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
Associated Youth Services of Peel
Sandra Murphy-Advisor
Kelly Henderson-ED
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
York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families
Onika Haywood, ADR Program Manager
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
East
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)
Family Services of Ottawa à la Famille Ottawa
Nina Biancardi
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
North
Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing
Tammy Geisler, ADR Manager
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
Sheri Fata
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
Toronto
Toronto Mediation Centre
Gina Petri-Morillo, CPM Program Coordinator gina@tomediation.ca
tel:416-603-3773 ext. 221
Servicing:
- Jewish Family and Child Services
- Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
- Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
West
The Mediation Centre of Halton & Hamilton
Maggie Hall
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
ADR-LINK (at London Family Court Clinic)
519-282-6991
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
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.ohaywood@yorkhills.ca