Facts and Figures

Child Welfare Facts and Figures

In Ontario, there are 51 designated Children’s Aid Societies. Thirteen 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. They are derived from the 2019-2020 Ministry Quarterly Reports.

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.