Ontario. Child Welfare Branch

• Child Welfare Branch

• Ontario. Youth and Child Welfare Branch

• Ontario. Child and Welfare Unit

The Child Welfare Branch, sometimes referred to as the Youth and Child Welfare Branch, was created within the Department of Public Welfare in 1951 assuming all functions previously performed by the Children’s Aid Branch and the Children’s Institutions Branch.

The branch reported to the Deputy Minister from 1951 to 1968 when it was transferred to the newly created Programs Division. In 1969 the branch was placed under the Children’s Services Division and in the following year functions relating to private institutions became the responsibility of a newly formed Children’s Institution Branch (formerly a unit within the Child Welfare Branch). Although the Child Welfare Branch was termed the Child and Welfare Unit within the Children’s Services Bureau between 1973 and 1975, the agency clearly maintained its distinct functions during this experimental organizational period. The Child Welfare Branch proper re-emerged in 1975 under the Social Services Division and in 1977 was transferred to the reconstituted Children’s Services Division.

In 1979 the branch was dissolved and its functions were assumed by the ministry’s area offices throughout Ontario.

The Child Welfare Branch advised, supervised, and inspected Children’s Aid Societies throughout Ontario. From its inception until 1970, the branch performed the same functions for private institutions housing youths who, for a variety of reasons, were unable to live at home. In its advisory capacity, the branch provided these institutions and societies with financial advice until 1965. In that year, the Child Welfare Act came into effect and the branch, in conjunction with the municipalities, assumed the direct administration of funding for the Children’s Aids Societies.

The Child Welfare Branch was also responsible for coordinating adoptions services in Ontario,

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Department of Public Welfare Annual Reports, 1951-1967; Department of Social and Family Services Annual Reports, 1967- 1972; Ministry of Community and Social Services Annual Reports, 1972-1979.

Archivist(s):
Bill Hughey