Families involved with children’s aid societies can access Child Protection Mediation services across the province. Child Protection Mediators work with families in large urban centres, in small rural hamlets, in the far north and everywhere in between. If you are feeling stuck in your CAS matter, ask your children’s Aid Society Worker to make a referral on your behalf or alternatively call an ADR agency directly.
The Province of Ontario covers the cost of all Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services for families involved with children’s aid societies. There are ADR agencies across the province that manage the referrals and connect Child Protection Mediators with families and referring Children’s Aid Society (CAS) workers.
Child Protection Mediators are independent, and they are not employed or paid by the children’s aid societies. A Child Protection Mediator will offer a fair and balanced approach to help all participants come up with a plan that is in the best interests of the child.
ADR is a voluntary program and families will be asked to consent to the referral by the CAS, prior to any information being shared. Participants always have the right to withdraw from ADR services without being penalized.
The following is a list of ADR agencies by geographic region. Finding a Child Protection Mediator depends on the geographic area you live and which Children’s Aid Society (CAS) or Indigenous Child and Family Well Being agency is involved with your family.
Central
York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families
Shilagh Ostrosser, ADR Program Manager
sostrosser@yorkhills.ca or Tel: 905-503-9560 ext.9703
Servicing:
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services (part of geographic region)
Durham Children’s Aid Society
Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society (Cobourg office only)
Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions
York Region Children’s Aid Society
Associated Youth Services of Peel
Lynn McNeely
905-890-5222
Servicing:
Children’s Aid Society of Halton Dufferin Child and Family Services
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region
Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County
Peel Children’s Aid Society
East
Family Services of Ottawa à la Famille Ottawa
Nina Biancardi adr@familyservicesottawa.org or 613-725-3601 Ext 221
www.familyservicesottawa.org
Servicing:
Family and Children’s Services-County of Renfrew
Valoris for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell
The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
The Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Counselling Services of Belleville and District
Amanda VanNess, ADR Program Coordinator
613-966-7413
Servicing:
Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville
Family and Children’s Services of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington
Highland Shores Children’s Aid
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services (part of geographic region)
North
Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing
Tammy Geisler, ADR Manager
tgeisler@cccnip.com 705-472-6515 ext. 258
Servicing
Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound
Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services
Thunder Bay Counselling
ADR@tbaycounselling.com or 807-684-1880
www.tbaycounselling.com
Servicing:
Children’s Aid Society of Algoma
Dilico Anishinabek Family Care
Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services
Weechi-it-be-win Family Services
The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin
The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay
Tikinagan Child and Family Services
Anishinaabe Abinooji Family Services
Children’s Community Network
705-566-3416 or 1-877-272-4336
www.ccnsudbury.on.ca
Servicing:
Children’s Aid Society of The Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin
Toronto
Toronto Mediation Centre
416-603-3773 ext. 222
www.tomediation.ca
Servicing:
Jewish Family and Child
Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
West
ADR-LINK (at London Family Court Clinic)
adr-link@lfcc.on.ca or 519-679-7250 ext. 150
https://www.lfcc.on.ca/services/coordination/adr-link/
Servicing:
Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Chippewas of Sarnia)
Bruce Grey Child and Family Services
Caldwell First Nation
Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex
Children’s Aid Society of Oxford County
Chippewas of Nawash First Nation
Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Delaware Nation Moravian of the Thames
Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas & Elgin County
Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society
Linck Child, Youth and Family Supports (Chatham-Kent)
Mnaasged Child & Family Services
Munsee Delaware Nation
Oneida Nation of the Thames
Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society
Saugeen First Nation
Walpole Island First Nation
Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society
The Mediation Centre of Halton & Hamilton
905-526-8446 or 905-849-0417
Servicing:
Children’s Aid Society of Grand Erie (formerly Brant CAS & CAS of Haldimand-Norfolk)
Family and Children’s Services Niagara
Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
Other ADR services in Ontario
There are three main methods of prescribed Alternative Dispute Resolution: Child Protection Mediation, Family Group Conferencing, and Indigenous Approaches to ADR. All three prescribed methods can assist families, but sometimes one method may meet the needs of a particular family best.
For further information about Family Group Conferencing, contact the George Hull Centre, and for further information about Indigenous Approaches to ADR, contact the ADR agency in your geographic region.