Under the Child and Family Services Act, the Children's Aid Society of Oxford County protects children from abuse including neglect helping parents and caregivers build healthy families and providing a safe, nurturing place for children and youth to grow up and realize their full potential.  The Society provides assessments, crisis intervention, counselling and services to prevent child abuse and neglect.  In addition, the Society helps vulnerable families protect and support their children. 

When there is concern for the immediately safety of a child in cases of abuse or neglect, the Society is legally required to remove the child from the home with or without parental consent.  If a child needs to stay in a place of safety (away from his/her parents) such a foster home, the Children's Aid Society must bring the matter before the Court within five days.  Children can also come into foster care temporarily on a voluntary basis for a specific period of time while problems are being resolved with the agreement of the parents (and the child if he or she is 12 or older).  Some families refer themselves to the Children's Aid Society because they would like support and service for their family. In other cases relatives, friends, teachers, public health nurses or doctors who suspect that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect refer families.  The Court may also refer families to the Children's Aid Society.    

Whenever possible, the Children's Aid Society of Oxford County and other agencies involved in child welfare work to keep children at home with their natural families but when children cannot remain at home or live with relatives safely, the Society offers a variety of substitute care programs including foster care and also facilitates the adoption of permanent wards of the province.