Children's Aid Society vs. Private Foster Agency in Ontario: What's the Difference?

If you’re researching how to become a foster parent in Ontario, you’ve likely run into two organizations: Children’s Aid Society and a private foster agency.

They can sound like competing systems, but they’re not. In Ontario, a Children’s Aid Society and a private foster agency are two parts of the same child welfare system, with different jobs. Here’s how they fit together, and how to decide which route suits you.

Key takeaways

A Children’s Aid Society (CAS) holds legal responsibility for children in care. A private foster agency recruits, trains, and supports foster parents, and works alongside CAS.
You can foster directly through a CAS or through a licensed private agency. Both are legitimate paths for prospective foster parents in Ontario.
The real question isn’t “which system is better.” It’s who will recruit, train, and support you as a foster parent, and how.
The per diem, also called a maintenance allowance, covers the cost of caring for a child. It isn’t income or payment for your time.
No route guarantees a placement, a timeline, or a particular outcome. Placements depend on which children CAS refers and on careful matching.

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

How a Children’s Aid Society and a private foster agency actually relate
What a Children’s Aid Society does
What a private foster agency does
What changes for you day to day depending on the route
Whether the per diem differs between the two
How to decide which is the right fit for you
A note on fostering versus adoption

How do a Children’s Aid Society and a private foster agency actually relate?

A private foster agency doesn’t replace a Children’s Aid Society. Under Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, a CAS holds statutory responsibility for children who can’t safely live at home (ontario.ca/laws/statute/17c14). It investigates protection concerns, holds the child’s case, and refers children to agencies when a placement is needed. A private agency’s role is to prepare and support foster parents, then work with CAS to place referred children.

Whichever route you choose, CAS stays involved. It remains responsible for the child’s case, court matters, and decisions about reunification, the process of returning a child to their biological family when it’s safe to do so. Fostering through a private agency doesn’t take CAS out of the picture. It changes who trains and supports you, not who holds legal responsibility for the child.

So the useful question isn’t “which system is better.” It’s this: who will recruit you, train you, and stand beside you once a child is placed in your home, and how is that support structured?

What does a Children’s Aid Society do?

A Children’s Aid Society is the legally mandated child welfare authority for a specific region in Ontario. It’s responsible for child protection: investigating concerns about a child’s safety, holding legal responsibility for children in care, and managing their cases through the courts toward a permanency plan.

You can be recruited and licensed as a foster parent directly by a CAS in its catchment area. In that arrangement, the same organization that holds the child’s case also trains and supervises you. Many people become a foster parent in Ontario this way, and it’s a legitimate path.

Support structures, caseload sizes, and the availability of specialized help vary between societies and regions. Some CAS branches have more capacity than others. That’s not a criticism, it’s a practical reality worth asking about directly. Ask any CAS how often a worker would check in, what after-hours support looks like, and what help is available if a placement becomes difficult.

Learn about becoming a foster parent

What does a private foster agency do?

A licensed private foster agency recruits, trains, licenses, and supports foster parents, then works with CAS to place children who’ve been referred to the agency. It’s a foster care agency operating under Ontario child welfare legislation, not a competitor to the CAS system.

In practice, the agency handles the parts of fostering that surround the placement:

Home study and licensing. A home study is a structured assessment of your household, your strengths, your limits, and your capacity to foster. It isn’t a pass-or-fail exam. It exists to find the right fit between a child and a family.
Training. This includes PRIDE training, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and CPR and first aid. Trauma-informed care means caregiving that accounts for how a child’s past experiences shape their behaviour and needs.
Ongoing case management. You’re assigned a case manager who checks in regularly and visits your home at least once a month to help you navigate schools, medical care, and documentation.
24/7 on-call support. When a placement is in crisis at 11 p.m., someone is reachable.

Some agencies also use a team-based, staff-supported model for children and youth with complex or higher-support needs. At Safe Harbours, that means access to in-home Child and Youth Workers and a psychotherapist on retainer, alongside thoughtful child-family matching so a child is placed where they’re most likely to do well.

Be candid with yourself about one thing: agencies work with children CAS refers. That means placements aren’t guaranteed. They depend on need and on careful matching between a child’s situation and your home.

What changes for you day to day depending on which route you choose?

The biggest practical differences are about people and support, not paperwork. Whichever route you take, you’ll be caring for a child in your home. What differs is who you turn to, how often, and how quickly.

Four things tend to change depending on the route and the specific organization:

Your main point of contact and how often you see them. Ask who your case manager is, how regularly they check in, and how often they visit your home.
After-hours support during a crisis. Find out what happens when a placement is struggling outside business hours. Is there a real 24/7 on-call line, and who answers it?
Training expectations and who delivers it. PRIDE training, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and CPR and first aid are standard. Ask who provides the training and whether ongoing learning is available after you’re approved.
The kinds of children you’re likely to be matched with. Some agencies specialize in youth with trauma or complex needs. If that’s where your interest lies, a team-based model may suit you.

Inquire about becoming a foster parent

Does the per diem differ between a Children’s Aid Society and a private agency?

The per diem, or maintenance allowance, is money meant to cover the costs of caring for a child, not payment for your time. It helps with food, clothing, activities, and the day-to-day expenses of raising a child in your home. It isn’t income, and it isn’t a wage for the work of parenting.

Amounts vary and should be confirmed directly with the CAS or agency you’re speaking with. Rather than relying on a general figure you found online, ask for current numbers for your situation. Placements involving children with higher or complex needs may carry different allowance levels, because those placements often require more support and resources. Funding ultimately flows from the child welfare system regardless of which route you foster through.

One honest note to keep front of mind: fostering isn’t a way to make money. The allowance exists so that caring for a child doesn’t become a financial burden, not so that you come out ahead. If income is the motivation, fostering is the wrong fit.

How do you decide which is the right fit for you?

Start by asking the same practical questions of any CAS or agency, then compare the answers honestly against what your household needs. The right choice depends on the level and style of support you want, not on a ranking of one system over the other. Our guide to choosing a foster agency in Ontario walks through this in more depth if you want to go further.

Useful questions to ask before you commit:

How often will a caseworker check in, and how do I reach them?
What does after-hours and crisis support actually look like?
How thorough is the training, and does it continue after approval?
How does the matching process work?
What support is available if I foster a child with complex needs?
Are respite options available when I need a break?

A team-based, staff-supported private agency model may suit you if you’re drawn to fostering youth with trauma or complex needs, or if you simply want frequent, hands-on support with specialists you can call on. That structure exists precisely so you’re not carrying a difficult placement alone.

Either route is a valid place to start. You’re allowed to ask questions, take your time, and decide once you understand what you’re stepping into. The one thing that stays true across both routes: you won’t be doing this alone.

A note on fostering versus adoption

Fostering and adoption are different paths. Foster care is a temporary arrangement, and the primary goal of the child welfare system is often reunification, returning a child to their biological family when it’s safe to do so. Adoption is a permanent legal relationship. Fostering can sometimes lead to adoption, but it isn’t automatic and shouldn’t be assumed. That comparison deserves its own dedicated guide rather than a paragraph here.

Ready to take the first step?

If you’ve decided you want to foster and you’re trying to understand the routes, the most useful next move is a conversation, not a commitment. You can inquire about becoming a foster parent and ask the questions above, or start quieter and download the complete guide to becoming a foster parent in Ontario. Either one is a first step, not a decision. When you’re ready to talk it through, you can also contact Safe Harbours directly.

Frequently asked questions

Is a private foster agency the same as a Children’s Aid Society?

No. A Children’s Aid Society is the legally mandated child welfare authority responsible for protecting children and managing their cases. A private foster agency is licensed to recruit, train, and support foster parents, and works alongside CAS to place children who’ve been referred to the agency. CAS stays involved in the child’s case regardless of which route you foster through.

Can I foster directly through a Children’s Aid Society instead of an agency?

Yes. You can be recruited and licensed as a foster parent directly by a Children’s Aid Society in your region, or you can foster through a licensed private agency. Both are legitimate paths for becoming a foster parent in Ontario. The main differences are who trains and supports you and how that day-to-day support is structured.

Does the per diem differ between a CAS and a private agency?

The per diem, or maintenance allowance, is meant to cover the costs of caring for a child, not to pay you for your time. Amounts can vary depending on the placement and the child’s needs, and funding flows from the child welfare system. Confirm current figures directly with the CAS or agency you’re speaking with rather than relying on a general number.

Will I get more support fostering through a private agency?

Support varies by organization rather than strictly by type. Some private agencies use a team-based model with case management, monthly home visits, 24/7 on-call support, and access to specialists like in-home Child and Youth Workers and a psychotherapist on retainer for children with complex needs. Ask any CAS or agency-specific questions about caseworker availability and after-hours support before deciding.

Are placements guaranteed if I go through an agency?

No. Placements depend on which children CAS refers and on careful matching between a child’s needs and your home. No organization can guarantee a placement, a timeline, or a particular outcome.

Children’s Aid Society vs. Private Foster Agency in Ontario: What’s the Difference?