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Recruiting Former Youth in Care for Research Study on Career Development Experiences

Researchers at the University of Calgary are conducting a study on the career experiences of young adults who aged-out of foster care, kinship care, or community-based care in Canada. The study is called ‘What Helps and Hinders in the Pursuit of Career Success?’.

To be eligible to participate in this study, you need to:
• Be between the ages of 18 to 29
• Have previously spent at least two years in foster care, kinship care, or community-based care in Canada
• Have aged-out of care in Canada
• Self-identify as doing well in your career development

If you are interested in participating then you will be asked to:
• Complete a short demographic questionnaire
• Participate in up to three interviews where you will be asked to share your career development experiences; Interviews will be conducted 1-on-1 virtually or in-person.

To express gratitude for contributing to this research you will be provided with a $15 e-gift card for participating in interview one, another $15 e-gift card for participating in interview two, and also a $10 e-gift card for participating in interview three.

If you have any questions or if you would like to participate in this study, please contact Ashlee Kitchenham at ashlee.kitchenham@ucalgary.ca

The University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board has approved this study [REB23-1099].

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Recruitment for study on lived experiences of former children and youth in care is now open.

The International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) aims to conduct a research study to explore intergenerational relationships, lived experiences of former children and youth who aged out of the Ontario child welfare system, and child welfare policy and practices.

The research question of the study is: “How Do Intergenerational Relationships among People with Lived Experiences in the Ontario Child Welfare System Influence Child Welfare Policies and Practices?”

To be eligible for the study, you need to be:

  • a resident of Canada.
  • have lived experiences in the Child Welfare System of Ontario; and
  • be 18 years old or older.

Participants are still eligible to participate in the research study if they are still receiving financial support from child protection agencies.

If you meet these requirements, the ICCRP invites you to participate in a semi-structured virtual interview that will be no more than 60 minutes long. Your participation will involve:

  • communicating with research assistants via email about your availability for the interview.
  • disclosing personal information to demonstrate your eligibility (e.g. your age, if you are a resident of Canada or not, lived experience in the Child Welfare system of Ontario); and
  • attending a one-hour virtual (audio)/phone interview with the research team and answering study questions.

If you are interested in volunteering in the study, ICCRP will send you another email at least two weeks before the interview date with information about the research study and a consent form. You will have time to let them know if you have any questions. If you agree to participate by signing and returning the consent form, ICCRP will forward the interview questions along with a list of mental health and emotional support resources.

Your participation is completely voluntary. No financial compensation will be provided but will have opportunities to engage in other ICCRP activities if you consent to being contacted in future. If you participate, your identity will not be shared with others outside of the research team. You have the right to withdraw voluntarily from participation or parts of participation at any time without providing any reasons.

The research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC) and has been reviewed and approved by the Toronto Metropolitan University Research Ethics Board Reference ID 2023-057. You can learn more about the research study by clicking this infographic, ICCRP Overview Infographic August 2023 (torontomu.ca).

If you are interested in more information about the study or would like to volunteer, please contact Jessie Lynn Cross at jessielynncross@torontomu.ca or you can choose to contact Tara Collins by email tara.collins@torontomu.ca or call 416-979-5000, ext. 554563.

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Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s 2024-25 Scholarship Application is Now Open, Apply Today!

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada post-secondary scholarships award young people $5000 for each academic year until they finish their program (to a maximum of 7 years from their program start) through a once yearly competitive application. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 24th, 2024.

If you are starting or continuing in full time studies in the 2024-25 academic year, and aren’t already receiving a Foundation Scholarship ($5000 a year)*, apply here for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Scholarship today!

Visit our website for the link to the online application form, full eligibility information and answers to the most asked questions, or contact the Foundation’s PSE team at grants@cafdn.org .

Scholarship applications are open to youth with both financial need and the potential to succeed in their program of study. To be eligible, a student must be:

  • Be attending a post-secondary institution full-time or on a reduced schedule due to an academic accommodation, for a full school year starting in September 2024 or January 2025
  • Have been or will be in the temporary or permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services up until your age of majority birthday or had been in permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services for at least 12 months
  • Are under the age of 30
  • Are over the age of 30 and have not received a CAFC Scholarship or Bursary before

If you have any questions about the application form, process, or eligibility, we can help!  

Email grants@cafdn.org with your questions and visit our website for more information and the application link.

Vote for Ontario Elections on February 27th!

Vote for the provincial elections in Ontario on election day on February 27 or at any advance voting location on February 21 or 22. Your vote matters and you can influence policies at the provincial level because the provincial government is responsible for the following:

  • Education
  • Colleges and universities
  • Drivers’ licensing and highways
  • Hospitals and healthcare delivery
  • Municipalities
  • Natural resources
  • Property and civil rights
  • Provincial law and courts
  • Provincial taxes
  • Social services

Find your riding: You can find your provincial electoral district by entering your postal code on the search tool on the following page, Electoral Districts.

ID Requirements: ID is required to vote in a provincial election. Photo ID is not required when you go to vote. If you choose to provide photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo. You do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression when you go to vote.

ID can be shown on a mobile device. International ID or permanent resident cards are not accepted.

If you are on the Register, you will receive a voter information cardOpens in popup modal glossary definition (VIC) in the mail about when and where to vote. Bring your VIC and one piece of ID showing your name to receive a ballotOpens in popup modal glossary definition when you go to vote.

You can still vote if you do not receive a VIC, but your name may not be on the Register. You must bring one piece of ID showing both your name and home address to register and receive a ballot.

Only eligible voters can vote in provincial elections. To be eligible to vote, you must be:

  • 18 years of age or older;
  • a Canadian citizen; and
  • a resident of Ontario.

Use Voter RegistrationOpens in a new tab to confirm, update, add or remove your voter information. Alternatively, you can complete paper application formsOpens in a new tab.

ID includes most documents issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario or a municipality in Ontario. Find examples of accepted ID below.

If you have a voter information card, bring one piece of ID with your name on it.

Government-issued

  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Ontario health card
  • Canadian Armed Forces ID card (NDI 20)
  • Canadian passport
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Certificate of Indian Status (Status card)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (issued before January 1, 1947)
  • Citizenship card
  • Firearms licence
  • Nexus/FAST (Free and Secure Trade) card
  • Old Age Security identification card
  • Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
  • Registration of birth abroad (issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977)
  • Veteran Affairs Canada Health Care Identification card
  • Veteran’s Service Card (NDI 75)
  • Birth Certificate from a Canadian province or territory

Other

  • Blood donor card
  • Credit/debit card
  • Diplomatic or special passport
  • Employee card
  • Hospital records (including hospital bracelets)
  • Union card or professional licence
  • Student card
  • A document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada) showing a person’s name
  • Any document showing your name issued by:
    • the Government of Canada
    • the Government of Ontario
    • a municipality
    • a government agency

If you don’t have a voter information card, bring one piece of ID with both your name and home address. These include the following:

Government-issued

  • Ontario driver’s licence
  • Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate or vehicle portion)
  • Ontario photo card
  • Property assessment notice from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
  • Child tax benefit statement
  • Income tax notice of assessment
  • Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
  • Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
  • Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
  • Any document showing both your name and home address issued by the Government of Canada/Ontario

Educational or financial

  • School admission letter
  • School transcript or report card
  • Tuition/fees statement
  • Bank account or credit card statement
  • Cancelled personalized cheque
  • Cheque stub, pay receipt or T4 issued by a person’s employer
  • Insurance statement
  • Residential mortgage, lease, or rental statement
  • Signed loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
  • Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution 

Other

  • CNIB card or card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
  • Hospital records showing a person’s name and home address
  • Letter of Confirmation of Residence
  • Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, cable TV, public utilities commission)
  • Property tax assessment or bill from a municipality in Ontario
  • Any other document showing both your name and home address issued by:
    • a municipality
    • a government agency
    • or certified by a court in Ontario
    • a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

You can find voting locations by entering your postal code on the search tool on the following webpage, Search – Elections Ontario.

Find out more information in relation to voting by checking the FAQ’s and other resources on the Elections Ontario website here, Frequently asked questions.

Calling all Artists from Care!

Media partners in the Spotlight: Child Welfare (SCW) collaborative journalism project are interested in commissioning art/photos from youth with lived experience in “care.”

To support these connections, SCW is creating a directory of artists from “care.” Anyone who has lived through government “care” (e.g. foster care, youth agreements, etc.) can join the directory. For more information on the directory or to join, see the SCW’s Artists from Care Directory Form, located here.

Also, in case you missed it, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC) recently launched a Youth and Lived-Expert Business Directory. If you are a young person with lived experience of the child welfare system and running your own business, you can also promote this on our directory! To submit your business for inclusion, see CAFC’s Youth and Lived Expert-Led Business Directory Form, located here.

Share Your Input! Canada’s Second State of Youth Report

The Government of Canada is now seeking input from youth living in Canada between the ages of 16 and 29 for inclusion in the second State of Youth Report, to be published in 2025. The State of Youth Reports helps the Canadian government understand the challenges youth face, from finding jobs to accessing mental health support, and outline steps to create better opportunities for the future.

Join in: how to participate

Are you a youth between the ages of 16 and 29 living in Canada?

The second State of Youth Report will be released in 2025. By reflecting the diverse experiences and concerns of youth, the second State of Youth Report will play a vital role in building a more inclusive, equitable and supportive Canada for all young people.

Your voice matters – by completing the engagement tool, you are ensuring that the second State of Youth reflects the diverse experiences and concerns of youth. The engagement period is now open until March 16, 2025.

If you want to learn more about the engagement tool, or if you are unable to access or complete it electronically, please send an email to jeunesse-youth@pch.gc.ca.

Visit the web page now: Have your say!

Apply for the RCMP Troop 17 Scholarship!

The RCMP’s Troop 17 Scholarship was established to recognize students who have made significant efforts toward the prevention of bullying and harassment in their schools and/or communities. Up to five scholarships in the amount of $1000 are awarded annually to full-time college or university students.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  2. be enrolled in a full-time accredited Canadian college or university
  3. demonstrate they have made significant efforts in preventing bullying and harassment in their schools and/or communities
  4. explain how they continue to promote anti-harassment and anti-bullying principles in their schools and/or communities

Deadline

Applications will be accepted from January 15, 2025 until April 30, 2025.

Visit this page for more information: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/troop-17-scholarship#s3

Make a Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada 2025-26 Scholarship Application Today!

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada post-secondary scholarships award young people $5,000 for each academic year until they finish their program (to a maximum of 7 years from their program start) through a once yearly competitive application for 300 awards. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 3rd, 2025.

If you are starting or continuing in full time studies in the 2025-26 academic year, and aren’t already receiving a CAFC Scholarship ($5,000 a year)*, apply here for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Scholarship today!

Visit our website for the link to the online application form, full eligibility information and answers to the most asked questions, or contact the Foundation’s PSE team at grants@cafdn.org.

Scholarship applications are open to youth with both financial need and the potential to succeed in their program of study. To be eligible, a student must be:

  • Be attending a post-secondary institution full-time or on a reduced schedule due to an academic accommodation, for a full school year starting in September 2025 or January 2026
  • Have been or will be in the temporary or permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services up until your age of majority birthday or had been in permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services for at least 12 months
  • Are under the age of 30 if you have or are currently receiving Foundation supports, or,
  • Are over the age of 30 and currently receiving a Foundation bursary ($2000) or have not received a CAFC Scholarship or Bursary before
  • Not currently receiving a CAFC Scholarship*

*Current 2024-25 CAFC Scholarship recipients do not need to make a new scholarship application.

If you aren’t sure if you are currently receiving a CAFC Scholarship or bursary or have any questions about the application form, process, or eligibility, we can help!

Email grants@cafdn.org with your questions and visit our website for more information and the application link.

Current and Former Youth in Extended Care Eligible for Annual Bursaries at Trent University

Students who have been or are in extended society care and demonstrate financial need are eligible to receive $3,000 in bursary funding during each academic year ($1,500 in each of the fall and winter terms).

How to Apply 

Eligible students are required to complete the UG Bursary Application at the beginning of each term. The application will be available on the Finances page of the myTrent Student Portal. 

To be eligible, students must be: 

  • In receipt of Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding, Government Student aid from another Canadian province, Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), or First Nations Band Funding  
  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada   
  • Enrolled in an undergraduate program at Trent University and enrolled in at least 60% of a full course load (or 40% for students with permanent disability status)  
  • A current or former youth in extended society care

Willsy’s Extended Society Care Fund  

The Willsy’s Extended Society Care Fund, created through the generosity of Elizabeth Wills-Edwards ’08, provides an annual bursary of up to $4,000 for students who lived under Extended Society Care.

Preference will be given, but not limited to, mature students who are at least 24 years of age and there is no restriction on the students’ academic year or field of study.

An application will be available on the Finances page of the myTrent Student Portal beginning in June each year. The annual deadline to apply is July 31.

Learn more about Willsy’s Extended Society Care Fund.

Support for Students who have been or are in extended society care

Transitioning to University can be made easier with the right support. We have resources that are specifically designed to help you reach your full potential, while providing you with the foundation, guidance and support you need.

Learn more about Support for Students who have been or are in extended society care.

Apply for a free 2-day Trades training!

Are you 18+ with lived experience in the child welfare system? Discover your passion for Ontario’s skilled trades!

The Trades Ready Youth 2-Day Workshop entails:

  • Construction Industry Certifications
  • Hands-on training for entry-level Electrical apprentice skills (Wiring, VR, etc.)
  • Mentorship sessions
  • Networking opportunities

Coffee, light snacks and lunch will be provided. Hard hat and work boots included.

Date and Time: Feb. 4 and 5, 2025, 8 am – 4 pm

Address: IBEW Local 804 5158 Fountain St N, Breslau, ON

Register now at: Give the Trades a TRY! | Child Welfare PAC.

Consultation opportunity for Indigenous youth from Care!

The Indigenous Youth Advisory Council at ANCFSAO has a new series called the “Youth Led, Youth Friendly Document Series”. This Series aims to broaden the network and understanding for children and youth in care and how they engage with the system.

As part of the series, they want to engage with youth across the province for the following dates (all meetings will be 4:30-6:30 PM to accommodate school/work schedules): 

  • December 18th, 2024
  • January 8th, 2025
  • January 15th, 2025
  • January 16th, 2025.

These engagements will include fun ice breakers along with interactive activities and questions to get a sense of what the youth wish was more youth friendly about the system, their learning styles. Each youth who engages will be provided with honorarium for attending and engaging.

ANCFSAO aims to create deliverables based on this consultation phase (podcasts, infographics, short animated videos, pictures, etc.) to help youth find additional routes to understanding the navigation of their journey in child welfare. 

After this they will be re-engaging with the youth groups so they can provide feedback on the deliverables and if they think these truly are youth led and youth friendly. Once they have amended from the feedback they will begin rolling this out online and through their networks by holding sessions to introduce and teach their new sets of tools to Child Wellbeing and CAS agencies across Ontario.

Eligibility

Indigenous youth between the ages of 14-24 across Ontario who have been involved with a CAS or Child Well being agency and want to share their stories and provide feedback to help the next 7 generations. 

They are accepting up to 18 youth per engagement, once you have received the invitation to the meeting it means your registration has been accepted. If they have reached the limit they will reach out to inform you or reschedule you for another date. 

Sign up

Please follow the link Here to sign up! Please forward to any youth you think would be interested.

Nia:wen and we really look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions reach out to prevention@ancfsao.ca 

Invitation to take part in study for child welfare workers

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Drs Kristen Lwin and Kristina Nikolova from the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study is aims to examine Canadian child welfare workers’ quality of life being in a helping profession, and organizational culture and climate. The study also aims to assess whether child welfare worker and organizational characteristics are related to service decisions.

PROCEDURES
If you volunteer to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey, which includes questions about yourself (e.g., education level and field, position, caseload), your perception of the social context in the organizational environment, and your quality of life being in a helping profession. The online survey also includes a case vignette, where you will be asked to identify the risk of future maltreatment to the child, the family’s strengths and needs, and next service steps. The online survey should take between 30 and 40 minutes. The survey is fully anonymized, and we do not require any personal information, such as your name or employing agency.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS
There is a potential risk that you may feel uncomfortable, anxious, or upset participating in the study. There is also a risk to feel a loss of privacy or reputation for choosing to, or choosing not to, participate in the study. The decision to participate in the study is totally voluntary and fully anonymous; there is no requirement to participate. The URL from which you are completing the survey cannot be traced back to you. If you agree to participate and begin to complete the survey, you may withdraw from the study by closing your browser at any time. There are no consequences or repercussions for choosing not to participate in the study or by choosing to withdraw from participation. Your participation in the study will not be known by the organization that recruited you or PART and your decision to participate or not will have no impact on your relationship with your employer or the organization that recruited you or PART.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS AND/OR TO SOCIETY
Findings from this study aim to build knowledge about child welfare workers’ quality of life being in a helping profession and service delivery in Canada. This is the first time many of these measures have been used in Canada and will hopefully be used in future studies to support child welfare workers and service delivery.

RENUMERATION
If you choose to be included, there will be a random draw for $25 gift card where 50 people will receive an e-gift card to Tim Horton’s or Amazon, based on their preference. If you would like to enter into the random draw at the end of the survey you will find a link to a separate survey where you can enter your name and email address. This second survey, where you enter your name and email address, is not linked to your first survey,
therefore, your participation in the study remains anonymous. If you enter into the random draw and are one of the 50 people chosen you will be notified by email, if you are not chosen you will not be notified.

PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL
Upon consenting to participate in the study, you will be automatically directed to the online survey. You can withdraw your consent to participate in the study by closing your browser and not completing the survey or specific questions. Your responses will be saved after the completion of each section of the survey. You may choose to close your web browser at any time; however, any pages of the survey that have been completed will be included in the analysis. Once the survey is closed ([insert date here]) responses will be downloaded and saved on a University of Windsor computer and kept under password protection and retained until the completion of the study. Only Drs. Kristen Lwin and Kristina Nikolova, and research assistants will have access to the data. The data will not be shared with any other party or agency. It is estimated that the survey will take between 30 and 40 minutes to complete.

You may choose to withdraw from the study at any time. There is no penalty for withdrawing from the study. You cannot, however, have your data removed from analyses, as all surveys are anonymous.

FEEDBACK OF THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY TO THE PARTICIPANTS
Results of this study will be found on the University of Windsor website in summer 2026 at https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/research-result-summaries/.

Results will also be provided to child welfare workers through written reports and oral presentations through Practice and Research Together (PART) www.partcanada.org in spring 2025. If you would like a report emailed directly to you please email Kristen Lwin at kristen.lwin@uwindsor.ca

SUBSEQUENT USE OF DATA
These data may be used in subsequent studies, publications, and presentations. All data will be presented in the aggregate. Data on Qualtrics will be deleted upon completion of the study (spring 2026), the PI will securely store the data for further analyses.

RIGHTS OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, contact: The Office of Research Ethics, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4; Telephone: 519-253-3000, ext. 3948; email: ethics@uwindsor.ca. This study has been cleared by the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board (clearance #24-009).

Link to survey: https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxPZlV51026hct8
Please contact Dr. Kristen Lwin (University of Windsor) if you have any questions at kristen.lwin@uwindsor.ca.