Individual Advocacy

CCWS offers individual advocacy for children, youth, and families involved in child welfare. We do not provide legal advice or representation, only legal information and referrals.

The Individual Advocacy (IA) program at CCWS supports Black, Indigenous, and racialized children, youth, adult child welfare survivors, and families impacted by the child protection system in Ontario.

Grounded in abolitionist, trauma-informed, and survivor-led practices, our goal is to walk alongside individuals navigating systems like CAS, schools, and legal institutions, offering support that centers dignity, capacity-building, and collective care.

Individual Advocacy At CCWS

Who We Support

We work in partnership with the person seeking support to understand their needs, clarify goals, and provide system navigation grounded in relational, anti-oppressive practice.
However, our primary focus is always the wellbeing and rights of the child or youth. When supporting adults—such as caregivers or family members—it is specifically in relation to the needs and best interests of the young person involved.

We do not provide generalized support for adults or parents outside of a current child welfare matter.

CCWS provides individual advocacy when contacted directly by:

  1. Children and youth

  2. Adult child welfare survivors

  3. Parents, kinship/foster caregivers

  4. Community members or service providers

  1. Navigate complex systems (e.g. CAS, education, legal)

  2. Prepare for and/or attend meetings

  3. Draft letters and communications

  4. Understand rights and available options

  5. Build capacity for self-advocacy and decision-making

Our advocates support people to:

What Individual Advocacy Looks Like

While emotional support is part of the relationship, advocates are not therapists, and we do not offer clinical counseling. However, we do our best to connect individuals with culturally relevant therapeutic or legal supports when requested or needed.

We may involve student interns and trained volunteers especially those with lived experience as child welfare survivors as part of our peer-centered approach.

Every advocacy relationship is based on consent, collaboration, and clear boundaries.

Eligibility and Consent

  1. CAS investigations

  2. Service provision

  3. Complaints

  4. Reunification processes

  5. Racial displacement or institutional harm

To receive individual advocacy support from CCWS, parents and caregivers must have an active child welfare matter, such as:

For children, youth, or adults over the age of 18, direct consent is required from the individual seeking support. Accessibility accommodations can be made where necessary.

Intake Process and Support Limitations

All individuals engaging with our program will complete an Intake Agreement that outlines the scope and goals of our support. While these goals may shift as the case evolves, CCWS may limit our involvement depending on complexity, urgency, and organizational capacity.

We aim to offer specialized and intentional support—but we are a small team. When appropriate, we may refer to trusted community-based partners to ensure continuity of care.