Hamilton, ON – On Friday, local MPP Neil Lumsden met with the team at Hamilton Child and Family Supports (formerly The Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton) to recognize the work that’s happening as a result of receiving a two-year, $160,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). This grant, awarded in the spring of 2023, is being used to provide critical community-based support and services to newcomer and racialized families by addressing systemic barriers to their achievement, equity, and well-being.
“Our government is proud to support Hamilton Child and Family Supports with this significant investment through the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. “This funding will help HCFS continue to carry out the incredible work they do for our community, while strengthening their partnership with Empowerment Squared and enable them to deliver more programs, services and supports for Hamilton families.”
Funds from the OTF grant are being used to help with a key staffing role to deliver the Student and Family Advocate Support program, which is providing support to Black and racialized children, youth and families. Highlights of the program include system navigation and information literacy (immigration, housing, Ontario works, criminal/legal matters, education, technology), culturally relevant community workshops, a referral system for community resources, services to improve child welfare and more. In addition to staffing, the grant is also helping with some administrative costs as well.
“Culturally specific and ethnocultural programming is essential to providing service to racialized and newcomer families,” said Bryan Shone, Executive Director of Hamilton Child and Family Supports. “This grant means we can create programming to increase specific resources that Black, racialized and newcomer families require and help decrease disparities in services provided.”
“Our intentional partnership with Hamilton Child and Family Supports has been a crucial step in supporting newcomer and marginalized families in Hamilton. Celebrating five years of collaboration, we are proud of the joint initiatives developed by our Systems Navigation team and the specialized Newcomer and Racialized Team,” said Leo Nupolu Johnson, CEO of Empowerment Squared. “Thanks to the $160,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we have expanded our reach, making essential services more accessible to Black and newcomer families navigating the child welfare system.”
Through early help, culturally sensitive services, keeping families together and engaging with the community, Hamilton Child and Family Supports promotes the safety, permanency and well-being for children, youth and families in Hamilton. Funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and mandated under Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA), HCFS envisions a community where every child is a gift to be valued, nurtured, and kept safe. For more information, visit www.hamiltoncfs.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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For Media Inquiries:
Jayme Noordermeer, Supervisor, Communications and Development, Hamilton Child and Family Supports
jnoordermeer@hamiltoncfs.ca
