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June 20, 2018
Publication
The purpose of this report is to gather what has been learned about hosting deep youth engagement initiatives as a community foundation. Many foundations, funders and nonprofit organizations have approached Vancouver Foundation over the years wanting to know more about its role in Fresh Voices,...
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May 16, 2018
Publication
Vancouver Foundation worked with an external research uncover our key lessons from two youth engagement initiatives: Fostering Change and Fresh Voices. They dug through over 5,000 strategy, project, and campaign documents, caught up on our grantmaking activities, and conducted interviews and focus...
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February 7, 2018
Post
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
Post
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
Post
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...
June 6, 2017
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The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada is an open network to promote giving, sharing, and philanthropy in Aboriginal communities across the country. The Circle connects with and supports the empowerment of First Nations, Inuit and Métis nations, communities, and individuals in...
March 31, 2017
Post
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
Post
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...
July 12, 2016
Post
Vancouver Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of Fostering Change Grants for 2016. Fostering Change is an initiative by Vancouver Foundation to improve policy, practice and community connections for young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood. Our commitment to this work...
May 12, 2016
Post
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
Post
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
Post
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
Post
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
Post
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
Post
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 30, 2015
Page
Applications will be selected for funding after being reviewed by members of the volunteer Fostering Change Advisory Committee, whose membership offers depth of community knowledge, skills and experience in supporting policy and practice improvements for youth transitioning from care to adulthood...
September 30, 2015
Page
Youth Engagement We would like to see proposals that demonstrate significant opportunities for youth and young leader voices to be engaged in ongoing advocacy, policy development, research and community engagement. Projects that focus on leadership development, alumni networking and connections to...
September 24, 2015
Publication
Fostering Change is an initiative to involve youth, their allies, supportive organizations, and engaged citizens across Metro Vancouver in conversation and action. The goal: to ensure youth in government care have access to resources, opportunities, and consistent caring relationships they need to...
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