Kinship & Alternate Care Awareness Week 2026
From September 14–18, CAST recognizes Kinship & Alternate Care Awareness Week, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the relatives, extended family and community members who step forward to support children, youth and families.
Kin and kith caregivers provide care and stability while helping children and youth maintain important relationships and connections to family, culture, identity and community. These connections can help strengthen a child or youth’s sense of identity and belonging.
Across Ontario, Children’s Aid Societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies are recognizing the week as part of a province-wide campaign led by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS). The campaign recognizes and celebrates kin connections and kinship and alternate caregivers while increasing understanding of the important role they play in the lives of children and youth.
Strengthening Kinship Connections at CAST
At CAST, we continue to strengthen our Kinship Services and identify opportunities for children and youth to maintain and reconnect with the people who are important in their lives.
So far in 2026, our Kinship Connection Team has received 66 referrals for Kin Searches has provided an additional 298 searches for children and youth requiring an out of home placement. Kinship Searches can help identify potential placements while also broadening a child or youth’s network of support and helping them maintain or reconnect with important people in their lives.
Since January 2026, our Kinship Assessment Team has received 171 referrals. Kinship Assessment Workers assess kin and kith caregivers to ensure they are equipped and able to provide safe, viable and nurturing placements for children and youth in care. They also provide initial support, guidance and connections to resources to help caregivers feel confident and supported in their role.
As of August 2026, 209 children are in kinship placements, with Kinship Support Services Workers providing ongoing support and advocacy to promote stability for children and their caregivers.
Recognizing Kin and Kith Caregivers
During Kinship & Alternate Care Awareness Week, we recognize and thank the kin and community members who step forward to support children, youth and families, as well as our staff who work alongside them to strengthen these important connections.
Kinship is about more than identifying a potential placement. It is about understanding who is important in a child or youth’s life and supporting relationships that contribute to belonging, identity and connection.
To learn more about Kinship Service at CAST and how it supports children, youth and families, visit our Kinship Service page here:https://www.torontocas.ca/kinship/
