Every November, we recognize Woman Abuse Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness about the impact of gender-based violence and strengthen our collective commitment to ending it.
At the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST), we see the effects of domestic violence on children, youth and their families, every day. Nearly half of all referrals to CAST involve situations of violence in the home, and we know that witnessing violence can have lasting developmental, emotional, and psychological impacts on children, shaping how they see relationships and themselves.
Our Collaborative Approach
Addressing domestic violence requires collective action. At CAST, our greatest impact comes through collaboration with community partners, healthcare professionals, social service agencies, and the Violence Against Women (VAW) sector. Together, we work to provide early intervention, safety planning, and trauma-informed support for children, youth and families.
As shared by Lisa Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer at CAST, “The only way to provide holistic support is through coordinated, cross-sector collaboration that ensures no piece of the puzzle is missing. It is time to ensure that prevention, intervention and protection strategies for domestic violence are woven into the way we build strong, supportive families and communities.”
Our collaborative approach includes dedicated teams and programs that engage both women and men in healing, education and change. We have provided an overview of several of our services below.
Domestic Violence Teams
Our two in-house Domestic Violence teams work alongside partners and community organizations to provide early intervention and meaningful support to families affected by abuse. These teams draw on expertise from multiple disciplines to strengthen safety planning, promote healing, and address both prevention and recovery needs.
Mothers in Mind
Through our collaboration with the Child Development Institute, CAST offers mothers the opportunity to participate in Mothers in Mind, a mother and child program designed for those who have experienced family violence, childhood abuse, neglect or sexual assault, and who have children under the age of four.
The 10-week program helps mothers manage stress, build self-esteem and respond to their children in nurturing and effective ways. By focusing on connection and recovery, MIM helps mothers rebuild confidence in their parenting and strengthen the bond between parent and child.
Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Program
Officially launched in October, the Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Program furthers our partnership with the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and Catholic Family Services of Toronto. The program intentionally includes men, particularly fathers and father figures, in the process of accountability and change. It encourages reflection on the impact of violent behaviour, promotes responsibility for creating safety, and challenges harmful gender norms that contribute to violence.
As shared by Nancy Ansong-Danquah, Chief Operating Officer at CAST, “We cannot achieve safety and healing for families without engaging the men who are often at the centre of the harm. When men are invited to take responsibility, reflect, and do the work, we see real, lasting change.”
Looking Ahead
Preventing and addressing violence in families requires sustained collaboration, early intervention, and accountability. CAST will continue to work alongside partners and across community and government sectors, with goals to strengthen prevention and protection strategies and ensure every family has access to the supports they need to build safe, stable, and nurturing homes.
