Parent Advisory Committee

The Parent Advisory Committee is made up of parent and caregiver volunteers who have navigated CASDSM systems in different capacities, alongside designated CASDSM staff. Committee members share their experiences, perspectives, and feedback to help improve services for children, youth, and families.

The committee provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to have a voice in shaping the programs, services, policies, and practices that affect children, youth, and families in our communities. Through open discussion and collaboration, members help CASDSM better understand the experiences of families and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Importance of the Parent Advisory Committee

Parents and caregivers bring valuable lived experience and insights that cannot be learned from policies, procedures, or reports alone.
Their feedback helps CASDSM understand what is working well, where barriers may exist, and how services can better meet the needs of children, youth, and families. By listening to the voices of those with firsthand experience, we can continue building services that are responsive, respectful, and family-centred.

What the Committee Does

The Parent Advisory Committee provides feedback and advice on topics that may affect children, youth, and families, including:
Programs and services
Policies and procedures
Service delivery practices
Family engagement and communication
Opportunities to improve the experience of children, youth, and families

Recommendations and feedback from the committee are shared with CASDSM leadership and help inform ongoing improvement efforts across the organization.

Supporting Better Services Together

The Parent Advisory Committee reflects CASDSM’s commitment to hearing and learning from the voices of the families we serve. By working together, committee members and staff help ensure that family perspectives remain part of important conversations and decisions that impact children, youth, and families.

Candace Poulin

Committee Chair, CASDSM Representative

Cora-Lee Sullivan

CASDSM Representative

Lisa

Co-chair, parent member

I am a retired Grandmother raising my 4 grandsons absolutely loving being part of the PAC.

I am currently raising my 4 grandsons and my family was part of the CAS system back many years.

I agreed to join the PAC to get an understanding of the way CAS works, being able to share my experiences and how they can be changed positively, hearing and understanding other types of families involvement with the Society and how they can be changed positively if any negative situations arise.

I hope to make changes to the child welfare system with my PAC involvement by making sure families are kept together when the society has to step in and keeping all involved up to date with every decision and best interest of the child/children.

What motivates me to stay involved with this work is being able as a group to try and change the way people view CAS and promote the positive changes that are being made to keep families together when the Society gets involved and being part of an amazing team of people trying to change the “dinosaur” rules of apprehending children and making families feel comfortable when all of this is transpiring.

“It takes a village to raise a child”.

Aurora

Parent member

I am a passionate community advocate, parent, and person in long-term recovery who is committed to building stronger, more inclusive communities where every family feels heard, supported, and respected.

I bring both professional and lived experience to my work in the community. My own journey through substance use, homelessness, and recovery has given me a deep understanding of the barriers that individuals and families can face when trying to access support. My recovery has also shaped my belief that people should never be defined by the hardest chapters of their lives, and that compassionate, accessible support can change the trajectory of a person’s life.

Since beginning my recovery journey in 2018, I have dedicated much of my life to giving back and helping create the kind of support and connection that i believe everyone deserves. I have worked in social services, community outreach, harm reduction, mental health support, peer engagement, employment skills training, and supportive housing. My work is rooted in trauma-informed practice, dignity, relationship-building, and meeting people where they are.

I have been a member of the Parent Advisory Committee since 2022. I am passionate about ensuring that the voices and experiences of parents and families are not only heard, but meaningfully included in decisions that affect them. I believe families are experts in their own experiences and that the strongest services are built by listening to the people who use them.

I am especially passionate about reducing stigma, creating safe spaces for honest conversations, and ensuring that families who may be experiencing difficult circumstances are met with compassion rather than judgment. I believe that recovery, resilience, and family support are interconnected—and that every person deserves the opportunity to build a healthier and more hopeful future.

Marie-Claude

Parent member

I am a proud mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4. My personal experiences with CAS during the upbringing of my daughter and later with my grandsons have given me valuable insight into both the challenges families face and the importance of compassionate support.

Because of these experiences I am currently serving on the Parent Advisory Committee where I work to share my perspective and advocate for positive change. I am passionate about helping reduce the stigma surrounding CAS and encouraging understanding, respect, and stronger partnerships between families and support services.

I have also been a member of Lions Clubs International for the past 15 years. Through community service and volunteerism, I have been committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others and strengthening the communities I serve.

When I’m not volunteering, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. I believe that by sharing our stories and listening to one another we can help create a more supportive and inclusive community for ALL families.

Joanne

Parent member

I’m a single mom to three young adult children, living in Greater Sudbury. I enjoy the vibrant festival scene in the summertime and snowboarding in the winter. My other interests include Latin dancing, music, reading and baking.

I became connected to this agency because of a very high conflict divorce where my ex falsely accused me of abusing my children and my youngest son was alienated from me.

I joined the committee because I wanted to lend my voice to advocate for improvement for services so that no family has to experience what I did.

I think it is important that every case is given its due diligence and handled through a trauma informed framework so that families never have to go through what I did and are provided services with the best appropriate care.

I am motivated to be involved with this work to help keep children and women safe and to be a voice for the visible minority groups.

I am guided by my faith and the belief that we should: Do what is right. Love deeply. Walk humbly. Leave the world a little better because you were here.