North Eastern Ontario Family and Children's Services (NEOFACS) is excited to participate in the #HeretohelpON campaign, which aims to connect Ontario children, youth, and families with the help they need by raising awareness of the services and supports still available to them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want young people and families to know that despite the state of emergency and public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, we’re still here to help. Our services may look a bit different, but we continue to provide support to young people and families during this time.

We’re also encouraging Ontarians to reach out if they need help or know a young person or family in need of support. We know it can be hard, but there's no shame in asking for help for yourself or for others. It’s also now more important than ever. Vulnerable families who struggle with chronic issues may be facing new challenges and additional stress because of COVID-19. And across the province, child welfare agencies are seeing a drop in the number of referral calls – but we know COVID-19 can lead to an increase in risk factors surrounding mental health, intimate partner violence, and maltreatment of children and youth.

Join us in letting young people and families in our communities know we’re #HeretohelpON. You can do this by:

If you need help or know a young person or family in need of support, or if you have concerns about the safety or well-being of a child or youth under 18, please call your local Children’s Aid Society/Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency. You can find local contact numbers here: oacas.org/locate.

We're here to help! Call us 24/7 at 705-360-7100 or toll-free at 1-800-665-7743 or 1-866-229-KIDS (5437).