Network Retreat for Youth from and in care in Manitoba

Youth in and from care, ages 14 to 24, are invited to join VOICES for a weekend of learning, sharing, and making friends.  At the Retreat, you will learn more about yourself, your connections to community, and ways to use your experiences to be empowered. You can also climb things, jump off things, swim, go for walks by the lake, and play weird games.

The theme for this retreat is “Living Expert. Sacred Story.” We are the expert of our own lives, and we hold within us our sacred stories. We can choose to share our stories to help us heal, and to help inform and educate others. During the retreat, you will learn and practice the art of sharing your stories in safe ways.

The BOLD Show: Based on the success of VOICES’s talent show last fall, participants are once again invited to share their gifts and talents and reveal their identity at the BOLD Show on Saturday night. Sing, dance, yodel, recite your poetry, show us your art, twist your legs into a pretzel, throw webs from your wrists.

The Fall 2024 retreat will be held October 11th to 13th, 2024.  Download and save your registration package to your device before filling it out.  Once complete, return by email to ask@voices.mb.ca or drop off at 3rd floor, 61 Juno Street (BGC Winnipeg head office) by Monday, September 23rd, 2024.

https://voices.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/Participant-Registration-Forms-Fall-2024.pdf

https://voices.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/Adult-Support-Registration-Form-Fall-2024.pdf

ICCRP Research Opportunity for Individuals with Lived Experience in Care

You have been invited to participate in a research study being run by the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) if you have lived experience in the child welfare system. The study aims 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 is: “How Do Intergenerational Relationships among People with Lived Experiences in the Ontario Child Welfare System Influence Child Welfare Policies and Practices?”

ICCRP is seeking 50 participants; to participate, you need to be:
● a resident of Canada;
● have lived experiences in the Child Welfare System of Ontario; and
● part of one of these age cohorts
○ 18-29 years of age
○ 30-39 years of age
○ 40-49 years of age
○ 50-59 years of age
○ 60+ years of age.

Participants are still eligible to participate in the research study if they are 18 years or older; and/or if they are still receiving financial support from child protection agencies.

If you do not meet these requirements, but you know someone who may meet these criteria and interested in taking part in this study, please forward this invitation to any potentially interested individual(s).

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

o communicating with me and other research assistant via email about your availability for the interview;
o 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
o attend a one-hour virtual (audio)/phone interview with me and another research team member and answer the study questions.

If you are interested in volunteering in this study, you will receive another email at least two weeks before the interview date with information about the ICCRP in it, and a consent form that includes brief information about the research study. You will have time to let us know if you have any questions. If you agree to participate by signing and returning the consent form, we 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 provide an opportunity to engage in other ICCRP activities if you consent us to contact you in future. Please know that there is no requirement to participate in this study. You may know our lead co-investigator or other research team members due to their extensive experiences in the child welfare system in Ontario. If you choose not to
participate, it will not impact your relationship with either of the primary investigators, Jane Kovarikova or Tara Collins, or other research assistant, or Toronto Metropolitan University.

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 the Ontario Research Fund-Research Excellence (ORF-RE) and has been reviewed and approved by the Toronto Metropolitan University Research Ethics Board Reference ID 2023-057.

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

Recruiting Former Youth in Care for Research Study on Career Development Experiences – Second Call for Participants

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 at least 18 years-old
• 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 an interview 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 an e-gift card.

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].

Join OECT for the National Bank Open, Roger’s Cup Tennis Tournament!

Ontario Education Championship Team (OECT) is going to the National Bank Open, Roger’s Cup Tennis Tournament!

🎾 Join us for a day of fun, enjoy the tennis game and learn about the sports industry🎾

*Must be ages 14- 29, residing in Peel/Halton/Dufferin region.

*Food and refreshments are provided 🥤

* Games and prizes to be won!! 🎁

*Presto or volunteer drives are available (drives are a last resort, please discuss transportation options with your family/caregiver/worker/CAS staff prior to reaching out for volunteer drives as capacity is limited! TY)

*Volunteer opportunities available for volunteer hours

🗓 Date: Thu, August 8th, 2024

Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

📍 Location: A bus will be leaving from the Peel CAS Trailblazers Youth Centre (25 Capston Dr, Mississauga, ON L5W 0H3) and taking us to Sobeys Stadium in North York: 1 Shoreham Dr, North York, ON M3N 3A6, and back.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://bit.ly/TENNIS-EDU

This event is hosted by OECT Peel-Halton-Dufferin CAS. Register by Friday, July 19th, 2024.

For any questions or inquiries contact:

Halton CAS: Aos@haltoncas.ca
Peel CAS: MConstantine@peelcas.org

Dufferin CAS: niketa.peters@dcafs.on.ca

OECT Youth Website: https://www.inittogetheryouth.org/

Consultation on the Youth Mental Health Fund – Opportunity for youth 16 and above

The Government of Canada is working to implement a new fund to make it easier for youth in Canada to get the mental health care they need. The Youth Mental Health Fund aims to break down barriers to access mental health care for youth.

They are consulting with people 16 years of age and older to gather perspectives on priority areas to improve youth mental health. Your feedback will help guide the focus of the new Youth Mental Health Fund, including decisions on the types of activities that could be funded.

Health Canada is seeking your input on the types of activities that could be funded through the Youth Mental Health Fund, such as helping youth and their families navigate and seek mental health care, increasing youth suicide prevention supports and services and more.

Share your ideas online by filling in filling in the following questionnaire: https://healthcanada.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7ZLv4931gtmzqIK?Q_Language=EN. All responses are anonymous.

For more information, please check out Consultation on the Youth Mental Health Fund – Canada.ca.

ICCRP Research Opportunity for Individuals with Lived Experience in Care

You have been invited to participate in a research study being run by the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) if you have lived experience in the child welfare system.

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

ICCRP is seeking 50 participants; to participate, you need to be:

  • a resident of Canada;
  • have lived experiences in the Child Welfare System of Ontario; and
  • part of one of these age cohorts:
  • 18-29 years of age
  • 30-39 years of age
  • 40-49 years of age
  • 50-59 years of age
  • 60+ years of age.

Participants are still eligible to participate in the research study if they are 18 years or older; and/or if they are still receiving financial support from child protection agencies.

If you do not meet these requirements, but you know someone who may meet these criteria and interested in taking part in this study, please forward this invitation to any potentially interested individual(s).

If you meet these requirements, we invite 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
  • attend a one-hour virtual(audio)/phone interview with me and another research team member and answer the study questions.

If you are interested in volunteering in this study, we will send you another email at least two weeks before the interview date with information about the ICCRP in it, and a consent form that includes brief information about the research study. You will have time to let us know if you have any questions. If you agree to participate by signing and returning the consent form, we 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 provide an opportunity to engage in other ICCRP activities if you consent us to contact you in future. Please know that there is no requirement to participate in this study. You may know our lead co-investigator or other research team members due to their extensive experiences in the child welfare system in Ontario.

If you choose not to participate, it will not impact your relationship with either of the primary investigators, Jane Kovarikova or Tara Collins, or other research assistants, your relationship with Child Welfare Political Action Committee, or Toronto Metropolitan University. This means that your participation would have no impact on the decisions or services provided by these organizations/networks in Ontario.

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.

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

Are you a Lived Expert entrepreneur? Be featured on CAFC’s Youth-led Business Directory.

The Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC) is giving the opportunity to all youth entrepreneurs with lived experience in the child welfare system to promote their businesses.

CAFC will be launching a directory of youth-led businesses at Stand Up For Kids Night – our annual recognition night – on June 20 that will be shared with supporters, donors, allies and other youth.

To submit your business for inclusion in the directory, please complete this form: https://lnkd.in/giDZ4-Wu. Click the link to submit your business or feel free to email cloc@cafdn.org if you have questions.