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Child protection in Ontario is legislated by the Ontario government and funded by the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services. Child protection services are provided by local Children's Aid Societies that have exclusive responsibility for the provision of the services under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act 2017.

There are 50 Children's Aid Societies across Ontario, including 12 Indigenous Societies. Each Society is an independent, non-profit organization with a local Board of Directors.

The main duties of a Children's Aid Society are to:

• Investigate allegations or evidence that children under the age of 18 years may be in need of protection.
• Protect, where necessary, children who are under the age of 18 years.
• Provide guidance, counseling and other services to families for protection of children or for the prevention of circumstances requiring the protection of children.
• Provide care for children assigned to its care under the Act.
• Place children for adoption.

The government's role in child protection is to fund, legislate and monitor the child welfare system. The Ministry of Children & Youth Services sets policy and provides program design for child welfare and licenses for children's residential services (foster care and group homes).

The Children's Aid Society of Oxford County offers help to families by working cooperatively with public health departments, hospitals, doctors, schools, police and other social service agencies in an effort to offer a complete range of services to assist families with their problems.