Youth

Immigration Program Services

Effective advocacy makes all the difference

CCAS services are constantly adapting to meet the changing needs of our service recipients. As the city of Toronto continues to become increasingly diverse, unresolved immigration issues now impact a large number of families served by CCAS.

In response to these growing needs, we have developed an Immigration Program as part of our commitment to securing a positive future for our children and youth in care.

The services of our Child Protection Immigration Specialist are unique to CCAS and provide the following types of assistance:

• Preparing immigration documents and supporting our children and youth through immigration proceedings
• Providing referrals to law firms that offer pro-bono services
• Securing legal status or Canadian Citizenship on behalf of our Crown Wards prior to their discharge from care
• Serving as a resource for our staff, community members, and community partners

An unresolved immigration status can pose serious difficulty and risk for our service recipients. Our Immigration Specialist's work with youth, families and community partners has been highly effective in resolving many immigration related-issues.. As a result, our Immigration Program has become a highly valued and sought-after service.

Education, Advocacy  & Scholarships

Advocating for Academic Success

Our Youth Need Your Support

• Education breaks the cycle of poverty and empowers children to achieve their hopes and dreams. Our workers create education plans for high-risk children and work with teachers to create an understanding of the unique needs and challenges of children in care.
• With advocacy and support, our children and youth can achieve higher levels of academic success in both elementary and secondary education.
• Workers also inspire many CCAS crown wards and former crown wards to pursue post-secondary school education.
• CCAS has developed an Education Resource Guide for professionals in school boards and Children’s Aid Societies across the province. A guide for youth in care is now being developed.
• Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation provides financial assistance to youth who are CCAS wards or former wards. With the rising cost of post-secondary education, we need your help in ensuring CCAS youth can get the support they need to succeed in life. Paying for college or university is almost impossible for many of our youth who lack the financial and emotional support of a family.
• Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation Scholarships are distributed each year at our annual Scholarship Event, which is held in late August..

Find out how you can support our youth through scholarships!

Special Needs Services

Specialized care and approach that fosters a sense of belonging

The CCAS Special Needs Team is committed to providing a quality of care to children and youth with special needs that values inclusion, belonging, and facilitates a smooth transition to adulthood.

Our effective case management supports the following special needs:

• Global Developmental Disability
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism, Aspergers etc.)
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD)
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Acquired Brain Injury (Shaken Baby Syndrome etc. )
• Medically Fragile Children
• Physical Disability (Cerebral Palsy etc.)
• Visual and Hearing Impairments
• Multiple Exceptionalities, including Mental Health issues

Special Needs Services provide:

• Professional assessment of needs
• Referrals to community care resources available in your region. We work closely with these service providers to help ensure your children receive the level of care required for their needs. Our role includes advocating for children's access to appropriate care, and advising caregivers
• Caregiver education on the level and type of care required for their child. Our Specialists can help you develop your coping skills so that you can provide better care with less stress and anxiety.
• Collaboration with community care providers to ensure continuity and consistency in your child's care.
• Consultation on transition to higher schooling or employment. Our Specialists link special needs youth with appropriate adult services, which can assist them in their transition to adulthood.
• Training and consultation on related topics to CCAS staff and foster caregivers.
• Participation in public awareness campaigns to promote awareness, including FASD awareness week in July, and monthly ADHD awareness workshops.
• Family Support. CCAS also offers a family support program , which provides direct assistance to families where there is a special needs child or where one of the parents may have special needs.

Please see Related Links for community and online resources for special needs.

Pastoral Support

CCAS's Pastoral Consultant supports the Catholic Children’s Aid Society’s mission by providing spiritual support that draws on the resources of our Catholic Faith. The Consultant provides short-term counselling, support and referral services during times of stress, grief, illness, trauma or other difficulty.

The following FAQs describe the benefits of this service for our community members:

 If you are receiving child protection services:

Q. When should I seek help?

A. Your case worker can request the Pastoral Consultant’s assistance if you have a spiritual concern, for example:

• you would like to have your child baptized or need help accessing sacraments
• you are struggling with a difficult decision
• you are sick or terminally ill
• you need bereavement support
• you have a spiritual question or concern
• you would like someone to pray with you

Q. What support should I expect?

A. The Consultant can provide short-term support, counselling, prayer, referrals and practical assistance.

• The Pastoral Consultant works with a team of CCAS staff who are providing services to you related to parenting or child protection concerns.
• If you prefer,  the Pastoral Consultant can arrange for you to see a priest.
• The Pastoral Consultant is required to speak to a CCAS worker about any matters that indicate a child may be unsafe.

 If you are a foster caregiver or volunteer:

Q. When should I seek help?

A. You can request the Pastoral Consultant’s assistance when:

• you are experiencing personal difficulty, stress or conflict
• you are sick or terminally ill
• you need bereavement support
• you have a spiritual question or concern
• you would like someone to pray with you

Q. What support should I expect?

A. The following types of assistance can be arranged:

• The Consultant can provide short-term support, counselling, prayer, referrals and practical assistance.
• The Pastoral Consultant is required to speak to a CCAS worker about any matters that indicate a child may be unsafe.

Independent Living Assistance

CCAS Child and Youth Services staff provide a range of critical services and supports to help youth transition from CCAS care to independent living. Our supportive services include:

• Individual support
• Life skills counselling & group work
• Budget counselling
• Financial support (see below)
• Housing advocacy
• Scholarships
• Referrals to job search and training programs
• Immigration consulation services
• Referrals to community services
• Youth criminal justice system advocacy

Our youth can also benefit from the following programs:

 Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)

RESP benefits are critical in ensuring foster children's access to federal education benefits that can grow tax-free. CCAS establishes RESPs for foster children who are younger than age 6. We manage these accounts until children access the funds for post-secondary education or until they turn 25.

CCAS also provides children and youth scholarship grants, which are disbursed through our Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation Foundation.

Ontario Child Benefit equivalent (OCBe)

OCBe is funding enhancement offered by the government, providing a range of positive and supportive experiences for our children to help ensure a smoother transition into adulthood.

OCBe benefits include:

• Activities / Opportunity Fund:

Provides children and youth in care (0-17 years old) the option of participating in recreational, educational, cultural, and social activities which support higher educational success, higher degree of resiliency, social skills and relationship development. The selection of programs and activities involves caregivers, workers and youth as part of their formal planning for care.

• Savings Fund:Provides youth in care who are 15-17 years old the benefit of a savings program that can help pay for housing or education after they leave foster care. Youth can only access these funds after they turn 18.
• In order to access these savings, youth are required to obtain financial literacy training to help them budget and manage their money more effectively.

Continued Care and supports for Youth Program

When CCAS youth turn 18, they are legally considered to be adults and CCAS no longer has guardianship over them. Youth are prepared for independence throughout their experience in CCAS's care. The primary focus of our casework with a young person is to support the development of skills which lead to self-sufficiency. This includes promoting education and employment goals.

Renewed Youth Supports is an important tool that bridges the transition to adulthood by providing additional support for former crown wards between the age of 18 and 21.

A Renewed Youth Support contract is mutually-agreed upon to identify ongoing support from CCAS. It may include educational/vocational/employment programming, medical, dental and financial support, and any other issues related to the youth's circumstances. It allows youth to keep connected with their worker, and to continue receiving guidance and counselling as required.

Disclosure Services

When responding to disclosure requests, we consider both confidentiality policies and a client's right to access personal information.

Current Children and Youth in Care:

• Our staff ensure that family background information and childhood experiences are shared on an ongoing basis with every child in care. Information shared takes into consideration balancing between the rights of the parents to confidentiality, and the rights of the child to know his/her family background. Staff, foster parents, volunteers and adoptive parents often engage in preparing Life Books with children. Click here to learn more about the benefits of creating Life Books
• Requests for current file disclosure should be directed to the case worker at the branch where the family is receiving service.

Former Crown Wards:

• Requests for information on your file must be made in writing or in person at the Birchmount site, with your signature and two copies of identification, one of which must contain photo identification.

Caregivers who Received our Services:

• Requests for information on your file must be made in writing or in person at the Birchmount site, with your signature and two copies of identification, one of which must contain photo identification.
• Please include your phone number, address and the name/s you were known as at the time of your involvement with us. If you have had a name change, we require a copy of your Name Change Order before we can proceed with your request.
• Please also indicate specific information you are looking for, e.g. health records.

Please mail your request to:

Disclosure Services
Catholic Children's Aid Society
2206 Eglinton Ave East, Toronto, ON M1L 4S7

Adoptees and their Birth Parents:

• If you are searching for your birth parents and/or siblings, or for a child who was adopted, click here for information on Adoption Disclosure.