Our Work
Post-Secondary Pathways:
Study with Tuition Assistance
Child Welfare PAC Canada is working with any post-secondary partners in Canada who wish to increase social mobility for current and former foster kids.
Finances are a significant barrier to post-secondary studies for people raised in care. Inspired by existing programs in British Columbia and Manitoba, Child Welfare PAC has partnered with colleges, universities, and non-profits like Futures Forward to create and highlight 640+ tuition assistance opportunities at 50 schools in 8 provinces. We are aiming to help create post-secondary opportunities for former youth in care from coast to coast.
Why Skilled Trades?
Pursuing a skilled trade provides the opportunity to develop practical skills, secure a stable and fulfilling career, and make a tangible impact on the world.​
Careers in the skilled trades are:
In-demand
100,000+
Skilled trades professionals needed in Ontario over the next decade.
Skilled trades are in constant demand, providing job security and stable career opportunities across various industries.
Meaningful
30+
Skilled trades to choose from in the construction sector.
A wide variety of options means that you can find your passion in the skilled trades.
Rewarding
85%
Of an apprenticeship is paid training.
From apprenticeships onward, the skilled trades offer competitive wages, and provide a financially rewarding path for individuals to excel.
Privacy Rights:
Making Landmark Legislation
Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024: Privacy Equity for current and former youth from care.
Did you know foster children have less privacy rights than juvenile offenders?
That is why we are excited to announce Ontario's Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024 received royal assent on June 6th, 2024. Part X of this bill will bring equality of privacy to youth with lived experience in the Child welfare system.
Mental Health and Wellness:
Trauma informed policies and practices
Smart policy is having a comprehensive
mental health strategy for youth in care.
Did you know that according to various U.S. studies, the rates of post-trauma stress can be double that of war veterans for youth who have aged-out of foster care? This special group deserves a comprehensive mental health strategy with priority access to healthcare to improve life outcomes after care.
Evidence-based Policy Making:
Creating policy that create brighter futures
If you do not measure what happens to kids after foster care, how do you know if your earlier interventions worked?
It is no secret that kids struggle after foster care. Knowing that is not enough. Every government must take responsibility for the children it is parenting by measuring life outcomes after care. Without baseline data unique to every jurisdiction, you will never know if you have succeeded in caring for these kids. This is a question of accountability, ethics, and responsible governance. When the most vulnerable people in society are not set up to succeed, everyone bears the costs.
We're working with several research partners to measure the success of our free tuition for foster youth programs.​
DR. TARA COLLINS, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
International & Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP) SSHRC Project
A project with the goal of filling in major data gaps to advance child rights by transforming research, policy, and practice through intergenerational partnerships that support participation of children.
DR. CHRISTINE WEKERLE, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
McMaster JoyPop Project
Partnering with Dr. Christine Wekerle and McMaster University on the Joy Pop resiliency intervention app for youth.
DR. JACQUELINE GAHAGAN
SSHRC Research Application
Ground-breaking research focused on understanding how tuition waiver programs for former youth in care impact the lives of recipients in Atlantic Canada.
