Today is Child and Youth In Care Day in Ontario. It is a day of recognition for children who are too often invisible — and too often silenced. A day to say: We see you. You matter. Read how and why young people forced the Province to create the day. theelman.com/index.php/20...

Join me for what I hope is a critical “warts and all” discussion on youth participation into policy and legislation making. Register here. torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Please take a moment to watch this memorial service for four year old Naveah. “A child who was failed by the system meant to protect her deserves to be remembered “ “We choose to remember. We choose to say her name. Naveah” I invite @MichaelParsa to do the same www.youtube.com/live/4PAIzbH...

On May 3 2022 4 yr old Naveah was found dead in a dumpster in Toronto. I call upon @torontopolice to publicly update the public on the investigation into her death. We must remember Naveah Read about my call theelman.com/index.php/20...

As the Vice President of Abrar Trauma and Mental Health I invite you to attend the community gathering in Hamilton of Nabil Askafe. Nabil was shot and killed by a younger youth. Nabil, a member of the Abrar community,travelled to Canada as a child from Syria seeking a kinder gentler safer life

Our Ombudsman in Ontario was given jurisdiction of our school system but because that office can’t and won’t advocate there will be not a peep. It is sad and embarrassing that we must rely on Newfoundland around this issue vocm.com/2026/04/21/2...

It’s not that the child protection system is broken. It’s that it doesn’t work. It is old and out of date. It can’t be repaired. It must be replaced. This is no longer a radical stance. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The argument at the murder trial ends today. It already is obvious that the child protection system , 130 plus years old , is at the root of what took place regardless of what the verdict is. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

I will be assisting in supporting the crucial dialogue that will take place at this symposium. Grateful to EFTO for having the courage to explore how children are being harmed by the crisis in our elementary schools.

Please join me in conversation with Heidi Chan , Founder of Youth Led , Kids Rights Canada for a discussion sure to disrupt current narratives around social media, all things digital and child safety. Monday April 20 , 1pm on line RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-the...

Don’t forget this upcoming hopeful conversation. Please join us. RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/1761038326...

As urgent as today’s headlines. Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children” Wednesday October 1 on line RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...

As urgent as today’s headlines. Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children” Wednesday October 1 on line RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...

A system built in liability and risk can not keep children safe. The system must be abandoned. From the ashes a new system built in other concepts of safety : community, social determinants of health can be created. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

The life and death of this little boy is a devastating indictment of every system meant to touch the life of a child including but not solely the child protection system. www.thestar.com/news/ontario...

This is yet another example of a system in complete decay unable to fulfill its mandate to protect children. This is the product of “system redesign” instead of system replacement. On so many levels simply horrifying www.thestar.com/news/gta/chi...

Ugly and outrageous Another symptom of a child protection system collapsing In further chaos from govt attempts to tinker and “redesign” with no courage to create a fundamentally different way of understanding “safety” and a system to achieve it. www.insidehalton.com/news/crime/l...

If you are in Ottawa join me in this discussion organized by International Social Services on the growing crisis facing children “on the move” in Canada and globally.

Ken Dryden was always a champion for youth from care. He set up the Ken Dryden Scholarship with the National Youth In Care Network well before any part of the child welfare system thought to do so. He refused any credit for this act of caring and empowerment.

Ken Dryden cared abt children. He was Ontario’s “Children’s Commissioner” for a time decades ago. I met him then and from that meeting on he always was an amazing wise advisor to me. He countered the adage and proved it actually can be good to meet your heroes.

I’m so proud to host this important conversation. Please join us! Hopeful Conversation www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...

There is no system that promises more and delivers less to children than our education system. The govt answer is to add policing that will only widen the gap btwn promise and reality

Join us this morning at Queens Park in Toronto 11am A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.

Join me and so many other speakers of much more note at Queen’s Park on Wednesday. We must build our systems on love and belonging. Force, exclusion, fear will never create safety. Inclusion will.

ow many more times must Municipal and Provincial govts be told to take the McMurtry/Curling report “The Roots of Youth Violence” off the shelf and implemented. www.thestar.com/news/gta/mou...

August 3, 2008 , 7 year old Katelynn Sampson was found brutally murdered . Beside her a note in her handwriting “I am A awful girl. That’s why no one wants me”

Whatever the outcome of today’s Fed govt meeting with Indigenous leadership remember that the 10th anniversary of the TRC calls to action is on Dec 15. A decade and not one call related to children is complete. 10 years. It’s why “trust us” just doesn’t cut it.

The calls have been growing for months and months. The Minister @MichaelParsa and government held this child’s life and many others in their hands. They let those lives slip through their fingers.

“The Minister is the point person under the CYFSA. The Minister held Jade’s life in his hands. The Minister let it slip through his fingers” theelman.com/index.php/20...

With the @fordnation govt feeling it can educate and support students better than School Boards how long until they decide they can protect children better than CASs? Ontario is the only Prov where child protection system is not direct operated by govt.

I am grateful that more people are speaking out. More funding is needed immediately to stop the bleeding but only fundamental systemic change can cure this crisis windsorstar.com/news/local-n...

Glad the Ombudman of Ontario finally forced to come out of hiding after 7 years to say something. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

The symptom of the illness - unlicensed placements like hotels- lingers untreated by the Minister for years now, while the illness - the crisis size need for fundamental change is not even acknowledged let alone cured. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

A harrowing story to read and I imagine an unbearable life to have lived. Jade’s death and suffering of those who cared for her, the moral injury of those who tried to serve her are the responsibility of Minister @MichaelParsa Not hyperbole. Fact www.thestar.com/news/investi...

We can move to create a fundamentally new system that meets the needs and desires of children and families looks like. You have something to add! Refuse to despair Join us in Toronto the Wednesday RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...

These new powers proposed by the Ontario government will not educate one student. They will not protect one child. Let’s not fool ourselves. www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

With the news that every 65 hrs a child connected to a CAS in Ont dies… If in T.O, join us for gathering to begin visioning a North Star system for Ont’s children and families and setting a course towards it. Wednesday June 11 7 pm at TMU RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...

Shout out to StepStones and Never Too Late for their focus on belonging in supporting youth leaving care www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

With the news this week that every 65 hours a child in Ontario connected to the child protection system dies this conversation is vital and needs you. If you are in Toronto please join us RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...

With the news that 2023 was a record year for deaths of children connected to child protection in Ontario. 134. This conversation about what different could look like is never more crucial. Please join us. Your ideas, thoughts are needed www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...

“90 deaths 90 voices silenced in 2008” from Ontarios Child Advocate. 134 children dead, 134 voices silenced 2023. One death of a child connected to CAS every 60 hours. It is a scandal. globalnews.ca/news/1119062...

The system says “one death is too many”. Now it is 134. A death of a child every 60 hours No more “thoughts and prayers” @MichaelParsa @our_children Serious fundamental change is needed. Join us Minister on June 11 www.eventbrite.com/e/1372726063... globalnews.ca/news/1119062...

Every 60 hours, in Ontario, of every week a child connected to the system meant to protect them dies. Sit with that for a minute. It’s a record high. It’s a scandal. It’s terrifying. Fundamental change is needed now. globalnews.ca/news/1119062...

With thanks to Grandview Kids we at Defence for Children International- Canada were able to fill a shipping container for a centre for disabled children in our of home care and those children rescued from Russia launched by our partner in Kyiv @SaveukraineUs

On Monday Quebec’s Commissioner started “Children in Quebec now have a voice. Someone who will ensure they know their rights and who will ensure their rights are protected,” Leaving Ontario alone in Canada without such a position

One in four children have difficulty making friends; ranking 28th Despite progress, Canada maintains a high rate of adolescent suicide; ranking 33rd Canada ranks in the top 10 countries in only one area: academic skills; …. Unacceptable www.unicef.ca/en/press-rel...

Tomorrow 1pm est on line join us for the first of a series of hopeful conversations on what a fundamentally different approach to protecting children and supporting families could look like. With La Maison Bleu of Quebec. RSVP here for the link www.eventbrite.com/e/1302019277...

This Youth In Care Day two conferences I attended “Transforming Trauma” and “Against The Current” paused to reflect on our commitment to doing better for children in care.

Youth in Care Day is not Childrens Aid Society Day no matter how tempting that is for the system. Its not just a symbolic day. It is a demand for action — a clarion call to recognize, reflect, and radically transform how we care for children and youth in this province. theelman.com/index.php/20...

Tomorrow is Youth in Care Day in Ontario !