Children's Aid Society of Ottawa at breaking point, organization says

TheChildren's Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) warns it is struggling to provide proper care and treatment to youth with complex needs, blaming a chronic lack of fundingand inadequate resources.

CASOand the union representing its workers, OPSEU/SEFPO Local 454, held a joint news conference Tuesday to issue the same urgent message: the organization is at a tipping pointand the government needs to step in.

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"It is an absolute crisis, and we need the funding so that workers aren't overburdened, so they can be strong and healthy to best help the youths and families we serve," said Michele Thorn, a CASO front-line worker and union local president.

The executive director of CASO said some families are turning to theagency not because they're experiencingabuse or neglect, but because they can't access appropriate treatment options for their children.

I have workers that cry every day because they can't keep up.- Michele Thorn, OPSEULocal 454

"With financial strain being experienced by a number of social and health partners,families who have children with complex needs are turning to the Children's Aid Society as a last resort," said Kelly Raymond. "Primarily, their requests are for foster or group home placements."

Those residential placements aren't equipped to provide treatment for children and youth struggling with mental health, addictions or behavioural issues, CASO said.

Thorn said CASOworkers are suffering burnout as a result.

"I have workers that cry every day because they can't keep up," she said."They constantly are not able to do their work properly, that they're doing the bare minimum or cutting corners."

What families want and need, CASO's executive director said, is more support.

"They want more educational supports for their children, and children and youth with complex needs. They want in-homebehavioural supports, so kind of therapeutic interventions and respite," Raymond said.

CASO is calling for more "robust funding" for better collaboration between the health-care, social and education systemsto provide comprehensive services for children and youth in need.

CASO has operated at a deficit of $3.3 million over the past two fiscal years. More than half of Ontario's children'said societies are similarly stretched.

OPSEUreports49 of the 53 societies face an accumulatedbudget shortfall of $67 million, representing about 30 per cent of their operating costs.

"Our government is redesigning the child welfare system to focus on high-quality services that prioritize safety, are culturally appropriate and are responsive to the needs of children, youth and families," aspokesperson for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services wrote in an email to CBC.

It said it has allocated$1.5 billion for50 child welfare societies across Ontario.