The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has appointed a supervisor for the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin, the province announced Friday. The decision was made “after recent ministry reviews identified concerns about the safety and well-being of children and youth in the society’s care, as well as significant operational and financial mismanagement,” a ministry news release said Aug. 28. The province has appointed Steven Woodman, the former executive director of the Durham Children’s Aid Society. The fate of Elaina Groves, the CEO of the local CAS, wasn’t immediately clear. In response to an inquiry from CTV News, the Sudbury and Manitoulin CAS said in an email that questions should be directed to the province. “Our focus remains on the safety, well-being and best interests of the children, youth, and families we serve,” the email said. The CAS Sudbury and Manitoulin has approximately 224 children in care and participants in Ready, Set, Go. The ministry said Woodman was appointed supervisor after “a number of serious concerns raised by the ministry about the conduct of the CAS, related to the safety and well-being of children in its care, board decisions made without proper authority and concerning financial practices,” the release said. “The society made child placement and service plan decisions without legal authority, parental consent, or clear funding arrangements directly contravening the Act,” the ministry said. Several ‘serious concerns’ were raised “Multiple instances that raised serious concerns about child safety, rights and standards of care, including repeated use of restraints, modifications that restricted children’s movement and made alterations that obstructed exits that created fire safety concerns.” Other issues include failing to provide proper supervision and oversight for children in care, including inadequate safeguards to protect their safety and well-being. Financial “mismanagement” was also an issue, “including a 43 per cent increase in the society’s deficit in 2024-25, requiring nearly $2 million in emergency funding.” “Nothing is more important than the safety, protection and well-being of Ontario’s children,” Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, said in the release. In place for up to a year “All children deserve every opportunity to grow up safe, supported and connected to the care they need to thrive. We are taking action today to strengthen the child welfare system and put the best interests of children first.” Woodman’s appointment will last up to a year, “helping ensure children and youth receive safe, uninterrupted services while strengthening the society’s operational and financial management.” “Mr. Woodman brings more than 30 years of experience in child welfare, human services and non-profit organizations,” the release said. “During his time as supervisor, Mr. Woodman will provide regular updates to the ministry on actions taken and progress achieved.” “This action is part of the government’s commitment to building a child welfare system focused on high-quality services that prioritize safety and protection, while being responsive to the cultural and social needs of children, youth, and families,” the release added. The child welfare budget is about $2 billion a year, covering 50 CAS’s across Ontario, including 13 Indigenous societies and three faith-based societies.
