CARING AND SHARING MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

This Award is to recognize a foster parent or foster family who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in the field of fostering.

Every person is entitled to certain rights – simply by the fact that they are a human being. They are "rights" because they are things you are allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace.

Many people know something about their rights. They know they have a right to be paid for the work they do and they have a right to vote. But there exist many other rights.

When human rights are not well known by people, abuses such as discrimination, intolerance, injustice, oppression and slavery can arise.

Born out of the atrocities and enormous loss of life during World War II, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created by the United Nations to provide a common understanding of what everyone's rights are. It forms the basis for a world built on freedom, justice and peace.

The Roles, Responsibilities and Functions of a Board - A Board Development Guide

This guide was prepared by the Department of Family Services and Housing for the boards and staff of provincially funded social service agencies. The guide is not intended to be a detailed procedures manual, but to provide awareness of the basic responsibilities and functions expected of a governing board and its members.

Foster kids to get money for recreation, savings plans

June 27, 2008

Laurie Monsebraaten SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORTER

Ontario's new child benefit will help the province's 19,000 foster kids get the learning and recreational opportunities they need to become successful adults, Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews announced yesterday.

"Every child has different dreams, skills and goals," Matthews said in an interview about the fund, to be administered by children's aid societies and used for everything from new skates, to school trips and private tutoring.

"We want it to be as flexible as possible and based on each child's individual needs."

In addition, those from age 15 to 17 will get up to $3,300 deposited into bank accounts for use after they leave care, along with money management training to help them manage their savings.

The Ontario Child Benefit will provide up to $50 per month for all low-income children starting in July. Money from the benefit for foster children amounts to $11.5 million and includes the 2008-09 payment of $600 per child as well as the $250 down payment from last year which they never received.

The fund will grow to $16.2 million in 2011 when annual payments reach $1,100 per child. That's the amount youths aged 15 to 17 will receive annually in savings accounts when the benefit is fully rolled out.

YouthCAN, the advocacy arm of the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, applauded the new fund and savings plan.

"We know from talking to youth that financial support is really important and youth worry about living in poverty," said Amanda Rose, of YouthCAN, in a statement. "Helping set up bank accounts and getting help with budgeting are things youth need."

Toronto Star

The Ontario Child Benefit is financial support that low-income families can receive to help provide for their children. It’s also the centrepiece of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

About 465,000 families with 960,000 children receive a monthly Ontario Child Benefit payment each month. That’s up to $50 per child each month, increasing to up to $67 per child each month as of July 2009.
Watch a video about the Ontario Child Benefit