Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Children’s Aid Society of Algoma values diversity and inclusion, and respects the dignity, beliefs, and ideas of individuals. We are committed to creating an environment of equity and inclusion so that every individual can work and receive services with dignity and respect.
Organization Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Children’s Aid Society of Algoma acknowledges the oppressive history of child welfare and how we have contributed to the oppression of specific marginalized groups and members of the communities we serve. In recognition of the impacts of the systematic barriers that have contributed to oppression we are committed to developing ongoing practices that are reflective, responsive, and that foster a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for individuals we serve and work with. We will strive to become allies ensuring we walk beside families.
Adopting anti-oppression and anti-racist practices sets the agency on a course of organizational change that will require all involved to challenge both personal and organizational values and practices that may be experienced as oppressive. We are committed to dismantling and working against oppression and racism including at the interpersonal, structural, and institutional levels.
Our ongoing journey includes identifying and eliminating all forms of discrimination and systemic barriers so that we can become allies of the children, families, and staff. With each step we take our goal is to ensure that we provide a safe and inclusive environment for those families and colleagues we work with. We are committed to treating all with respect and dignity; promoting the opportunity for everyone to reach their full potential.
Children’s Aid Society of Algoma is committed to the following guiding principles that will influence our work while keeping us accountable to those we serve and for those who work with us.
Learn
We commit to ongoing awareness, education, and community engagement, fostering a culture that understands how systemic and structural oppression affects children, youth, families, and communities.
Listen
We will actively listen to and acknowledge the lived experiences of marginalized and racialized individuals and communities, legitimizing their voices, to strengthen working relationships and collaborative decision-making.
Reflect
We commit to creating a culture where oppression is consistently challenged and addressed. Reflecting on how one’s personal power and privilege, in combination with the inherent power associated with the child welfare mandate, impacts on our interactions with our clients and colleagues can be enlightening but also emotionally demanding and challenging. There is no easy way to accomplish this process, as it will require all stakeholders to engage in difficult conversations as well as a change of practice.
Act
We dedicate time and energy to developing and implementing anti-oppressive and anti-racism processes, practices, and policies to confront, disrupt and dismantle oppressive and racist ways of knowing, being, and acting.
Advocate
We endeavor to strengthen our capacity to challenge unequal power dynamics that lead to oppression and racism. We will acknowledge, examine, and challenge structural barriers to mitigate impacts on the working relationships, systems, and collaterals we work with in the community.
Empower
We strive to build relationships to be allies that provide options to empower families toward self-determination and build capacity to reach their full potential as individuals, family, and community members.
Support
We actively support and champion equity, diversity, and inclusion for people experiencing oppression and racism.
Review
We are committed to ensure anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice is lifelong work that requires ongoing commitment from individuals and institutions. Therefore, this living document will be reviewed and revised annually.
Resources
As the child welfare sector, we know there is an over representation of Black and Indigenous children in care and a disparity in service. It is our commitment that service delivery ensures that children, youth and families with diverse identities are aware of, and have access to, diverse community services and resources that will support their intersecting needs and identities.