Children's Aid Society of Toronto adds two former Crown Wards to Board of
Directors

Perspective and diversity welcome additions to Board

TORONTO, June 22 /CNW/ - The Children's Aid Society of Toronto added two former Crown Wards to their Board of Directors. Raquel Clarke and Rawle Younge were confirmed as Board members at the Society's Annual General Meeting on June 17th.

Raquel Clarke recently completed a four year degree in Criminology at York University and is studying to write the Law School Admission Test. She currently works as a law clerk.

Rawle Younge remains actively involved with the Society's Pape Adolescent Resource Centre and is a student at Centennial College in the Community and Justice Services Program.

Joining Clarke and Younge on the Board of Directors are Sheila Jarvis, President and CEO of Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada's largest children's rehabilitation facility and Karen Engel, Executive Director of Yorktown Family Services.

"These four individuals will further enrich Board discussions, and the quality of our governance," said Dr. Janet Morrison, Board Chair, Children's Aid Society of Toronto. "Specifically, the additions of Ms. Clarke and Mr. Younge, with their lived experiences and reflection will facilitate better and more informed decision making," she added.

Over that past two years one of the criteria sought in the recruitment of 7 of the 11 new Board members has been their ethnic, cultural or sexual orientation.

"From front line staff to the Board room, we recognize that there is strength in diversity," said David Rivard, Chief Executive Officer of CAS Toronto. "It's important to us that our clients and staff are able to see themselves reflected throughout our Agency," he added.

The Children's Aid Society of Toronto works with children and their families when children have been or are at risk of being emotionally, physically, or sexually abused or neglected. The Society also develops and implements child abuse prevention programs. CAS Toronto is one of 53 children's aid societies in Ontario, and is the largest Board run child welfare agency in North America. There are approximately 800 staff, 600 volunteers and over 250 foster families at the Society. In 2009/2010, they worked with more than 11,000 families and more than 25,000 children. Additionally, just over 2,300 children were in care of CAS Toronto on a short or long term basis during the course of the year.

For further information: Rob Thompson, Director, Communications, Children's Aid Society of Toronto, 416-924-4646 ext. 2086, [email protected]