b'Centring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Portion of a mural by artist Wenting Li, commissioned for the Peel CAS building.A t Peel CAS, our commitment to Diversity,local Indigenous elders and agencies, so thatracialized employees. Three Employee Resourcecontent on our new website. We also worked Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is ingrained inwe can consult with them to ensure we areGroups were created to centre the voices of ourwith local leaders from the Mississaugas of everything we do. This is reflected in theproviding culturally competent service to ourstaff, establish a sense of belonging, influencethe Credit First Nation and other Indigenous innovative partnerships we have built to betterIndigenous community. We are pleased to bepolicies, and highlight staff achievement. Theseagencies to draft the land acknowledgement that serve our diverse community (see Ethno-culturalbuilding new partnerships with the Mississaugasgroups include a Black Employee Network, ais read at the beginning of all major events and programs on page 12); in the artwork we haveof the Credit First Nation, on whose traditionalDiversity and Inclusion Council, and BRIDGEmeetings. commissioned to decorate our new building (seeterritory Peel CAS is located, and IndigenousBeyond Rainbows, our 2SLGBTQ+ group.Our New Home on page 14); in the programsagencies like Aboriginal Legal Services, PeelsPeel CAS has long been recognized as a DEI and opportunities we offer to the children andFriendship Centre (The Indigenous Network), andWe have amended the Health and Safety incidentleader in the child welfare sector, but we still youth in our care; and in the supports we offerNative Child and Family Services of Toronto. report to designate acts of discrimination ashave work to do. The milestones we have to our staff and families. a reportable hazard. All complaints related toachieved in 2020-2021 have set us on the right This year, Black youth were invited to participateanti-Black racism/discrimination are investigatedpath to continue this important work into the For Children and Youth in the One Vision One Voice Power-up Provincialand affected workers are immediately removedfuture, making sure that everyone who comes in We know how important it is for childrenSymposium to help empower them to succeed.from these cases. In addition, we worked tocontact with Peel CAS feels welcomed, valued, and youth in care to stay connected to theirWe also developed and launched our first everensure cultural matching of our EAP services forand respected for the unique perspective they culture and communities. This year, we offeredBlack Youth Wellness Kits, which are providedour workers. Additionally, we have developed anbring. DEI is everyones responsibility, and it is culturally appropriate training for youth to keepfree of charge, thanks to our Ujima Committeeequity-based supervision framework. We haveintegrated into everything that we do.them safe and connected during the COVID-19and Peel Childrens Aid Foundation. Thesehad several celebrations of our staff diversity pandemic. Culturally matched support iskits feature self-care items such as body andand numerous cultural competency trainings.Training and Outreachalways available through our internal affinityhair butter and African Castile Soap from CleoMany internal articles have been published120 Community engagement groups. Our Black youth are grounded in theirOrganics, as well as a pamphlet that highlights where foster caregivers can access services toto inform practice, and an anti-racism librarypresentationsAfrocentric tradition and culture through staffdeveloped to guide conversations and aid in coaching and mentoring by our Ujima affinitysupport Black youth. dismantling anti-Black racism. (See the sidebar25 Anti-Black racism/anti-group. The Village provides Black youth with aWe are proud to provide culturally responsivefor details.) Courageous Conversation trainingracism trainings within and space for empowerment, networking, guidance,service through our internal committees andremains a mainstay of our DEI capacity buildingoutside of the agencyand to discuss the struggles they face and findexternal partnerships. Our teams work togetherjourney.6 Indigenous/Truth and solutions together. Similar groups are availableto ensure that the cultural and religiousReconciliation trainingsfor our South Asian youth through the staffbackgrounds of the children, youth and familiesOur DEI JourneyAwaaz committee, and the South Asian Youthwe support are honoured and respected.While our DEI journey began many years ago,4 2SLGBTQ+ trainingsAlliance (SAYA). A staff group that focuses onwe have made significant strides forward in the South East and East Asian community is alsoFor Employeesavailable, called Kindred SEEA.This year, our agency took a number ofthis work over the past year. In 2020, Peel CAS36 DEI articles published developed its first formal Anti-racism Strategy In 2020, we expanded our relationships withimportant steps forward to better support ourand Action Plan, and greatly expanded the DEIinternally18 Peel Childrens Aid Society Annual Report 2020-2021 19'