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CAS Supports the Downtrodden (Maybe)
July 12, 2012 permalink
Shortly after the Dunnville rally the Sachem and Glanbrook Gazette tells a favorable story about children's aid using real names. CAS has spent a lifetime helping Laura Davies. Chris York, who knows the family's circumstances, gives a rebuttal. The article reports CAS helping Laura with her college finances. Look to past articles for the pathetic size of the CAS bursaries. [1] [2] [3].
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Dunnville graduate recipient of Clark Grant
Laura Davies has faced adversities that many of her peers cannot even imagine.
Davies is one of the recent graduates from Dunnville Secondary School. She stands out from her graduating class not just because she’s a straight A honours student, but because she was able to excel despite a tough background.
“I spent my entire life in the system from the age of five,” Davies explained her connection to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). “When I came in, I was illiterate so [CAS] helped me financially with school, with camp, with any extracurricular activities that I wanted to join.”
Despite the challenges that she’s faced in life, Davies has become a hardworking youth and it was the help of the CAS, her case worker and foster mom that allowed her to flourish into the person she is today.
“When I was five and came in, I was shy, didn’t really talk to anybody. I kept to myself. It was hard to get me to speak,” she said. “Over the years, I learned how to deal with people. I learned how to be friendly and make friends. I learned how to get honours in school and work hard for something. This foster mom that I’m with right now taught me not to give up on anything.”
Davies has recently been recognized by her peers and those who have been a part of her development over the years. She is the recipient of this year’s Clark Grant and received $1,000 to help pay for her studies.
“I was extremely happy. I was so overwhelmed. It just made me feel proud and I was so lucky to get that award,” she said. “My agency nominated me for the award. They chose me out of all of the kids in the agency.”
Davies plans to go to Sheridan College and get her diploma to become a social service worker.
“Being a child in care, it made me want to help people in the system as well,” she said. “I wanted to give back to the community that gave me the opportunity to be successful myself.”
Davies said her goal is to become a case worker at the Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk – the same place that gave her the skills to be a responsible young adult, and the chance to live a full life.
“I pay room and board to the foster parent who has had me now for 10 years. She’s like a mom to me,” she said. “I’m good in school. I like learning. I did horseback riding and dance for many years. I’m hard working at everything that I do. ”
It was because of Mary Sedgwick, her foster parent, and the CAS that Davies was able to have a very fulfilling childhood.
“Also, my [case] workers have always been there for me. I would just text them and ask them questions and they were always there for emotional support as well as financial.”
Though Davies knew about the award since April, she officially celebrated her grant with the other recipients around the province at the awards dinner on June 4. It was then that she was able to personally thank the Clarks themselves at the dinner.
“I’m thankful that the Clarks gave it to me. They’re really nice people,” she described the Caledonia couple. “They’re very generous and because of them a lot of kids can actually go off to college and university and actually live their dream.”
Ron and Nancy Clark established the Clark Bursary Fund in 1989 to help youths who are receiving services from the Ontario Children’s Aid Society so they can attend post-secondary school.
Two awards were given out to the students in the Haldimand-Norfolk area. One was the bursary, which provides up to $4,500 per year for four years to those attending university and $3,000 per year for two or three years to those attending college. The Clark Grant Awards are a one-time grant of $1,000 given to a youth that the CAS in the area nominates.
Currently, 77 youths in the province are actively pursuing post-secondary studies with the help of the Clark Awards.
According to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), youths in care have a high school graduation rate of 44 per cent compared to their peers who have an 81 per cent graduation rate. This award is meant to help youths reach their highest potential and help pay for higher education.
“The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) is extremely proud of all of the youth in care and former youth in care who are pursuing post-secondary education,” said Caroline Newton, director of communications at OACAS. “Through the generosity of Ron and Nancy Clark, we award more than 70 young people with bursaries and grants to help support them in their academic pursuits each year.”
Source: Sachem and Glanbrook Gazette (Metroland)
Here is an impassioned response by a man who knows the family.
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Chris York ok i have to ring in on this because i personally know for a fact that her story is the biggest load of lies and crap i have ever read. i likely know this alot better then anyone.Laura Davies you are a liar and you didnt have it that bad as a child. neither did your 3 other sisters or 2 other brothers.The CAS of Haldimand stole the 4 of you based on total lies and you know it.
Chris York its is a load of crap and all lies. this girl did not have a hard life like they claim i know this for a fact. her 2 older sisters both own there own business and house. her older brother is living at home as well.
Source: Facebook, FIXCAS
Addendum: Within a day the article on Laura Davies was withdrawn by the Sachem and Glanbrook Gazette.
