Child Development Fund

The children and youth served by the Children’s Aid Society each year are the most disadvantaged in our community. Most have been abused physically, sexually and/or emotionally. A family background of alcohol and/or drug abuse scars their young lives. This fund was established to respond to the special needs of these children and youth, and to enhance their overall adjustment. The fund has a great deal of flexibility and can cover a variety of expenditures such as sports, recreational and cultural events, costs related to school graduations, and travel costs for special events with extended family members.

 

Summer Camp Fund

Every child in the care of the Children’s Aid Society is offered a one-week residential or two-week day camp experience every year. The children are integrated into a number of existing camps and, for one or two weeks each year, they are no longer a “foster child”, but just one of any number of children who are caught up in the joy and excitement of this summer experience. We have recently been able to access spots at a camp which deals specifically with “hard-to-handle” children, so even those with seemingly insurmountable behavior problems, who might not normally be accepted by a traditional camp, have the chance to create these lifelong happy memories for themselves. Over the last decade the Foundation has sent over 2,000 children of abuse to summer camp. The cost of camp is rising, as is the number of children attending.

The costs to send one child to camp for one week is $425.00.
The cost to send a physically challenged child to a special needs camp is $750.00 - $1000.00 per week, depending on the needs of the child.

 

Margaret Davies Bursary Fund

When this Foundation was first formed, it was almost unheard of that a child would attend college or university, and frequently they didn’t even finish high school. Under various Ministry guidelines, education grants were not available to children who received funding from a Children’s Aid Society. This meant that, in order to attend post-secondary education, a youth had to voluntarily leave CAS care, but they were then totally responsible for their own day-to-day living expenses, along with school expenses not covered by their grant. Now, the Foundation is able to provide bursaries for post-secondary education, older teens can still have the support of the CAS, and far more of these youth are finishing high school and going on to higher education. We presently have eight Crown Wards attending post-secondary institutions, and the Foundation provides $1,500.00 a semester for each youth through the Margaret Davies Bursary Fund.

Education is the key to developing self-esteem and breaking away from the cycle of abuse that often afflicts generations of families. Despite incredible odds, there are many present or former Crown Wards who continue to follow their dreams and achieve their goals through post-secondary education.

 

Educational Assistance Fund

The Children’s Aid Society often is involved with children who require educational assistance due to developmental handicaps that set them at a disadvantage in the regular school system. The Foundation has been able to assist with aiding these children in such ways as the purchase of specialized computer hardware and software, and in special circumstances, funding for tuition in a private school setting. In addition, funds have been provided for special educational programs for students involved in such areas as performing arts.

 

Music

Every child in care of the Society has had the opportunity to pursue their interest in music. Music is certainly recognized for its therapeutic value, and involvement in this pursuit can only increase self-esteem and give the child a lifelong gift.

 

Santa’s Sleigh

Santa’s Sleigh, supported primarily by the Peterborough and Kawartha Real Estate Board and enhanced by private donations solicited during the holiday season, allows the Foundation to provide gifts for the children for Christmas. In 2006 the community donated over 1900 gifts and gave over $9,500.00 to the children through the Santa’s Sleigh program.

 

Dental Fund

Each year the Foundation allocates funds to pay for orthodontic services. The children in the care of the Society often suffer from low self-esteem; this is further heightened if there is an obvious dental problem. This fund was established in order to improve dental health and thus, self-esteem.

 

Youth in Care

The Children’s Aid Society has established a Life skills program for youth between the ages of 13 - 18, in order to prepare them for independence. Activities of this group include learning basic skills such as money management, cooking, grocery shopping and perhaps most importantly peer support and peer interaction. At one time this youth group was responsible for raising all of their own funds to support the program. This task has recently been taken over by the Foundation, which is now committed to providing for the ongoing activities of the youth-in-care group.

 

Abuse Prevention Fund

Supported by the Crabtree Foundation, this fund provides financial support for an ongoing program entitled “Nobody’s Perfect”. The program is geared towards young, single parents and focuses on child management skills; along with coping with the stresses of child-rearing and financial hardships of single parenting. Funding provides for all materials and will offer baby-sitting and transportation assistance in order for these young parents to attend the program. The peer support and skills training can be invaluable resources to them for many years.