CAS Poverty!

May 31, 2011 permalink

Poor impoverished social workers are protesting fiscal cutbacks for children's aid.

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CAS workers riled at cuts

By The London Free Press, Last Updated: May 31, 2011 12:36pm

Local Children's Aid Society workers are set to protest outside their workplace, prompted in part by their concerns over controversial provincial funding cuts.

Members of OPSEU Local 116, which represents CAS workers with the CAS of London and Middlesex, will protest outside their Oxford St. headquarters Wednesday to draw attention to what they consider serious concerns.

"We care about the kids," said Michele Halle, president of Local 116.

The union's concerns are focused on two key elements:

• The "unsustainable" workload facing all CAS workers, the fallout of which "trickles down to the children and youth we support," Halle said.
• The looming closing of London's last two group homes, which house youth between ages 12 and 18 who may not be suitable for foster care or privately run group homes that can turn children with serious issues away.

Without those two group homes, which have room for a combined 16 people, where do those kids go? That's the question asked by the union, who fear they could end up in shelters that are totally unsuitable for people their age.

The group-home closings are part of a larger budget crunch at the city's CAS, which Halle says is prompted by inadequate provincial funding.

The protest is set for noon Wednesday at the CAS office, located at 1680 Oxford St.

Source: London Free Press

WILL SNATCH KIDS 4 FOOD