Message to the families we serve

We are grateful to Shannon Crate from the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation for leading a series of Learning Circles for all staff across the organization. These circles helped to increase awareness of Devon’s story, discuss the learnings from the inquest and inspire all who attended.  

A Right to Return working group was formed in the spring/summer of 2023 with a working principle that “All FNIM children and youth we are working with will be given the opportunity to visit, explore and put their feet on the land of their ancestors with this opportunity being known as Devon’s Principle.” We started with children and youth in out-of-home placements, given their removal from their family and community. The goal is to help begin a process of reconnection and learning of First Nation roots for Indigenous children, youth and families that have not had an opportunity to visit and learn from their First Nation community.  

In October 2023, the working group held its first virtual event (with the goal of it being held annually) to inform staff and foster caregivers about Right to Return, be transparent about what had not happened to date and commit to meeting in October 2024 to share progress to date. The hope is to inform and inspire workers to take the initiative in starting conversations with youth, foster parents, First Nations  and family about planning a Right to Return  visit for a youth with the goal of facilitating and growing connections for a youth with their culture and First Nations in a way that would continue and grow with them. 

Members of the working group have travelled to Six Nations of the Grand River and to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation in 2024 to share information about Devon’s Principle and to lay the groundwork for some collaborative work.  

Each of the 42 Indigenous youth involved with HCS have been engaged in conversations about the Right to Return principle and the opportunity that is there for them to reconnect/visit their First Nation. So far, 13 youth have participated in a visit to their First Nation in the past year with most of these visits being a public event such as a Pow Wow.  

This is a story of resiliency, the importance of family and seeking new options if original connections can no longer provide a safe and meaningful placement for a child.  

After Sarah’s* mother died, her great grandmother took on the role of caregiver. When her great grandmother’s failing health meant she could no longer safely care for Sarah, and another family member couldn’t provide a permanent home, another plan was needed.  

To find Sarah a safe and meaningful long-term placement, the kinship support worker and family service worker from Hamilton Child and Family Supports worked together to determine if there were any other family members or close connections who may consider caring for her. After calling various members of her extended family, a paternal aunt and uncle agreed to care for Sarah. This decision kept Sarah connected to her family and provided her with the stability to thrive. What has been amazing is Sarah’s aunt and uncle’s commitment to helping her break free from the trauma cycle and learn how to deal with her grief and loss in healthy ways. 

Through the support of HCFS Sarah is now connected to tutoring to help her catch up academically after missing the last few years of school. She has been given the chance to join a sports team, learn about religion and is being encouraged to just be a child and to develop her own community.  

The PowerUp! Youth Symposium is a crucial gathering for Black-identifying children and youth who are in care or actively involved with a child welfare agency. This symposium provides a safe space for youth to share their experiences within the child welfare system, participate in workshops, engage in panel discussions and take part in ceremonies. This year, 10 youth from HCFS attended this essential event, equipping them with tools for equitable care and better outcomes, and contributing to the transformation of child welfare into a more inclusive system.   

Oliver is a gentle-hearted boy who loves music, swimming, and spending time with his sister. He quickly finds a way into your heart because of his resilience. His special needs mean that he struggles to communicate like other children his age, and his world often seems confusing and overwhelming for him.  

When Oliver’s mother died after a short illness, his future was uncertain. He was able to settle into a foster home that could support his special needs but so many changes in a brief time were overwhelming. He missed his mom, struggled to communicate his feelings, and needed help to understand his new home and experiences. Yet, in these challenges, there was always hope and resilience. 

There were many people who cared about Oliver. He had aunts and uncles who wanted to play a special role in his life.  He had a school community who cared about him as well. In particular, he had a compassionate and dedicated teacher, Heather. She always saw the potential in every child she encountered; however, there was something special about Oliver.   

Despite the obstacles Oliver faced, Heather never gave up on him. She spent countless hours working with him, patiently guiding him through his struggles and celebrating every small victory along the way. She showed unwavering support and belief in him and began to realize that he needed her not just as his teacher but as his adoptive mom.  With this decision made, she approached Oliver’s adoption worker asking if this was something that could be considered.  Without hesitation, his adoption worker knew that this is where Oliver belonged.  Over the next several months, Oliver and Heather will be working on becoming a family.  Oliver has already begun to blossom with confidence and joy.  It is a reminder of the profound impact love, acceptance and belonging can have on a child’s life. 

Over the past year, with the assistance of Metrics@Work, HCFS undertook a survey to provide information about the identities and experiences of our staff. This information is instrumental in developing strategies and initiatives to address barriers, identify gaps, and create solutions that will benefit our organization’s staff and clients.  

Conducting a staff census survey was an operational goal for 2023-24 and is part of the organization’s shared responsibility to create a healthy workplace. Additionally, we are a public sector organization with a responsibility to serve everyone in our diverse community. When our employees bring with them a broad diversity of lived experiences and perspectives, we are better positioned to make decisions that respond to the needs of everyone in our community. 

The staff census was developed through a process led by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) over the past three years. Through this work OACAS engaged Executive Directors, HR leaders, equity leaders and an anti-oppression roundtable and representatives from HCFS participated in this process. To-date, more than 15 CASs across the province have either completed their survey or are planning to this year.  

The Moments of Excellence program within our organization provides a platform for staff members to acknowledge and celebrate each other’s commitment, dedication, and contributions to the children, youth and families that we serve. By recognizing the exceptional work done by our colleagues, we reinforce our strategic vision and foster a positive and supportive work environment. In 2023/2024, 39 staff received recognition for their outstanding efforts and impact. Their commitment reflects the core values of our organization and as we move forward, we continue to celebrate and uplift these Moments of Excellence, inspiring others along the way. 

Leadership is a skill that can be developed through a lifetime of practice. As an organization, we continue to build leadership and hold ourselves and each other accountable. A working group of staff across the agency with a shared interest in personal and professional growth, along with a desire to develop leadership styles and competencies, have been coming together to review and discuss the five leadership practices in the book “The Leadership Challenge.” Ultimately this group will recommend implementing a leadership framework for HCFS. 

Hamilton Child and Family Supports is committed to developing and maintaining strategic partnerships within the community that assist in supporting vulnerable children and families. Community partnerships allow us to create new collaboration opportunities and community and staff engagement.   

When we received feedback from our community through our rebranding process, we learned how critical the role of partnerships is to our work.  Core to our new brand is the connection made through listening to and working with our partners to provide equitable and inclusive service to meet the needs of our diverse community.   

HCFS and Empowerment Squared have established a joint initiative to support newcomer and marginalized families, with a special focus on Black and racialized children and youth in the Hamilton community.  To increase the ways that our teams collaborate and to continue to engage and inspire our staff, our Human Resources team has worked with Empowerment Squared representatives to facilitate ongoing orientation sessions for HCFS staff.  These sessions offer the opportunity to learn more about the programming and the services offered by Empowerment Squared, and how these can be utilized to support our work with Black and racialized children, youth and families.  

We remain committed to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation and through this commitment have developed Truth and Reconciliation Competencies for our organization, in consultation with our partners at Ogwandeni:Deo. These competencies outline the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for individuals and the organization to engage effectively with Indigenous peoples and communities. Moving forward, the Truth and Reconciliation competencies will be integrated into our organization’s leadership competencies, defining the specific skills that HCFS employees require to actively contribute to Indigenous-related policies, programs, and engagement. 

We are so pleased to be able to work with our partners in the community to cultivate meaningful connections that benefit our organizations and the communities we serve. 

In July 2022, HCFS collaborated with Mishka Social Services to assess the experiences of Muslim families with child protective services. The formation of a Muslim Advisory Council involving eight community organizations marked a crucial step in understanding the unique challenges faced by these families. 

During the summer of 2023, HCFS and Mishka established key focus areas based on their assessment: prevention, early intervention and youth transitioning in/out of care. The agency’s Speakers Bureau actively engaged with Muslim-centric family and community gatherings to dispel myths about HCFS and child protection. Mishka’s cultural brokers collaborate with HCFS staff to support Muslim families involved with child welfare services. This partnership enhances trust and ensures that HCFS is there to help. Furthermore, Mishka conducts parenting peer groups, addressing topics like family conflict, domestic violence, and financial literacy. 

Cultural brokers assist in making referrals, support and connections whilst building capacity for our frontline staff to meet the needs of the Muslim children, youth, and families in a cultural appropriate manner. We value the identity and culture of our communities and that our support services to be sustainable we need to work from a cultural lens. 

The ongoing efforts of HCFS and Mishka have led to growth in staffing, programming, and locations. Additionally, cultural brokers continue to support Muslim youth transitioning out of care, engaging them in community activities that reinforce their identity, including visits to mosques and participation in Islamic holidays.  

At HCFS, we are committed to equitable outcomes for the children, youth, and families we serve. These families have many diverse faiths and traditions, and a common thread is gratitude. This is the basis of our Grateful Hearts program, which reflects our community’s diversity and has been made available to support all families, no matter how they celebrate. 

The Grateful Hearts program made a significant impact during the 2023/2024 period by supporting 356 families. Through generous donations, the program distributed over $60,000 in Walmart gift cards. These cards served as a lifeline for families, empowering them to make their own purchases based on their unique needs and preferences.  

Throughout the year, the families we serve observe many different holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Eid and Diwali. Families received the gift cards during these special occasions, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. The distribution of gift cards enables autonomy to decide what items were most important for them during this special time. For example, some may have used their gift cards to buy groceries for their Iftar meals, while others might have purchased new clothes or toys for their children to enhance the festive spirit.  

By providing this support, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these families and show them that we stand by them in times of celebration and need.