The Children’s Aid Society of Toronto is recruiting five new Board of Directors

BY SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL

The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of Toronto is currently looking to recruit five new Board of Directors by April 17^th, 2019. There is a strong impetus by the organization to ensure that the board adequately reflects the demographics of those families being served by the organization; including ethnicity (African Canadian, Indigenous), disability, economic, sexual orientation, and gender identity, or lived experience as former youth in care.

“It is a priority for me and the CAS of Toronto to make positive systemic changes in how we work with black families so that we can achieve equitable outcomes for black families, children, and communities,” expressed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Rosebush. The newly appointed CEO as of September 4^th, 2018, knows the importance of delivering highly effective service to communities, whether it is health care or social services. To do so, there is a need to ensure that potential applicants for the board positions come with lived experience, and who fully understand the systemic challenges that lead families into the system. Approximately 55% of clients identified themselves as members of a minority culture or race, and many are newcomers to Toronto.  Approximately 63% live below the poverty line, and 51% of families are single mothers. “Part of this work includes seeing that our Anti-Oppression, Anti-Racism policy is fully implemented in every area of our work as well as ensuring that we have strong black representation on our board,” maintained Rosebush.

CAS of Toronto recognizes that the decision makers have to mirror those families or clients it serves; by being acutely aware of the importance of cultural sensitivity, as well as the challenges a newcomer family encounters with the child welfare agencies. “We are really changing the conversation that we used to have. We haven’t always had that right. We are on a mission to work with people, partners, families who come out on the other side and who want to make a lasting change. Having an inclusive, diverse board can really strengthen that,” said Alicia Pereira, Director, Communications of CAS of Toronto. While approximately 32% of children and youth in care in 2017-18 were black, this demographic only represents 8% of the city’s population under age 18. “We work hand-in-hand, having a conversation with the families that come to us. It’s all about prevention and ensuring that the families get the help they need,” expressed Pereira.

The CAS of Toronto has a total of 19 Board of Directors, and five of those are currently vacant. The positions are on a volunteer basis where members are expected to commit a minimum of three years, and approximately 12 to 15 hours per month on board-related activities. The board-related activities include attending, preparing, and participating in board and committee meetings, building, maintaining, and strengthening relationships, alliances, and networks in support of the CAS of Toronto, and leveraging resources in support of the organization. The board members must live or work in Toronto, and be willing to support the board’s expectations and purposes, that is to provide guidance on organizational directions to the CAS of Toronto.

Choosing to be a Board of Director for CAS of Toronto will be a rewarding one because it is an opportunity to represent our community and be the voice of the children that come from our community. “Our community does need to be represented on the board as a lot of our children end up in the system. For us to be able to do what is right by the kids, decisions need to be made by people who understand them,” concluded Pereira. Therefore, applicants with African Canadian ethnicity are invited to join the board and apply by April 17^th, 2019, before applications close.

For more information please contact Clavel Lyttle at lyttle@TorontoCAS.ca or Alicia Pereira by phone: 416-924-4646, ext. 2086, or by email: AlPereira@TorontoCAS.ca. Also, please visit the CAS of Toronto website,http://torontocas.ca/news/join-our-board to learn more about the Board positions.