Site articles
Indigenous Resources
May 31, 2021
The Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont Dundas & Glengarry have lowered our flags to half mast today to honour the lives of the 215 Indigenous children whose undocumented bodies were found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C. We recognise the suffering that these children endured, as well as the ongoing pain of their families, communities, and all Indigenous Nations.
The Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont Dundas & Glengarry is calling on Canada, the Provinces, and all Canadians to be accountable and fully implement the 94 Calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We stand with Indigenous people today and every day and we demand Justice through accountability, action and change to address the continued racism and oppression of Indigenous people in all sectors (Action #71).
The Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont Dundas & Glengarry acknowledges child welfare’s role in Canada’s plan for the genocide and assimilation of Indigenous people. As a child welfare organization, we continue to work to redress the damage we have caused, by working differently and supporting Indigenous families from a place of respect, honour, and dignity. We recognize we must give back all that we took from Indigenous children, families, communities, and Nations.
A 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support to former students, their families and all those effected. Emotional and crisis referral services can be accessed by calling 1-866-925-4419.
Request for proposals
Located in Cornwall, Ontario, the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides child welfare services to the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, mandated under the Child & Family Services Act of the Province of Ontario.
Operational plan
Accessibility Act
| Question | Answer | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Does your organization have written accessibility policies and a statement of commitment? | YES |
| 2 | Has your organization established, implemented and maintained a multi-year accessibility plan and posted it on your organization’s website? | YES |
| 3 | Does your organization provide appropriate training on the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities? | YES |
| 4 | Other than the requirements cited in the above questions, is your organization complying with all other applicable requirements in effect under the General section of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation? | YES |
| 5 | Is your organization complying with all applicable requirements under the Customer Service Standards? | YES |
| 6 | Does your organization ensure that its feedback processes are accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats or communication supports, upon request, and do you notify the public of this accessible feedback policy? | YES |
| 7 | Does your organization have a process to provide accessible formats and communication supports to people with disabilities in a timely manner and at no extra cost? | YES |
| 8 | Does your organization make its emergency procedures, plans or safety information available to the public? | YES |
| 8a | Does your organization provide its publicly available emergency procedures, plans or safetyinformation in accessible formats to people with disabilities upon request? | YES |
| 9 | Other than the requirements cited in the above questions, is your organization complying with all other applicable requirements in effect under the Information and Communications Standards? | YES |
| 10 | Does your organization prepare individualized workplace emergency response information for employees with disabilities? | YES |
| 11 | Does your organization develop and have in place a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities? | YES |
| 12 | Other than the requirements cited in the above questions, is your organization complying with all other applicable requirements in effect under the Employment Standards? | YES |
| 13 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new or redeveloped existing exterior paths of travel that it intends to maintain? | NO |
| 14 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new or redeveloped existing outdoor public use eating areas? | NO |
| 15 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new or redeveloped existing outdoor play spaces? | NO |
| 16 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new or redeveloped existing off-street parking? | NO |
| 17 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new service counters, (which includes replacing existing service counters)? | NO |
| 18 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new fixed queuing guides? | NO |
| 19 | Since your organization submitted its most recent accessibility compliance report, has your organization constructed new or redeveloped existing waiting areas? | NO |
| 20 | Other than the requirements cited in the above questions, is your organization complying with all other applicable requirements in effect under the Design of Public Spaces Standards? | YES |
Alternative Format or Communication Support Request Form
Notification of Accessible Information and Communications Feedback
Facts and figures
Between April 2016 and March 2017:
- Our agency received 3,295 calls through our intake and after-hours departments.
- We completed 1,032 family assessments / investigations.
- 73 Staff participated in child protection mediations and family group conferences in an attempt to resolve disputes arising between family members or agency staff.
- Our staff visited 19,000 children and families.
- We sent 139 community children to summer camp.
- 98% of the families we work with remain together with our support.
- We have 29 youth attending post-secondary education in September 2017.
November is Adoption Month
Julia and David (parents)
When we started our adoption journey in Fall 2009, we were hoping to adopt a few children to complete our family. We knew we wanted to have a big family, but we never expected what the stars had aligned for us in the future... Thanks to the Cornwall's Children Aid Society, our family of two has increased to a family of six. That's right, we welcomed a sibling group of four school-age children into our home.
At first, our adoption journey felt a bit like a roller-coaster. We knew there were going to be some challenges due to the children's previous life experiences, however, we weren't fully prepared to face them all. Thanks to our adoption worker, we dealt with one issue at the time and we slowly guided the children on a more stable path. The children have made significant progress in the past few years with us.
Our life has changed completely thanks to our children. Their presence has brought us enormous joy. Having four children is not always easy but it has filled our world with lots of interesting and priceless moments. Would we do it again? Yes we would! Seeing all the joy and happiness these children have in their eyes, makes it all worth while. Knowing these children were not separated, also helped their development and stability in life.
Since November is the month for adoption, please take a moment and look at your life. Image what it would be if you decide to open your heart to a child that wants to be loved. These children have the right to have dreams for the future. They might give you a few headaches, but their cute smiles will be all worth while.
Marie - 8 years old
At first, it was scary to move to the new house, but then it's OK and now I like it. I like the house because there is a pool. I feel happy about our family because we get to play Wii on the weekend and on PD day. I am super happy that I stayed with my brothers and sister together.
Joshua - 9 years old
I'm happy with my new family because we have good food, have movies on the weekends and have lots of family activities. Our school is good because there is French and English and I learn a lot.
Justin - 10 years old
Giving advise to other kids:
At first, it will be scary but your new parents will be very nice. For kids like me with some problems, you might do crazy thing or be really mad, but your new parents will understand and help you learn tools to use at school and at home.
Kimberly - 12 years old
Speech given last year at school (see separate sheet): The below is an extra of the section where she talks about her personal experiences.
I will talk to you about my personal experiences. When I was with my biological family my brothers, sister and I lived as a family that was less fortunate. My parents were really young and had no job and it was really hard for them to take care of us. We were taken away from the Children’s Aid Society, and were placed in a Foster family. We lived for a year and a half in a Foster home. After that we found out that we were going to be adopted, and staying in the same family. Right now for 2 years we are living with our adoptive family! Theses people were just strangers at first but now they mean the world to us just by giving us a chance. I feel very happy to have a chance to be a real kid. I used to have to help my parents take care of my siblings but now I am able to do what real kids do, have fun with my friends, play, get my homework done, without worrying about what others are doing. Remember giving a chance means alot for a child. Children’s only dream is to have a family that loves them, care for them, and to have a chance in life. Trust me my dream came true when I met my new parents. All that can change anyone’s life.