- Unless there's a specific safety reason to restrict it, parents generally continue to have some form of contact with a child in CAS care.
- Especially in the early stages of a case, visits are commonly supervised — meaning they happen at a CAS office, a designated visitation centre, or with a support worker present, rather…
- As a case progresses, contact arrangements are often revisited rather than fixed in place from day one.
When a child is placed in the care of a children's aid society (CAS), one of the first and most pressing questions for a parent is simple: will I still get to see my child, and how often? The answer depends on the specifics of your case, but there are some general patterns worth understanding as you navigate this stage.
Contact Usually Continues, in Some Form
Unless there's a specific safety reason to restrict it, parents generally continue to have some form of contact with a child in CAS care. The starting assumption in Ontario's child protection framework is that maintaining a child's relationships — including with parents — matters, not that contact is cut off by default. What often changes is the format of that contact, not whether it happens at all.
Why Visits Are Often Supervised at First
Especially in the early stages of a case, visits are commonly supervised — meaning they happen at a CAS office, a designated visitation centre, or with a support worker present, rather than unsupervised in the community or at a parent's home. Supervision isn't necessarily a judgment about a parent's character; it's often a starting point that reflects the case still being new and unresolved, and it can change as the case develops.
Common reasons a visit schedule starts more restrictive include:
- The protection concerns are still being assessed or addressed
- The court or the CAS wants to see how a parent engages with recommended services first
- There's a specific safety factor that needs to be managed during contact
How Arrangements Can Change Over Time
As a case progresses, contact arrangements are often revisited rather than fixed in place from day one. Common paths toward expanded contact include:
- Engaging with recommended services — such as counselling or parenting programs — that address the concerns raised in the case
- A track record of positive, consistent visits under the existing arrangement
- An interim review, agreement, or further court application asking for expanded or less restrictive contact
- The case reaching a resolution, whether by agreement or by a court's final order, that sets out a longer-term plan
None of these paths are guaranteed to unfold quickly or predictably — every case is different, and progress often depends on factors specific to the family.
What Affects How Much Contact You Get
| Factor | How it can affect contact |
|---|---|
| Stage of the case | Interim/early stages are often more restrictive than later stages |
| Nature of the original concern | Safety-related concerns may lead to closer supervision than, say, a caregiving-capacity concern being actively addressed |
| Engagement with services | Consistent engagement can support requests for expanded contact |
| The child's own needs | A child's age, wishes (where appropriate), and wellbeing are all factored in |
Getting Ready for a Supervised Visit
If your visits are currently supervised, a few practical habits tend to help both the visit itself and how your engagement is viewed over time:
- [ ] Arrive on time, every time — consistency is noticed
- [ ] Focus the visit on your child, not on discussing the case with the supervisor
- [ ] Avoid discussing the legal proceedings or making promises you can't guarantee with your child
- [ ] Follow any specific guidance the supervisor or CAS has given about the visit
- [ ] Talk to your lawyer if you feel a visit condition is unreasonable, rather than raising it in the moment
Frequently asked questions
Can CAS cancel my visits without notice?
Visit arrangements are generally set out in a plan or order, and changes should follow whatever process applies to your specific case. If visits are being cancelled without explanation, raise it with your lawyer promptly.
How do I ask for more parenting time while the case is ongoing?
This is typically done through discussion with the CAS, a review of the plan of care, or, where necessary, a further application to the court. A family lawyer can advise on the most effective route for your specific case.
Does supervised contact mean I've done something wrong?
Not necessarily. Supervision is often a starting point tied to the case still being active and unresolved, rather than a final judgment about a parent.
Will my parenting time increase automatically as the case goes on?
No — changes are typically the result of engagement with the process, evidence of progress, or an agreement or order that specifically provides for it, not something that happens automatically with time alone.
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