Canadian Children Aid Societies

Children aid societies offer child protection services, parenting help, assistance with adoption and foster care, and more.

Children's Aid Society of Toronto

This is a society that works in support of local communities, families, and children and aims to provide a nurturing environment to adolescents and children. The goal is to protect youth and children from neglect and abuse. Toronto's aid society works to create an environment that is safe for children and promotes honesty, openness, respect, equality, and trust.

Children's Aid Society of Ottawa

Ottawa's aid society offers support and child protection services as well as assistance to Inuit, Metis, and First Nations people. Services are offered to local communities and families to improve family situation and strengthen relationships. The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa runs a range of programs such as the Family Support Program, Head Start Nursery Program, Infant and Toddler Stimulation Program, and others. There is an adolescent crisis intervention team to assist parents and adolescents who face serious difficulties. Families are offered intensive support and in some cases children may be removed from home for a certain period. The Infant and Toddler Stimulation Program offers group discussions, interactive learning techniques, and playgroups.

The Children's Aid Society of Hamilton

This is a non-for-profit agency that strives to create a nurturing environment where children are kept safe, nurtured, and valued. The Hamilton's aid society offers support services to strengthen family relationships, protect children, and promote equality. The goal is to help children and adolescents to develop their full potential and to create a healthy and safe environment for children. The agency has partnerships and collaborates with local communities, other agencies, families, and children. Families benefit from a number of support services to address issues such as domestic violence, unemployment, mental health issues, and addiction. The focus is on children's developmental, behavioral, and emotional needs. To this, the agency offers a wide range of services such as speech therapy, psychological assessments, counseling, and others. Dental and medical services are also offered.

Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

OACAS works to ensure a secure environment and promote the wellbeing and welfare of communities, families, adolescents, and children. Ontario's association offers Inuit, Metis, and First Nation services, child welfare services, and support and leadership. Programs, projects, and initiatives are also offered in non-service delivery areas such as labor relations, performance and quality improvement, knowledge, information, and data, and board governance. The association also acts as a clearing house for information on legislation and regulations, child welfare education, service tools, best practices, and emerging trends. The focus is on education, training, and service delivery.

Resources:

http://www.oacas.org/

2. Teaching Kids Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is essential nowadays, and there are plenty of benefits to teaching children about budgeting, finance, money matters, credit and borrowing solutions, and dealing with debt. Financial literacy helps children grow as responsible adults who are better prepared to solve financial problems, avoid debt and tarnished credit, and make wise financial decisions.

Why Teach Children about Money Matters

Teaching children about money matters makes it easier for them to discover the relationship between saving, spending, and earning. Older kids can learn about basic concepts and good practices such as creating a personal budget, balancing a checkbook, or opening a savings account. Children learn about the value of money and how poor financial decisions can affect every aspect of life. To draw their attention, you can discuss provocative topics and subjects. Make sure the topics are appropriate for their age.

Financial literacy is important in so many ways, especially for teens. Whether it is income sources, student financial aid, scholarships and student loans, or anything else, financial literacy boils down to finance management. Teens must learn that they have responsibilities as consumers, borrowers, and members of society. Literacy can include things like the advantages and disadvantages of using a credit card and buying on credit, budgeting tips, financial goal setting, and so on. Financial literacy is not only about spending wisely but also about saving and investing. If you have teens, it is time to talk about different investment products, including low- and high-risk ones. Talk about risk-reward relationships and portfolio diversification. Explain that it is a bad idea to put all eggs in one basket, be it a savings account, high-interest account, or anything else. While it is difficult for children to grasp more complex concepts, what you must tell them is that the higher the risk, the higher the potential earnings and risk of loss. College students must learn that there are different wealth building strategies but the most important thing is to start investing early, plan ahead, buy, and hold. If your child is in college already, it is time to talk about credit and how to build a healthy credit score. Whether it is using a low-interest credit card or LOC, this is a good way to learn how to manage credit.

How to Go About It

Remember that children do what parents do, regardless of what you say. Raising financially savvy children is also about showing them how to handle money matters when they arise. This is the best way to model healthy behaviors when it comes to money. Talk often to make sure your kids got the point. You can also use interactive sources and utilities that help children learn more about personal finance. There are tools with interactive features that help students estimate repayment costs and funding options to cover school-related expenses.

The Essence

The most important lesson children must learn is that when you spend, money is gone. Living within your means is about budgeting and planning to achieve long- and short-term goals. Experts suggest that parents use cash when out with young kids rather than debit and credit cards. The reason is that money is visual and it is easier to learn that money has value. Credit cards, on the other hand, send mixed messages, and children get confused. It is more difficult for them to understand the concept of spending when a magic plastic can buy you pretty much anything you want.

Resources:

https://www.creditcardsforbadcredit.ca/secured-credit-cards-canada/
https://www.creditcardsforbadcredit.ca/credit-cards-for-bad-credit-canada/