What Durham Children's Aid Society does

Durham Children's Aid Society (Durham CAS) is a non-profit child protection agency legally mandated under Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA) and regulated by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) to investigate child protection concerns and deliver child welfare services across Durham Region, Ontario — including the municipalities of Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Clarington, Uxbridge, Brock, and Scugog. Founded in 1906 and operating for 119+ years, Durham CAS provides a continuum of services including 24/7 child protection intake and emergency response, family support, foster care, kinship care, adoption, the Ready Set Go youth transition program (ages 18-21), the Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (ages 16-17), and specialized human trafficking response via the multidisciplinary CARE Team. Foster and adoptive parent recruitment uses Ontario's standardized PRIDE pre-service training and SAFE Home Study Process, and the agency maintains equity strategies addressing Indigenous and Anti-Black racism.

The organization's underlying technology is modest but functional: the provincial Child Protection Information Network (CPIN) for secure case management across Ontario, supplemented by internal AI tools used only for administrative tasks (document drafting, summarization, data analysis) within a secure digital environment — explicitly not used for child protection decisions. Durham CAS operates from a single accessible headquarters at 1320 Airport Blvd., Oshawa, with a volunteer Board of Directors of 10–16 members providing governance and a cross-sector management team.

Durham CAS is primarily funded by provincial government allocations from MCCSS, with secondary revenue generated through the affiliated Durham Children's Aid Foundation (founded with trustee governance since 2004), which runs Holiday Hope, the Fore the Future Golf Tournament, McHappy Day corporate partnerships (McDonald's Oshawa and Clarington, May 2026), monthly and legacy giving, and corporate sponsorships such as the $143,000+ donated by General Motors Canada and its dealers. Core services are delivered at no cost to families; foster caregivers receive daily non-taxable reimbursements plus clothing, recreational, and health/dental allowances, and adoption services are free for prospective adoptive parents.

Name

Durham Children's Aid Society

Legal name

Durham Children's Aid Society

Website

https://durhamcas.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Durham Children's Aid Society is a non-profit, government-mandated child protection agency founded in 1906 that investigates abuse and neglect and delivers foster care, kinship, adoption, and youth transition services across Durham Region, Ontario, funded primarily by the provincial MCCSS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Child protection services
• Foster care services
• Kinship care support
• Adoption services
• Youth transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oshawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services): As a Children's Aid Society regulated by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and governed by Ontario's Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA), Durham CAS is primarily funded through provincial government allocations. Funding supports investigation, family support, foster care, kinship care, adoption, and youth transition services.
2. Charitable Donations (via Durham Children's Aid Foundation): The Durham Children's Aid Foundation, the charitable fundraising partner, generates donations through one-time gifts, monthly giving, legacy/bequest giving, event fundraising (Fore the Future Golf Tournament, Holiday Hope), corporate sponsorships, and McHappy Day partnerships. Donations fund programs for stability, opportunity, belonging, youth independence, and trauma support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Durham Children's Aid Society is a government-mandated non-profit child protection agency that investigates allegations of abuse and neglect, provides 24/7 emergency response, and delivers a continuum of services including family support, foster care, kinship care, adoption, youth transition (Ready Set Go, VYSA), and human trafficking response for children and youth under 18 in Durham Region, Ontario. The affiliated Durham Children's Aid Foundation raises funds through donations, events, and corporate sponsorships to support programs beyond government mandates.

Product overview

Durham Children's Aid Society operates as a unified child welfare organization providing a coordinated range of services centered on child protection. The core offerings include child protection investigations and ongoing services, foster care, kinship arrangements, and adoption services. The Ready Set Go Program supports youth transitioning from care to independence. The affiliated Durham Children's Aid Foundation handles charitable fundraising to fund additional programs including Holiday Hope and the Fore the Future Golf Tournament. The organization also utilizes AI administrative tools internally and participates in the provincial Child Protection Information Network (CPIN) for case management. Key support services include PRIDE pre-service training and SAFE home study assessments for prospective caregivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Durham Children's Aid Foundation: The charitable fundraising partner of Durham Children's Aid Society that funds programs and opportunities for children, youth, and families facing challenging circumstances.

Products and services

• Child Protection Services Investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA), provides ongoing protection services, and works with families to strengthen their ability to keep children safe. Available 24/7 for reports.
• Foster Care Services Provides temporary family-based care for children and youth through trained and supported foster caregivers when children cannot remain safely at home or with kin. Caregivers receive daily non-taxable reimbursement, clothing/recreational allowances, health/dental coverage, and peer support.
• Kinship Services Connects children in care with extended family, kin, family friends, or community members to provide safe, familiar care arrangements that maintain cultural connections, identity, and community ties. Includes both in-care and out-of-care kinship arrangements.
• Adoption Services Facilitates public adoption for children who cannot return to their families. Services are free for prospective adoptive parents and include support for openness agreements with birth families and post-adoption services.
• Ready Set Go Program Supports youth aged 18-21 transitioning out of CAS care with life skills, education funding, counseling access, and independence preparation. Launched in 2023 to replace the Continue Care & Support for Youth (CCSY) program.
• Human Trafficking Support Services Provides specialized support for children and youth at risk of or affected by sex trafficking through the multidisciplinary CARE Team (Durham CAS, Durham Regional Police Service, Victim Services of Durham Region, and Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services).
• Youth Rights Services Ensures children and youth in care have access to their rights including good care, activities, privacy, and participation in planning decisions about their lives.
• Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) Provides support services for youth aged 16-17 who cannot be adequately protected at home and need out-of-home placement options.
• Holiday Hope Program Annual community gift program delivered by the Durham Children's Aid Foundation that provides holiday support including gifts, essentials, and festive experiences for families served by the CAS, centering dignity and choice. In 2025 supported over 800 children and 350+ families.
• Fore the Future Golf Tournament Annual charity golf tournament at Wyndance Golf Club supporting the Foundation's funding for camp, education, and enrichment opportunities for children and youth involved with the child welfare system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 children and 350+ families supported through Holiday Hope 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McDonald's (Oshawa and Clarington locations)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 May 2026Durham Children's Aid Foundation was named local charity partner for McHappy Day 2026 in Oshawa and Clarington. On May 6, McDonald's restaurants across Canada raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities and local children's charities. In Durham Region, funds raised for Durham Children’s Aid Foundation support practical support and opportunities for children, youth, and families including school supplies, technology, camp experiences, bursaries, and urgent essentials.
• Durham Children's Aid FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Durham Children's Aid Foundation is the official charitable fundraising partner of Durham Children's Aid Society. Founded with trustees providing governance since 2004, the Foundation raises funds to support programs and opportunities for children, youth, and families that build stability, belonging, and brighter futures beyond what government funding covers.
• Public Libraries (Durham Region)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDurham CAS partners with public libraries across Durham Region for Drag Queen Storytime events, including Whitby Public Library, Oshawa Public Libraries, Clarington Library Museums & Archives, Ajax Public Library, Pickering Public Library, Brock Public Library, Scugog Library, and Uxbridge Library. These events celebrate diversity, stories, creativity, and community inclusion.
• CARE Team (Children at Risk of Exploitation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CARE Team is a specialized, multidisciplinary intervention team comprising staff from Durham CAS, Durham Regional Police Service, Victim Services of Durham Region, and Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services. Formed to proactively identify, investigate, locate, and engage children and youth who are at high risk of or are victims of sex trafficking, with the goal of protecting the community.
• Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous child welfare agency that is a member of the CARE Team and a key community partner in providing culturally appropriate services to Indigenous children, youth, and families in Durham Region. Works with Durham CAS on child protection, kinship care, and family support services.
• Durham Regional Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA member of the CARE Team, Durham Regional Police Service collaborates with Durham CAS on investigating child protection concerns, child trafficking cases, and community safety. The Police Service is also represented on the CAS Board of Directors through Inspector Gillian Lock.
• Victim Services of Durham RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the CARE Team, providing victim support services for children and youth affected by trafficking and exploitation in collaboration with Durham CAS and Durham Regional Police Service.
• Enterphase Child & Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDurham CAS has a partnership with Enterphase Child & Family Services to provide enhanced support to foster caregivers. The program assists caregivers in managing difficult situations, stabilizing new placements, planning for independent living, and other situations as needed. Workers may visit homes to provide support during crises.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS): Provincial membership body representing all 50 Ontario Children's Aid Societies. Not a direct operating peer, but the convening body that shapes CYFSA implementation, sector policy, and collective advocacy affecting Durham CAS.
• Children's Mental Health Ontario: Provincial association representing children's mental health service providers in Ontario. Adjacent peer given Durham CAS frequently refers families and youth to mental health supports like Lakeridge Health.

Direct peers

• York Region Children's Aid Society: Adjacent Ontario Children's Aid Society providing identical child protection, foster care, and adoption services under CYFSA in York Region — a comparable suburban Ontario regional peer.
• Hamilton Children's Aid Society: Ontario CAS serving Hamilton and surrounding areas under CYFSA with the same child protection mandate, foster care, and adoption services. Comparable regional Ontario peer.
• Children's Aid Society of Ottawa: Ontario Children's Aid Society serving Ottawa under CYFSA, providing child protection and family services. Comparable regulatory peer at a similar regional scale.
• Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto: Faith-based Ontario CAS offering child protection, foster care, and adoption under CYFSA — a peer in mandate and regulatory framework, differentiated primarily by faith-based service lens.
• Peel Children's Aid Society: Regional Ontario Children's Aid Society serving the Peel Region under CYFSA. Directly comparable in mandate, scale, and service mix to Durham CAS.
• Halton Children's Aid Society: Ontario CAS providing the same child welfare mandate in Halton Region under CYFSA. Comparable scale and service offering to Durham CAS.
• Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services: Indigenous-mandated child welfare agency in Ontario that is a CARE Team partner of Durham CAS. Comparable in regulatory role (designated child welfare authority) and shared service focus on Indigenous children and youth.
• Toronto Children's Aid Society: Direct Ontario peer operating as another Children's Aid Society under CYFSA, providing child protection, foster care, kinship, and adoption services in Toronto. Closest comparable in mandate, service portfolio, and regulatory structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/durhamchildrensaidsociety
• Xx.com/Durham_CAS

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Durham Children's Aid Society