In each province (Canada) there is an organization to care for the children of that province (Canada) and protect them from harm. Children’s Aid can check that children are getting enough to eat, are living in a place that is warm and clean and fixed up enough for them to be healthy in, and that they are getting to school if they are school-aged. They are also the people who are called in when there is suspicion – or proof – of a child being physically or sexually abused. In some cases, children are taken away from their families and placed with foster parents or group homes, for their safety.

But even though child safety is something everyone wants, CAS most often gets involved in the lives of poor people, single mothers, and people of colour. To “call CAS” or “take your kids away” is sometimes used as a threat to make people with less power cooperate with authorities. If a poor woman struggling with addiction neglects her children, the chances that her children will be removed is way higher than for a rich woman doing exactly the same things. It is even higher if she is a sex worker of any kind.

The processes involved in CAS cases are very complicated, with a lot of paperwork and meetings. These things are hard to navigate – it’s hard to advocate (act as a lawyer) for yourself, and to figure out what your rights are.

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