat, de l’engagement, de la diversité et de la différence,
nous pourrons mieux façonner notre vision en visant l’excellence
d’un service innovateur.
C’est avec fierté que nous félicitons le personnel, les bénévoles, les
membres du Conseil et les familles qui s’engagent à changer la vie
de nos enfants et de leurs familles. Ensemble, nous continuerons
de mettre en place d’excellents services et d’accroître nos
partenariats communautaires, tout en demeurant visionnaires et
tournés vers l’avenir.
Sincèrement,
Jill Moore
PRÉSIDENTE DU CONSEIL
D’ADMINISTRATION
Colette Prévost
DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE
Sylvia Pivko
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BLUE HILLS CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE
What makes our partnership with York CAS successful is
the ongoing vision to integrate key services, combined with
our common values, shared perspective, and mutual respect.
Many children and families coming through
child welfare have mental health concerns, so it
is a natural partnership for Blue Hills and York
CAS to work together. Blue Hills has a 45-year
history working to ensure the best treatment and
service options for children’s mental health.
About a year and half ago, a children’s mental
health professional began sitting at York CAS to
provide consultation to workers about children
they are supporting. Over the past year, the
children’s mental health professional consulted
on and assisted with 69 cases at York CAS. This
is one of nine shared services.
Another initiative we have recently
collaborated on is the Road 2 Resolution
program, an alternative dispute resolution
method that involves a meeting with twothird party facilitators, York CAS, and the
family. This meeting takes place when a child
has been removed from the home with the goal
of engaging the family in early decision making
and to assist in ensuring positive interactions
and practices between York CAS and the family.
2014/2015 Annual Report
3
Gordon & Bev
FOSTER PARENTS WITH
YORK REGION CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY
Shannon Crate
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
CHIPPEWAS OF GEORGINA ISLAND
York CAS calls
me first about
any concerns
regarding the
children of
Georgina Island’s
First Nation.
Together, we work with the family to ensure First Nation’s
customs are respected and so the community can help decide
where children and youth live when they can’t stay at home.
This process was established about 10 years ago and has
inspired similar protocol between other CASs and First
Nation communities in the province.
York CAS strives to understand the way in which First
Nations people live and raise their families. Over the past
year, York CAS staff came to Georgina Island to complete
Aboriginal Alternative Dispute Resolution training and to
understand the legislation in the Child and Family Services
Act that directs CASs to deliver provisions of service to First
Nations families.
From attending
school activities and
sports practices, to
youth camps and
scouting – fostering
makes us smile and
keeps us young.
We have been foster parents with York CAS for 11 years.
We began fostering because we wanted to give back to our
community. After much training with York CAS, we began
doing relief visits for other foster parents. It kind of felt
like being a first-time mom again, except having different
boundaries because they are not our children. But we felt like
this is what we should be doing; like it was our calling in life.
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT
BEING A FOSTER PARENT?
To learn more, please visit www.fosteringatyork.com or call our
Foster Parent Recruiter at 905-895-2318, ext. 6132.
When I think about the relationship we have with York CAS,
this teaching comes to mind: we each paddle down the river,
side by side, in our own way of paddling. We might paddle
differently, but we are going in the same direction.
4
York Region Children’s Aid Society
We have supported 23 children who have lived in our home,
with 11 returning to family or kin, and five being adopted.
Currently, we have four boys living with us; two are siblings
that have been with us since the beginning. These brothers
have grown up with us, enjoying all our regular family
activities and outings over the years and travelling across
Canada for family vacations with us. We will continue to
foster knowing we are making a difference in kid’s lives.
2014/2015 Annual Report
5
Financials
Board of
Directors
Revenue
Provincial Grant 1
$46,138,590
Income & Recoveries
$2,272,840
TOTAL REVENUES
$48,411,430
Jill Moore,
CHAIR
Barbara Gray,
VICE-CHAIR
Brandy Elliot,
Expenses
Salaries & Wages
“There can be no
keener revelation
of a society’s soul
than the way in
which it treats its
children.”
Al Suleman
$6,508,088
Amy Lau
Travel
$1,209,293
Ascenzio Farina
Building Occupancy
Professional Services – Non Client
Boarding Rate Payments
$55,495
$1,156,966
$229,825
$14,022,006
Professional Services – Client
$865,586
Client Personal Needs
$614,443
Avanthi Goddard
Bob Ebrahimzadeh
Darryl Wolk
Jennifer Shelton
Karen Singh
Mark Foerster
Financial Assistance
$10,355
Medical & Related
$590,714
Rod Staveley
Promotion & Publicity
$25,691
Sara Austin
Office Administration
$300,674
Tahir Shafiq
Miscellaneous
$151,525
Mortgage Interest
$175,385
Information and Technology
$411,417
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
Excess of (expenses over revenues)/
revenue over expenses
1
$22,205,096
Benefits
Training & Recruitment
– Nelson Mandela
TREASURER
$48,532,559
($121,129)
During the year, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services provided the
Organization with funding of $547,839 to be applied towards prior years'
deficit. As this funding decision was made in the current fiscal year, the
amount is included in the revenue for the year ended March 31, 2015.
2014/2015 Annual Report
7
High Risk Infant Nurse Program
Statistics
Cases by referral source
Police 33%
Social services 3%
School 21%
Legal system 3%
Other CAS 14%
York CAS Staff 3%
Self 7%
Relative 2%
Health
practitioner 7%
Other 2%
Community
member 4%
Anonymous 1%
Reason for call/referral
Emotional harm/exposure
to conflict 32%
Request for assistance 18%
Caregiver capacity 17%
Physical abuse 16%
Neglect 9%
Abandonment/separation 5%
Sexual abuse 3%
4
High Risk Infant Nurses provide
assessment and intervention services
to vulnerable infants and toddlers
and their families to promote infant
safety, well-being, and permanence.
The nurses’ specialized role combines
medical and community nursing
expertise with child protection
experience and perspective. Nurses
provide prenatal services to expecting
mothers and their families. The
focus of working with the prenatal
population is to connect with
pregnant women, and their partners,
early in their pregnancies to engage
them in services that will promote the
delivery of healthy newborns and to
ensure necessary supports are in place
at the time of birth. The nurses also
work jointly with child protection
workers to provide medical and
developmental assessments of infants
and toddlers. Nurses provide services
to medically complex children in
the care of the agency and support
foster parents and kinship providers
to meet the needs of these infants
and toddlers.
41
25
377
HIGH RISK INFANT
NURSES ON STAFF
FAMILIES SUPPORTED
PRENATALLY
CHILD PROTECTION
CASES MANAGED
HIGH RISK INFANT NURSES
PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE
SERVICE TO FAMILIES
WITH CHILDREN FROM
BIRTH UP TO AGE TWO
Primary reasons for
referral to the program:
1.
Alleged risk of/or physical abuse/
neglect to infant/toddler
2.
Caregivers who have a mental
health issue that impacts their
ability to parent
3.
Caregivers who misuse
substances
Our
Work &
Services
8,713
5,530
159
10,300
3,916
44
CHILDREN
SERVED
FAMILIES
SERVED
YOUTH
SUPPORTED
(AGES 18-21)
CALLS RECEIVED
CONCERNING THE SAFETY
AND WELL-BEING OF A CHILD
INVESTIGATIONS
COMPLETED
PRESENTATIONS TO THE
COMMUNITY VIA THE
AGENCY’S SPEAKER’S BUREAU
Children in care
448
576
11
117
18
Children in care
22.5%
CHILDREN CURRENTLY
IN THE CARE OF OUR
AGENCY
EAST GWILLIMBURY
NEWMARKET
4%
AGES 0–6 YEARS
24%
GEORGINA
CHILDREN IN
CARE SERVED
DURING THE YEAR
AURORA
20%
5%
23.5%
NEW FOSTER HOMES
OPENED
Where they
live
AGES 7–12 YEARS
MARKHAM
24%
FOSTER HOMES
54%
AGES 13–18 YEARS
VAUGHAN
8%
Reason for admission to care
CAREGIVER CAPACITY
10%
OUTSIDE YORK REGION
KINSHIP HOMES
53%
RICHMOND HILL
Permanency
for children
8%
128
NEGLECT
2%
EMOTIONAL
HARM/EXPOSURE
TO CONFLICT
CHILDREN DISCHARGED
FROM CARE
5%
Our Volunteers
191
20,190
594,349 km
9
VOLUNTEERS
HOURS OF
SERVICE
DONATED
KILOMETRES DRIVEN BY VOLUNTEERS
TAKING CHILDREN TO FAMILY ACCESS
VISITS, APPOINTMENTS, ACTIVITIES
PROGRAMS
THAT USE
VOLUNTEERS
10
ADOPTIONS
24%
ABANDONMENT/
SEPARATION
11%
PHYSICAL ABUSE
10
York Region Children’s Aid Society
2%
REQUEST FOR
COUNSELING
17
FAMILIES RECEIVING
ADOPTION
SUBSIDIES
Our Staff
295
9
21
25
25
STAFF
MEMBERS
STUDENT
PLACEMENTS
AFTER HOURS
WORKERS
FAMILY VISIT
SUPPORT
COACHES
LANGUAGES
SPOKEN BY
YORK CAS STAFF
2014/2015 Annual Report
11
Impact of Donor Support
With our focus on childhood enrichment, support for education, and compassionate aid,
this year the Children’s Fund has helped:
York Region
Children’s
Fund
154 CHILDREN
living in
immediate or extended
family settings
involved with
the agency’s High Risk Infant
Nurse program
who are moving
to independent living,
growing up in the care of
the agency
35 CHILDREN
114 YOUTH
22 INFANTS
participating in
the Book Worm program to
instill a lifelong love of reading
and
140 YOUTH who received
much-needed support
during the holiday season
OVER 400 FAMILIES
These are just a few examples of your support in action:
The York Region Children’s Fund has now completed our first
full year in operation! We are proud of the work that has been
accomplished to provide children and youth served by York
CAS opportunities to grow and thrive. A solid foundation
has been laid on which we will continue to build. Much
work this year has been about sharing the message that, with
our community’s help, we can enrich the lives of vulnerable
children and youth – year round – to help them reach their
full potential. There is still so much to be done, and we look
forward to the coming year with hope and purpose.
Board of Directors
With sincere gratitude,
Mark Foerster
Bruce Herridge, CHAIR
Robert Rupnik, TREASURER
Patrick Lake, SECRETARY
Brian Johns
Graham Brown
Huge thanks to our
donors!
Thank you to all of our
committed donors – at all
levels – for your support
throughout the year. You are
truly making a difference in
the lives of deserving kids!
12
Individualized support so
two brothers with physical
and intellectual disabilities
could attend day camp
alongside their friends
A bus pass for a youth living
independently so he could
stretch his limited finances to
purchase the tools needed to
complete his trade program
Proper winter boots for a
16-year-old because “boots
were just too expensive” as
an independent-living youth
with no family support
A trip home for the holidays
so a college student could
be with her sister, who is her
only family
Joanne Giannakopoulos
Stella Partipilo
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A First Steps kit filled with
essential baby supplies given
to a new mom when she
had the courage to leave an
abusive relationship with only
the clothes she was wearing
Ian Proudfoot
Rebecca Clark
Bruce Herridge
Travel costs covered for
a college student so she
could attend a once-in-alifetime internship in Banff
to complete her college
tourism program
Rachel Agnoluzzi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAMPIONS:
$25,000+
Frank Scarpitti
Charitable
Foundation
York Region Children’s Aid Society
Audited financial statements available on request.
EVERYDAY HEROES: $10,000-$24,999
RC Design
Catherine and
Maxwell Meighen
Foundation
Barrick Gold
Corporation
FRIENDS: $5,000-$9,999
St. Andrew’s College
Spring Smash
Aurora Mayor’s
Charity Golf Classic
Magna
International Inc.
Staff of York Region
Children’s Aid Society
CP24 CHUM
Christmas Wish
Newmarket Mayor’s
Charity Golf Classic
Children’s Fund Team,
Scotiabank Waterfront
Marathon
Magna Closures
Dortec Industries
RBC Foundation
Please help the York Region
Children’s Fund make a lasting
difference in the life of a child.
HOLIDAY
HEROES
PARTNERS:
York Regional
Police
St. Andrew’s
College
Hasbro
To learn more or get
involved, please contact:
Rachel Agnoluzzi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
York Region Children’s Fund
905-895-2318 ext 6103
[email protected]
2014/2015 Annual Report
13
Thank you to those who shared their stories
and helped to create this annual report.
All statistics and financials included in this annual report are for
the fiscal year April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015.
York Region Children’s Aid Society is incorporated as Children
and Family Services for York Region.
Kennedy Place
Richmond Hill
Vaughan
16915 Leslie Street
Newmarket, ON
L3Y 9A1
120 East Beaver Creek
Road, Suite 301
Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 4V1
3901 Highway 7 West,
Suite 202
Woodbridge, ON
L4L 8L5
PHONE
905.895.2318
TOLL FREE
1.800.718.3850
WEB
WWW.YORKCAS.ORG
INQUIRIES
[email protected]
FOSTER CARE
[email protected]
ADOPTION
[email protected]
EMPLOYMENT
[email protected]
VOLUNTEER
[email protected]
SPEAKER’S BUREAU
[email protected]
Photography by www.merkphotography.com.
Designed by RC Design.
Printed on environmentally friendly paper.