Highland Shores Childrens Aid Society

What Highland Shores Childrens Aid Society does

Highland Shores Children's Aid Society is a nonprofit child welfare organization serving vulnerable children, youth, and families across Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties in Ontario, Canada. The organization was formed in 2012 through the amalgamation of Hastings Children's Aid Society and the Children's Aid Society of Northumberland, and expanded in 2013 with the legal amalgamation of the Children's Aid Society of Prince Edward, creating a regional service network covering approximately 43,635 children and youth under age 18. Its core services include child protection investigations, foster care placement and support (managing a network of approximately 238 foster and kin families), adoption services, youth programs including post-secondary bursaries, and parenting support programs using the Signs of Safety practice framework.

The organization uses the Child Protection Information Network (CPIN) portal for case management and child welfare tracking, and serves as the designated Children's Aid Society under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act with statutory authority for child protection in its geographic region. The fiscal 2013-14 budget was $45,740,001, funded primarily by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services under a provincial funding formula, supplemented by donations and fundraising (including the Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament and Quinte Children's Foundation partnerships).

Highland Shores operates from four office locations (Bancroft, Belleville, Cobourg, and Picton) and processes approximately 1,600 family assessments annually, with 50-100 children admitted into care each year. The organization is governed by a 14-member volunteer Board of Directors and is led by Executive Director Jess Uddenberg (selected August 2023), following founding Executive Director Mark Kartusch. The organization has no commercial revenue model, no external ownership, and operates exclusively as a publicly funded statutory child welfare agency.

Name

Highland Shores Childrens Aid Society

Legal name

Highland Shores Children's Aid Society

Website

https://highlandshorescas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Highland Shores Children's Aid Society is a nonprofit child welfare organization delivering child protection, foster care, adoption, and youth support services to vulnerable children and families across Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties in Ontario, Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Child protection services
• Foster care services
• Adoption services
• Youth welfare programs
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bancroft

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Provincial Government Funding: Funded primarily by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. The organization receives funding based on a provincial formula that allocates funding based on socio-economic and volume-based factors. Budget for fiscal 2013-14 was $45,740,001.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Receives donations through events such as the Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament and partnerships with organizations like the Quinte Children's Foundation. Funds support educational bursaries and programs for youth in care.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Highland Shores Children's Aid Society is a designated Children's Aid Society under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act, providing statutory child protection services, foster care placement, adoption services, and family support programs across Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties. The organization investigates concerns of child abuse and neglect, places children in foster or kin care when necessary, and provides youth and parenting support programs including the Reach for Success awards and bursaries for post-secondary education.

Product overview

Highland Shores Children's Aid Society operates as a single integrated child welfare organization providing protection, care, and empowerment services across Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties. The organization offers a unified portfolio of core services including child protection investigations, foster care, adoption, and youth programs, supplemented by parenting support, volunteer engagement, and community partnership initiatives. Services are delivered through regional offices in Bancroft, Belleville, Cobourg, and Picton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Protection Services Investigation and ongoing protection services for children and youth at risk of abuse or neglect in Hastings, Northumberland, and Prince Edward counties. Approximately 1,600 families are assessed annually, with 9% of children and youth in the area coming to the agency's attention each year.
• Foster Care Services Recruitment, training, and support services for foster and kin families providing temporary and long-term care for children and teens in the Society's care. Close to 238 foster and kin families provide care for children and youth, with 50-100 children and youth admitted into care each year.
• Adoption Services Services to find permanent, loving homes for children in permanent care who cannot be reunified with their biological families, including adoption placement, subsidies, and post-adoption support.
• Youth Programs Programs including the Board Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), resources for former youth in care, and youth achievement awards such as Reach for Success. Over 125 youth recognized annually, with 30 youth awarded over $50,000 in Reach for Success Bursaries for post-secondary education.
• Parenting Programs Educational and support programs for parents including discipline guidance, parenting resources, and Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) support aimed at strengthening parenting capacity to keep families together.
• Volunteer Programs Opportunities for community members to support children, youth, and families through driving, mentorship, board service, and fundraising. Approximately 70 volunteers give their time, with volunteer drivers logging over 700,000 kms annually.
• Signs of Safety A strengths-based, safety-organized approach to child protection casework that involves families in the planning and assessment process.
• Community Support Services Space-sharing partnerships with organizations like YMCA Northumberland and Community Organized Support and Prevention (C.O.S.P.) to deliver community services across served regions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of cases - children able to remain at home while the agency worked with families to strengthen their parenting capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• YMCA NorthumberlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Space-sharing partnership where YMCA Northumberland expanded into additional office space within Highland Shores' location at 1005 Burnham Street in Cobourg. The YMCA team supports families across Northumberland County through 25 licensed childcare centres.
• Quinte Children's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Reach for Success Youth Awards program. The Foundation provides bursaries to youth in care for post-secondary education - over $50,000 awarded annually to approximately 30 youth. The Foundation is the fundraising arm of Highland Shores CAS.
• Mohawk Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Reach for Success Awards event. Located on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Supports youth from the Mohawk Territory in award recognition programs.
• Belleville Rotary ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament partnership raising funds for youth in care. Over the past decade, the club has donated over $85,000 to the Reach for Success Bursary Program. The tournament has raised over $850,000 supporting children's charities including Camp Merrywood, Quinte Children's Foundation, and Belleville General Hospital.
• Community Organized Support and Prevention (C.O.S.P.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-year agreement for C.O.S.P. to use office space within Highland Shores' Picton location for administrative and client meeting purposes. C.O.S.P. offers community-based justice related programs for adults and young persons.
• Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial association representing Children's Aid Societies in Ontario. Highland Shores participates in OACAS strategic initiatives, consultation processes, and youth awards ceremonies.
• Tyendinaga Mohawk TerritorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Nations community partnership with representation on the Board of Directors. Highland Shores is committed to Truth and Reconciliation and recognizing Aboriginal communities' cultural uniqueness.
• Alderville First NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Nations community partnership with representation on the Board of Directors.
• Signs of SafetycoreTechnology or IntegrationChild protection practice framework used by Highland Shores. This is a strengths-based, safety-organized approach to child protection casework.
• Children's Aid FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational foundation supporting children in care. Partners with RONA stores to raise funds through JJ teddy bear sales for youth education awards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Kids Help Phone: A national youth support service addressing overlapping child and youth safety/wellbeing concerns, but operating through different delivery channels (phone/text/online) and without statutory authority. Adjacent rather than directly competing.

Others

• Children's Aid Foundation of Canada: The national fundraising partner for Canadian Children's Aid Societies, including Highland Shores' partner Quinte Children's Foundation. They co-fund youth education awards, making this an enabling ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Aid Society of Toronto: The largest designated Children's Aid Society in Ontario, providing identical statutory child protection, foster care, and adoption services across Toronto. It is the most direct system peer to Highland Shores because it operates under the same Ontario legislative framework and provincial funding model.

Direct peers

• Peel Children's Aid Society: A regional Ontario CAS serving Peel Region with identical core services (investigation, foster care, adoption, after-care) under the same Child, Youth and Family Services Act. Operates on the same provincial funding model as Highland Shores, making it a near-twin peer.
• Durham Children's Aid Society (D-CAS) / Durham Region Children's Services: An Ontario CAS serving an adjacent eastern Ontario region (Durham), executing the same statutory child protection duties. Comparable geographic scope and operational model to Highland Shores.
• Hamilton Children's Aid Society (HSCAS) / Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton: Designated Children's Aid Societies serving Hamilton under the same Ontario statute. Operate with the same provincial funding model and deliver an overlapping set of child welfare services as Highland Shores.
• Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto: A Toronto-based designated Children's Aid Society delivering the same child welfare mandate (protection, foster care, kinship, adoption) under the same Ontario statute. Directly comparable in funding mechanics, service mix, and regulatory oversight to Highland Shores.
• Ottawa Children's Aid Society (Ottawa CAS): A designated CAS serving Ottawa, providing the same continuum of protection, foster care, and adoption services under the same legislation and funding formula. A direct comparable in mandate and structural setup.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Highland Shores Childrens Aid Society