Until The Last Child (UTLC) was founded and is led by Faith Goodman. Ten years ago I met Faith. She had just learned about the journey of young people in the child welfare system and she was shocked. She had decided to use her privilege and good fortune to try to make a difference. She created her own organization and began a campaign to support children in finding permanent loving homes in their own families and communities of origin rather than come into care. This was ten years ago and many a child welfare door closed upon her. I connected Faith to one of the few like minded Executive Directors of a child welfare agency I knew and she funded and piloted a program with him. Check out UTLC at www.UntilTheLastChild.com
Skip 10 years. As I was readying to retire Faith comes to meet me again. I learn she was resolute in her commitment. She had just completed a number of pilot “family finding” initiatives in Manitoba. She had partnered with First Nation agencies, the University of Manitoba, Deloitte Canada and the government of Manitoba to create a new model of family finding in the Province that was permanently adopted by the agencies and government of the Province. The Métis Foundation of Manitoba was now calling on UTLC to partner with them.
Faith asked me to consider working with her. I have agreed to be her “Global Strategic Advisor”. I will support the development of initiatives that promote belonging and “family” for youth in out of home care across Canada and in countries in other parts of the world.
