A message on Youth In Care Day, May 2021
Contact me at TheElman360@gmail.com
Follow me on:
Twitter @irwinelman
Instagram @elmanirwin
Facebook Irwin Elman
Linked In Irwin Elman
I have a Tic Tok account but Iâm not ready for Prime time yet !
Supporting the Coroner of Ontario in Building A New Child Death Review System
With Courtney of the Coroners Office and Abrar and Sal of Youth Gravity. We were part of a pilot Community Child Death Review Table process in Peel examining the deaths of two youth by gun fire. The Coroner is developing a process that will improve upon what exists. Yes what exists is a very low bar.
The conversation with service providers and community organizations in Peel was difficult and intense. Interesting decreasing access to hand guns and increasing policing were issues never raised. Not even by representatives of Peel Police. A great deal of discussion around our over burdened underperforming school system was had. School being a crime prevention program. Racism was certainly seen as a factor.
Abrar and Sal spoke a great deal about trust. They argued that our institutions that touch the lives of children have a responsibility to build bridges of trust to children, their families and community. In the end we recommended the Coroner asks the government to use the Roots of Youth Violence Report as a road map and plans and implements the reports recommendations immediately.
Want to know more about my work in changing child death reviews , my call for mandatory Inquests for children in care? Email me at theelman360@gmail.com
Met with Federal Government representatives including the Prime Ministers Office, Chief Statistician of Canada and his staff, Chief of Staff to Heritage Minister and more. Heard a lot about âwell beingâ budgeting, the National Anti Poverty Council, child and youth voice. Opportunity here for advocacy. Want to hear more. Email me at theelman360@gmail.com
January 2020
https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/about-us/physical-punishment.aspx
Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth
What is the Joint Statement?
The Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth was developed by a national coalition of organizations facilitated by CHEO. Based on an extensive review of research, the Joint Statement provides an overview of the developmental outcomes associated with the use of physical punishment.
I was honored to be asked to sign the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment as a âdistinguished Canadianâ. I note that recently Japan was the latest country to ban physical punishment of children.
“The evidence is clear and compelling â physical punishment of children and youth plays no useful role in their upbringing and poses only risks to their development. The conclusion is equally compelling â parents should be strongly encouraged to develop alternative and positive approaches to discipline.”
January 20 2020
With students at Trent University most from the Child and Youth Studies program. We spoke about the closure of the Office of the Provincial Advocate in Ontario, rightist populism, childrenâs rights, the importance of the voice of the child…These students are emerging child advocates. I wanted to leave them determined and while daunted also inspired. Ontario needs them.
January 2020
January 2020
To the young people touched by autism who use their lived experience to make a difference for the Province I honour you. It is such difficult work you do. To the parents who struggle to support their children, to keep their families together, to keep a roof over their head and food on the table under so much stress and heartache and who yet find a way to fight for their children. I honour you. I thank you. You are not fighting for just your children. You are fuel for those children and families on mental health service wait lists waiting up to 2 years. You are fuel for women on wait lists for years waiting for counselling from rape crisis centres. You are fuel for parents and students knowing larger classes do anything but build resiliency… you are fuel for older retired child advocates. I know you are fighting for a Province where every child , Every child, has what they need when they need it in order to reach their potential. A Province where to every family , biological, foster , adoptive, kin, customary care, families of choice , we say âthank youâ. We say â whatever you need to do right by your children you will haveâ We say âwe have your back!â That day will come. We will make it so together.
February 2020 Youth âI am 19 years old and not going to high school anymore. I have a learning disabil- ity, partial FASD and ADHD. I need to have things explained to me different ways. Now that I am not going to school most of the time I just stay at home. Iâm trying to figure things out, I guess. Staying here mostly. Iâm not really sure what to do.â
Mom âWe are working on getting him on disability assistance. Then weâre work- ing on getting him his own place, maybe. Weâre going to be applying for a worker to come in to see him and work with him. Itâs just that the waiting list, and the time for the applica- tions are a pain. The applications are hard to fill out and the waiting lists are long.â
Youth âItâs hard for my mom to help me with all these things. I wish there was someone who was around that could help me figure out all these things. That would probably help out a lot. It helps me when I can work with the same person. They get to know me and I get to know themâ
In Sioux Lookout supporting a child death review community table. Again we learn about young people and parents yearning for connection and support. The lack of connection and belonging can be fatal
Appearing Before Quebec Child Welfare Inquiry – February 2020
Today I provided testimony to the Quebec Inquiry into Child Welfare. I thank the President of the Commission Madame Laurent for the kind invitation and her obvious determination to better the lives of children in care. I have faith in her.
At the Economic Club of Canada with some incredible young women who are child rights advocates today. Meeting Federal and Provincial Ministers and their staff. Thanks to Children First Canada for the opportunity. #childrenfirstcanada We can build an economy that meets the needs of all including children!
March 2020
With Andrea Horwath as she announced a Bill to be tabled today designed to protect the independence of Ontario Human Rights Commission. I was asked to attend the announcement and was proud to join in support with Laura Mae Lindo MPP and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The OHRC is one of the only rights protecting institutions left in Ontario. We can not let it be eroded any further by government interference and we must protect its existence. Ontario must stand up for human March 2020
I have been thinking a great deal about young people in and from care. I know often they have told us about feeling isolated. As we increase our push towards social distancing I want young people in and from care to know we see them and are thinking of them.
I know I have no positional authority but I reached out to Kids Help Phone to request that they agree to expand their mandate and offer their stellar service to youth and people of any age from care.
I have reached out to the Ontario Association of Childrens Aid Societies to ask that they request their member Childrenâs Aid Societies to let all former youth in care know that they are welcomed to call with questions or even to simply talk. Day or night. That CAS night duty will be available and welcoming of them.
I have requested Minister Dunlop and Minister Todd ensure these minimum steps are taken.
I can say the Kids Help Phone has already stepped up and are very willing to hear from any youth or former youth in care of any age who wants to reach out to them. March 2020
An open letter to Minister of Community and Social Services
Dear Minister;
I know you are busy. I know you are stressed. I think that we are in such difficult times and governments are dealing with these circumstances as best as you think you can. I ask you though to take a moment and reflect.
Imagine you had a child who was living away from home on their own. Your child was 21 years old. You had been supporting them every month with a small cheque for rent and food in order for them to be able to go to school. You were there for them. Then the pandemic hit. What you decided to do was tell your child there would be no more cheques. Further you would say âhere is a number to call at social assistance. You are not ever able to call me again.â Imagine that. You canât imagine that I bet.
Minister that is exactly what you are doing. Right now. Today.
As you know no child comes into your care as Minister through the child protection system for something they have done. You Minister through your child protection system with courts have decided that these children are in need of protection. You have taken them from their families. You know the kinds of things that the children were dealing with that made you make that decision. You Minister have promised to care and support these children. The children may have even expected love from you.
You are aware Minister that you have not been a very good parent to them. Moving them from home to home to home. Not always present. Hardly listening. You have promised to be a better parent. For at least two years you have made this promise. Those who had custody of your children in your role before you made the same promises. Empty promises.
You Minister were all these children had so they survived. At least most have survived. You have always told them that you would provide them a meagre cheque to use to live on their own when they are 18 years of age and that they could contact you if they need something. It didnât matter if they were ready or not. You then told them that, no matter what , this cheque and those calls for support would vanish when they turned 21 years of age. Your children told you âbut it feels like we are being pushed off the edge of a cliff alone. Aloneâ. Minister you acted as if it was the way it had to be.
Today Minister you and your children live in a veritable maelstrom caused by the Covid 19 Pandemic and our public health response to it. Community centres are closed. Mental health services stretched thin. Landlords thinking about evictions. Even places of worship unavailable. All of us, including you Minister, worrying about our personal well being and the well being of those we love.
Except Minister you continue to tell your children as they turn 21 who have depended upon you who you know are struggling, that you will not give them money to pay for their rent and food. You tell them not to call home. You tell them as you push them out the door into the abys of this pandemic crisis that you are making a plan. Maybe you are Minister I donât know and I donât know what kind of plan it will be. Certainly you did not ask your children about it.
Wouldnât it be better Minister if you said right now, today, to your children âI care about you. I would like you to stay connected with me if you want to. I will continue to be there for you. Weâve got this. I am planning to do betterâ Wouldnât that be better Minister? Isnât it time you were a better parent?
Minister I know your children well. I can promise you that even uttering those words publicly and immediately would be an emotional salve and a powerful source of emotional assurance. You can do this Minister and donât forget your younger children are watching what you do. Every act you take is a message to them.
Do the right thing Minister. Show your children you care.
Sincerely,
Irwin
March 2020. We won. In Ontario
Now to drive a truck through the opening
https://aptnnews.ca/2020/03/26/ontario-government-issues-moratorium-on-youth-aging-out-of-care-during-pandemic/
April 2020
If you are up to this recording of the live stream townhall on issues affecting people with disabilities during the pandemic is really full of good information provided by really strong , insightful , knowledgeable advocates. I was humbled to have been invited to participate.
I have organized a virtual town hall for youth with disabilities. I managed to push the Federal Minister of Employment Disabilities and Inclusion Qualtrough and MCSS Minister to attend. Grateful for the involvement of Elsbeth Dodman first voice youth with autism for her partnership
I have been asked to be a member of the coalition and will do my best to encourage the Minister to meaningfully involved young people.
Oh for goodness sake. My youngest had yoga for gym today. He said he would do it only if I did. Home schooling is ridiculous
Helped instigate and bring partners together for a Virtual Town Hall. Report and recording to come
Moved by a youth in care saying âthis pandemic is testing the mental toughness and resilience of children in careâ
May 2020
June 2020
As a Champion of Childrens First Canada I was a signatory of this letter
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST ACT NOW TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CANADAâS KIDS AND KEEP THEM SAFE
The federal government has announced several policy and funding measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on children and their families. There have also been tremendous supports from the private sector and communities in support of children and youth. These early efforts have brought much needed attention and resources to the plight of children and have been greatly appreciated, but much more is needed if we are to make significant impact.
KIDS CANâT WAIT!
With each day that passes, the toll of this crisis on children worsens. Children First Canada and our Council of Champions have identified three major priorities for immediate investment and are calling on the federal government to invest $250 million to address these priorities:
- Protecting the physical and mental health of children
- Protecting children from violence
- Promoting the resilience of children
We have also urged the federal government to work directly with Indigenous organizations to fund their needs to support First Nations, MĂ©tis and Inuit children and families, and to work with the Provinces and Territories in a coordinated response and ensure that no child is left behind.
Lastly, we have called on the federal government to hear directly from children and youth as to how they are impacted and to involve them in the decisions being made to improve their lives. Children arenât simply people in need of help, they are citizens with rights.
There is nothing more important to Canadians than the survival of our children. Kids represent nearly a quarter of our population and one hundred percent of our future. Without immediate help, we risk jeopardizing their childhood and the future of all Canadians.
Please take a moment to fill out the form below to urge the Government of Canada to act without delay and ensure that kids receive the care and support they need.
Every single day matters in the life of a child, and they cannot afford to wait.
I think the question is what are white people willing to do to end anti Black racism? In Toronto marching for equity
July 2020
With Federal Minister Carolyn Bennett, Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, Ontario NDP Childrens Critic pushing for a permanent end to aging out of care in favour of a readiness based system.
August 2020
Looking forward to this event. July 2020
September 2020
October 2020
November 2020
December 2020
