Children’s Aid Societies across the province and the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) will
be paying tribute to children and youth in care on May 14 which is the day the Children and Youth in Care Day
Act was proclaimed in 2014.
be paying tribute to children and youth in care on May 14 which is the day the Children and Youth in Care Day
Act was proclaimed in 2014.
By proclaiming May 14 in each year Children and Youth in Care Day, the Province of Ontario recognizes the
enormous contributions that current and former Extended Society Care wards and Society wards make to the
province, as well as the strength, bravery and resilience shown by these children and youth in the face of
adversity. Children and Youth in Care Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about children and youth under
the care of the province and to recommit our support to them while helping them reach their full potential.
This May 14 th , the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) is launching a new campaign aimed at
bringing renewed attention to the accomplishments and challenges of children and youth being served by the
Ontario child welfare system. The #ForgetMeNot campaign is about sharing the stories of young people with
experience in the system and reminding community, government, and service providers that these young people
continue to need critical supports. Like the forget-me-not flower, children and youth in care are resilient and
adaptable, but despite that strength, they still need consistent care and attention to thrive. They cannot be
forgotten.
Children and youth involved with child welfare are at greater risk for mental health issues than children in the
general population. Marginalized youth in and from care are also more likely to be impacted by COVID-19. This
includes young refugees, youth living in rural areas, Indigenous, Black, racialized people and ethnic minority
youth, young persons with disabilities, and young people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Feelings of isolation and loneliness are among the main challenges and concerns for young people during the
pandemic. This is particularly true for children and youth in and from care.
Locally this year, we are mailing small packages to every child and youth in care over the age of five. Each mail
out contains a package of Forget-Me-Not flower seeds and a chocolate lollipop that represents the theme of this
year’s campaign. On May 14 th , each of the Highland Shores office locations will display a potted Forget-Me-Not
flower plant in the reception area, to bring awareness to Provincial Children and Youth in Care Day. As well, our
main office will display the messaging that acknowledges the Day on the electronic billboard.
In August, the Children’s Foundation, Highland Shores Children’s Aid and Mohawk Family Services will
celebrate the many amazing achievements of young people currently in the care of the Society at the Annual
Reach for Success Youth Awards.
Tami Callahan, Executive Director for Highland Shores Children’s Aid commented, “We look forward to the
Youth Awards each year. I am looking forward to having the event in person again this year after two years of
being unable to do so. It remains one of the events I look most forward to each year since it celebrates youth
and their incredible accomplishments.”
ABOVE IS PROVIDED BY HIGHLAND SHORES CAS
