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February 7, 2018
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Since 2011, Vancouver Foundation has invested significant time, energy, ideas and money in bringing together foster care youth and immigrant and refugee youth, listening to them, and empowering them to address issues that affect them. Now that important progress has been made, including meaningful...
November 6, 2017
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What an incredibly powerful day. On October 24th, Vancouver Foundation's Fostering Change initiative and First Call BC joined forces for an amazing day of dialogue between youth in-and-from foster care and provincial politicians, including Premier John Horgan, current Minister of Children and...
August 15, 2017
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In the run-up to the 2017 BC Provincial Election, Vancouver Foundation's Fostering Change initiative launched a new awareness campaign - #SUPPORTTHE700 - to encourage all election candidates to sign a pledge and show their support for youth aging out of foster care in BC. Youth aging out of foster...
March 31, 2017
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What happens when youth from foster care turn 19? In BC, approximately 700 youth age out of the foster care system each year on their 19th birthday. Leaving government care – their “public parent” – youth are cut off from the support they need, are thrown into adult life, and often have no-one to...
October 21, 2016
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In our collected efforts toward increasing youth voice in decision making we have invited community partners, young leaders and adult allies for 4 days of engaging panels, workshops and learning alongside one another. The Youth Leadership Institute has 4 modules spread over 4 days: November 5:...
October 12, 2016
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This article by Tracy Sherlock originally appeared in The Vancouver Sun on 19 Sep 2016. The cost of supporting foster children in B.C. for six additional years would be about $99,000 for each young person, but the benefits would far outweigh that cost, says the report Opportunities in Transition:...
September 19, 2016
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Our new report – by SFU economist Marvin Shaffer and Family Policy Researcher, Lynell Anderson – is the first to estimate the costs associated with the adverse outcomes that many youth aging out of foster care in BC each year experience. Download your copy of the Summary Report now. The report...
May 12, 2016
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All too often, youth aging out of foster care end up homeless, are thrown into adult life before finishing high school, and have no-one to turn to in their 20’s. In BC, approximately 40% of homeless youth have some history in the child welfare system, and fewer than 35% have graduated high school...
April 8, 2016
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At the same moment that one 19-year-old Vancouverite is being chauffeured to his new university campus residence by his parents, toting school supplies they’ve purchased together, another 19-year-old is being told that he no longer has a home, financial support or relationships with supportive...
February 13, 2016
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On February 11th, the Trevor Linden Foundation joined First Call and Vancouver Foundation's Fostering Change initiative to celebrate young people and advocates all across British Columbia working to make sure BC’s children and youth have the rights, opportunities and resources required to thrive...
February 6, 2016
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Vancouver Foundation's Fostering Change initiative is pleased to release early results from our 2016 Youth Transitions Survey – a public opinion survey of perceptions among British Columbians towards youth in and from government care. 2016 Youth Transitions Survey – download (PDF) The 2016 Youth...
January 12, 2016
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Vancouver Foundation’s Fostering Change initiative has approved over $1.1M in grants to local organizations across the lower mainland to deliver education, housing, and social supports for young people leaving foster care. The funding will support projects over the next three years that give voice...
November 18, 2015
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Fostering Change is an initiative of Vancouver Foundation to improve policy, practice and community connections for young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood. We’re working in collaboration with a growing set of partners to achieve our goal – that every young person leaving foster...
October 15, 2015
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On Thursday October 8, 2015, Mark Gifford, Director of Grants and Community Initiatives and the Fostering Change Initiative at Vancouver Foundation spoke about leadership requirements to address issues facing young people leaving foster care. "How do we line up support around the caregivers, social...
September 24, 2015
Publication
VISION: Every young person leaving foster care will have the opportunities and support needed to thrive as adults MISSION: To improve policy, practice and community connections for young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood
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July 20, 2015
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19th Birthday Exhibit Youth who were formerly in government care currently comprise 40% of homeless youth in British Columbia. Many of these young adults transitioning out of care face challenges such as finding a job and permanent homes. Developed by youth through the Youth Homelessness Initiative...
June 5, 2015
Publication
Background: During the development of the learning agenda for Fostering Change, mental health was identified as one of the critical challenges for service providers. Members of the Shared Learning and Evaluation working group shared information on the current state of mental health service...
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