CWLC Achievement Awards

CWLC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Achievement Awards. It is the outstanding dedication of the many volunteers, staff, foster parents, and youth who make the difference for the children and families, and therefore the CWLC Achievement Awards recognize the contributions of individuals in various sectors of the child welfare system, which have led to significant achievements towards the goals of child welfare services in Canada.

The CWLC Achievement Awards were introduced in 2000 to recognize and honour individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution in child welfare in the areas of Advocacy, Research and Evaluation, Youth Leadership, Foster Parents, Children’s Services and Community Service by Volunteer.

This year’s recipients, by category, are:

Children’s Services Award – Dr James R. Wilkes, MD, FRCP(C)
Nominated by Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Recognizes an employee who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, creativity and dedication in their direct work with children, youth and families.

Dr Wilkes has been a medical practitioner (52 years), child psychiatrist (45 years) and a mentor to CCAS workers (30 years) over the course of his career. He has provided counselling to thousands of children dealing with the consequences of abuse and neglect. Dr Wilkes continues to be a leading advocate for the safety and well-being of children and his work has been a catalyst for improvements to child welfare policy and legislation.

Foster Parent Award – Marcel and Madeleine Boucher
Nominated by Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
Recognizes an individual or family, who, while licensed as a foster family, has provided exceptional care to the children and youth, placed with them and has provided leadership to the foster family association.

Marcel and Madeleine have been foster parents since 1986 and have provided care to hundreds of children. They have also adopted three children through fostering and they remain supportive of their adult children and grandchildren. Marcel and Madeleine are strong ambassadors for the foster care system in Ottawa community and they are currently mentors to many foster and adoptive parents.

Research and Evaluation Award – Barbara Fallon, PhD, MSW
Nominated by Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare & Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (University of Toronto)
Recognizes a Canadian individual, group or organization that performs and produces outstanding child welfare research and/or evaluation reports that contribute to improved outcomes for children and families.

Dr Fallon is the currently the co-investigator for the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. The CIS is only study of its kind in Canada and the single greatest source of information on child maltreatment in Canada. Dr Fallon has been involved with the CIS study since 1998 and managed the second cycle in 2003. She also mentors doctoral students who use CIS data and has co-authored specific reports on First Nations child welfare.

Community Service by a Volunteer – Jack Coffin
Nominated by Nova Scotia Council for the Family
Recognizes the leadership and achievement of an individual in a volunteer capacity to improving the safety and well-being of children in their local community.

Mr Coffin has spent numerous years working a volunteer with various Boards of Directors. He spent 10 years with the Board of Directors for the Cape-Breton – Victoria Children’s Aid Society and currently volunteers with the Nova Scotia Council for the Family. He volunteered with the Child Welfare Steering Committee, which examined services for children and families in Nova Scotia. Mr Coffin was very respected by his peers in this process, in particular for his commitment and leadership. Mr Coffin has also spent numerous years volunteering with local minor hockey clubs.

Youth Leadership – Jessie and Fionna
Nominated by Batshaw Youth and Family Centres
This award recognizes a young person (12-25 years) who is in care (or left care) and has demonstrated commitment to self improvement, achieved improvement in a specific area, provided leadership skills or a positive contribution to other youth and contributed to the positive image of youth.

The two outstanding youth were nominated for their involvement and leadership in Stand UP! Speak OUT!, a youth empowerment group. The goal of the group is to use the voices of youth in care to promote change for children in care and in the youth protection system. Stand UP! Speak OUT! Is also a forum where adolescents 16 and older who live in care find empowerment through their experiences. Jessie is a founding member and Fionna joined shortly after it was established.

Congratulations to all of this year's recipients and nominees for your hard work on behalf of Canadian children and youth.