About Us
Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region (FACS) is legally known as The Children’s Aid Society of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. It is our role to respond and work together with families, their supports and our communities to protect and care for children who have been abused or neglected, or who are at risk of being abused or neglected.
Ontario`s 47 Children's Aid Societies (CAS) are independent and board-operated agencies that carry out their work within their local communities, and are responsible for providing child protection services in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act. The government funds 100% of Children's Aid Societies' approved budgets with respect to child welfare service.
The Family & Children’s Services Foundation relies on the generosity of individuals, families, businesses and other foundations to help provide local children and families in need of support to heal, learn and grow that is not provided by government funding.
FACS DECLARATIONS
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region is situated on the Haldimand Tract, home to the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples; the land promised to Six Nations, which includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. We are committed to truly understanding Indigenous peoples, as peoples or nations, not as racial or ethnic groups. We listen to Indigenous peoples’ distinction and rights to land and self-determination, which includes self-government.
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region has pledged to take a significant step forward in its own Reconciliation Journey and has committed to making changes that will prevent future harm to First Nation, Inuit and Metis children and families. Family and Children’s Services is committed to making all efforts to ensure First Nation, Inuit and Metis children remain with their parents and community.
Link to Leadership Acknowledgement
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region is committed to Equitable practice in child welfare and to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. It is our collective goal to ensure the achievement of equitable service across our Region. To ensure all those, especially those who are vulnerable and reside in under resourced communities receive supports and services that are fair, equitable, culturally relevant, culturally safe, and practiced through cultural humility to preserve their basic human rights and dignity.
This commitment compels us to ‘walk the talk’ of our guiding principles of Truth and Reconciliation, equity, inclusion, Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Indigenous Racism, Racism, diversity, human rights and dignity, anti-oppressive practice and fairness for all children, youth, and families we work with.