Our History

The 60 Children's Aid Societies that came together on January 25, 1912 to form the Associated Children's Aid Societies of Ontario were already well aware of the "strength that comes from a common and united voice." The purpose of this fledgling organization was to "devise means and methods of furthering the cause of children throughout Ontario." Its emphasis was on legislative change. The Association's first act was to interview the Provincial Secretary requesting wide legislation for the protection of neglected and dependent children. Some of the important issues discussed by Association delegates during the early annual conferences included

  • government financial support for widows and deserted wives with children
  • improvements to the Education Act so CAS staff would not have to act as truant officers
  • condemnation of the "liquor traffic"
  • objections to the inflicting of corporal punishment by a court in the punishment of children
  • the problem of cigarette smoking for boys

One significant protest by the Association in 1914 against "changes being made in the Children's Protection Act without prior consultation with the workers who were best aware of its strengths and weaknesses" led to the government agreeing to submit legislative changes to the Association for consideration, prior to government approval. This arrangement between the government and OACAS continues to the present time. In 1919, the Associated Children's Aid Societies of Ontario made three significant decisions

  • to incorporate (completed in 1920)
  • to establish a central office in order to "assume the important post it should hold in the affairs of Children's Aid Societies in the province"
  • to interest itself "not only in legislation but in the individuals who are appointed to do the work in the various cities and counties"

Over the years from its incorporation in 1920, OACAS has tackled many challenges on behalf of children and the boards and staffs of children's aid societies who serve them. During the 1920s, the Association and member societies pressed for the creation of one government department responsible for all public welfare funding and legislation. In 1931, the first Minister of Welfare was appointed. In the mid 1940s, a provincial government grant enabled OACAS to reorganize and to hire, for the first time in 1946, a full-time paid Executive Secretary. Full-time staffing allowed OACAS to expand its services, becoming a clearinghouse of information and a communications vehicle among member societies.