The Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society (WECAS) has taken action to address a funding deficit.
The agency announced on Friday that it was laying off 26 employees in what it called a "workforce realignment". The number of employees was reported by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2286, which represents WECAS employees.
The WECAS' Leamington office will also close by the end of March.
Executive Director Derrick Drouillard said the adjustments were needed to ensure that vulnerable clients and families may continue receiving services.
"We are committed to providing the best care possible for children and families, particularly those with the most complex needs," said Drouillard. "However, the growing demand for these services has significantly outpaced our financial capacity, leading to this difficult but necessary realignment of our workforce."
Board chair Kulveer Virk acknowledged that the changes would be difficult, but WECAS will continue to be there for clients.
"Our priority is to minimize the impact on the children, youth, and families we serve," said Virk. "We are fully committed to supporting our dedicated staff through this transition and ensuring they are equipped with the necessary tools and training to continue delivering excellent care and services."
WECAS did not provide specifics about a funding shortfall but did say that the deficit is "attributed to the intensive resources required to effectively support children and youth with mental health challenges, developmental delays, behavioural issues, and other specialized needs".
CUPE Local 2286 President Craig Hesman called the cuts a "betrayal of the community", and blamed the Ontario government.
"This provincial government’s continued underfunding and ignorance of the complex needs of youth coming into CAS care has created this horrifying crisis," said Hesman. "With the loss of these dedicated workers, an already bad situation is going to get dangerously worse."
The union said the cuts affected those working with the family wellbeing classification, family service workers, the adoption department, communications, the “family finder” position, administrative support staff, and others.
