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 !

I will be speaking at Against the Current -hundreds of youth in and frcare held public hearings , wrote “My Real Lifebook” and changed the way we look at child welfare. 13 yrs ago legislation passed making every May 14 ( the day My Real Lifebook was released) Youth In Care Day

With Sonor Foundation as they facilitate gathering seeking ways in which to fundamentally change and support Kinship care in child protection. More convinced than ever that fundamental change is needed.

Convo with community that found the body of Naveah. Thank you to Jennifer Pagliaro and Wendy Gillis of @TorontoStar for video contributing to the discussion. We would not see Naveah without you. The Case of Neveah: How Did We Get Here? youtu.be/MQU8mtieNWw?si… via @YouTube

You can watch the Memorial Service for Naveah here www.youtube.com/live/q2--27g...

Fundamental change is now possible. Join me for a first in a series of hopeful conversations with people and organizations doing things differently. On Thursday May 15 1pm an online conversation with La Maison Bleu of Quebec. RSVP here eventbrite.com/e/130201927770…

If you are in London area please support this event for health equity.

Naveah’s little body 3 yrs ago was found in a dumpster in the community surrounding this church. The system meant to protect her refused to see her. This community refuses to look away. In the shadow of Youth in Care Day May 14 I will have the chance to express my gratitude

Speaking this morning at Memorial for Naveah at Rosedale Presbyterian Church on the anniversary of the discovery of her body. Grateful to this community for refusing to look away and for continuing to see this precious little girl.

“Australians voted for "fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all," as well as courage in the face of adversity and kindness to those in need” Thank you Australia ! www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7525798

Canadians have given Carney a mandate to form government. Now with the leadership to set policy and present a budget for Canada, he must bring the priorities of children and youth forward with him. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

The NB govt talks abt a “child and youth well being system” but as a cover for rearranging the deck chairs. It creates a crisis by underfunding child protection without any plan for how to provide children and families with support they need. www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1...