About Us

Hamilton Child and Family Supports (HCFS) focuses on supporting children and families through early help, keeping families together and engaging with the community. Formerly The Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton, the organization rebranded in 2024 following extensive community feedback and direct input from Hamilton families.

Established in 1894, HCFS is a not-for-profit organization focused on ensuring the well-being and protection of children. We are funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and mandated under Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) to protect children under 18 years of age from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse/harm.

We are committed to ensuring that a child, youth and family’s culture, race, Indigeneity, religion, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender identity and ability are integrated in our services and practices. Trained child welfare staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to respond to concerns about the safety and well-being of children and youth in our community.

We receive many calls each year from concerned citizens, teachers, police, other agencies, and health care professionals about children and families who may need help. Families may be facing challenges such as poverty, unemployment, ill health, domestic violence, or mental health issues. Some families just need parenting support. When a family needs support, we link them to a variety of community services. Together, with community service colleagues, we work with children and families for a stronger, healthier community.

Under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, Children’s Aid Societies are mandated to:

• Investigate allegations or evidence that children under the age of 18 may be in need of protection
• Protect children where necessary
• Provide guidance, counselling, and other services to families for protecting children or preventing circumstances requiring the protection of children
• Provide care and supervision for children assigned or committed to its care
• Facilitate the adoption process for children when needed

We believe that children belong with their families and 99% of our work is done with families and children in their own homes.

For children and teens who are unable to safely remain in their own home, or have no parent or guardian available, we ensure they are placed in a safe and caring environment with members of their extended family (kin), family friends, or a foster caregiver. Many of the children who come to foster families have experienced some form of abuse or neglect and need a loving, stable environment to help them recover from their experience. We provide ongoing support to children in care and their kinship or foster caregivers.