WINDSOR, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 24, 2013) - Stakeholders in the Children's Aid Society (CAS) network have joined forces to pressure Minister of Children and Youth Services Teresa Piruzza to stop cuts and restore services within the sector. Organizers emphasize that while the rally was scheduled for 12 noon today at Minister Piruzza's Windsor riding office, cuts are a problem throughout the area and across the province.
"We are united here today in our concern for some of society's most vulnerable members," said Aubrey Gonsalves, President of CUPE Local 2316 at the Toronto CAS and CUPE's provincial CAS representative. "The announced service and program reductions and staff cuts are only the beginning, with more expected as the Liberals implement their budget."
"Funding for child welfare in Ontario has flat lined. At-risk children, youth, child welfare workers and foster parents are all on the losing end of Ontario's new, so-called 'fairer' funding formula for Children's Aid Societies (CASs)," said Gonsalves.
"What is "fairer" about a funding model that results in a $50.6 million funding shortfall and looming service and staff cuts for agencies across the province?," asked Gonsalves. "Sadly, the first services to be eliminated are those programs which provide intervention and support to families before problems escalate. These are the very services that help keep kids out of care and families intact."
Here are just a few examples of the impact of the many cuts planned:
Recently, the Windsor CAS cut 18 case aides and family access staff from a program that provides supervised visits for children and youth in care.
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