
Child Welfare Facts and Figures
- In Ontario, there are 50 designated Children’s Aid Societies. Twelve are Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being agencies and three are faith-based (two Catholic and one Jewish).
In fiscal year 2019-2020*:
- On a monthly average, there are almost 9,300 children and youth in care.
- Almost one half (45%) of those in care or receiving supports are youth aged 16-20 (as of the end of the fiscal year).
- There are over 7,600 full-time equivalent staff.
- More than 133,000 calls and referrals were made, approximately 76,000 of which required investigations.
- Of the investigations that were completed, 83% did not require further protection.
* These numbers are reported only from 38 non-Indigenous member agencies.
The most current provincial numbers, from fiscal year 2014-2015:
- The highest number of referrals (in order) were from law enforcement, schools, other Children’s Aid Societies, self (mother/father/child), and community caregiver/professionals.
- The top five reasons for children and families becoming involved with Children’s Aid (in order) are request for assistance, child exposure to partner violence, caregiver with a problem, physical force and/or maltreatment, and inadequate supervision.
- More than 36% of adoptions were by the foster family the child had been living with.
About Children’s Aid Societies | Child Welfare Data and Results