Dr. Geoffrey Pawson
With profound sadness we announce the passing of Dr. Geoffrey Pawson on January 30, 2012. Husband to Barbara for 50 years; Father to Jane (David) Loblaw, Gord (Lori) Pawson, David Pawson, and Kate (Scott) Langen. He was an extremely proud Granddad to Rachel, Sydney and Chloe Langen and Demira and Darian Pawson. Brother to David (Doreen) Pawson and Lloyd (Angie) Pawson; brother-in-law to Roger & Vicki Hardage and Ann & Jim Stevens; and their families. Geoff is the founder of the Ranch Ehrlo Society and former Ehrlo Community Services. He was only 27 years of age when he opened the first group home with 6 youth. The agency has grown to currently serving 250 youth and families across Saskatchewan and Canada. There have been thousands of graduates of the program, many of whom continued to maintain contact. He received many honours throughout his career such as the Order of Canada in 2000, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2001, the Family Service Canada Award in 2003, and an Honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina in 2005. Geoff was an inspirational leader who had a tremendous impact at the local, provincial, national and international level for his unwavering commitment to youth. He had a gifted ability to create change, overcome obstacles, and challenge the status quo. He was a master problem-solver and visionary who was respected by his colleagues, employees, community, friends and family. Although Geoff will be profoundly missed, he has left a remarkable legacy. His mission and vision will live on at Ranch Ehrlo, as he laid a solid foundation to continue to improve upon meeting the needs and filling gaps for the most vulnerable members of our society. He truly left the world a better place. Donations can be made in Geoff's honor to the Dr. Geoffrey Pawson Education Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to enable present and/or former residents of the Ranch Ehrlo Society and other deserving individuals to continue with Post-secondary and apprenticeship training. The focus is to improve the likelihood of long-term and continuous employment in the future of the recipients. A Memorial will be held on Friday February 17, 2012 at 7 pm at the Radisson Plaza Hotel Saskatchewan in the Grand Ballroom. An online book of condolences can be accessed at www.Ehrlo.com, as well as www.Facebook.com/RanchEhrlo. This is a wonderful way for the family to stay connected as they have yet to be able to return from Tucson AZ.
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Projects
In addition to serving our membership, the Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC) is involved in projects that support its mission and guiding beliefs. Please take some time to learn more about the important ongoing work of CWLC by reading about our ongoing projects. If you would like additional information please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Every Child Matters
The Every Child Matters (ECM) project was launched in February 2010 and aims to improve the experience of children in care by strengthening foster parent recruitment, retention and training practices. CWLC is implementing this project in collaboration with the Canadian Foster Family Association (CFFA).
We have participated in a number of regional consultations and conferences across the country where we also hosted a number of focus groups with foster parents and child welfare workers. These sessions provided insight into the strengths and challenges of foster care provision in different provinces and territories as well as direction for the development of project materials to ensure that they are helpful, user friendly and accessible. The next year promises to be very busy for ECM as recruitment tools, webinars and surveys are developed in consultation with the project’s stakeholders. For more information, please visit the ECM website: www.cwlc.ca/ecm.
South African Child Protection Project (SACPP)
The South African Child Protection Project (SACPP) is a five-year initiative with the goal to enhance the provision and future development of child protection systems and services in South Africa. CWLC, in collaboration with the South African Department of Social Development (DSD), will provide technical assistance, risk mitigation and quality assurance services. The data generated from this study will provide and inform national policy development, programming and advocacy efforts. This year, CWLC held consultations in eight of the nine South African provinces with members of the national and provincial Departments of Social Development, various other governmental departments and local NGOs.
2010 also marked the entry into the initiation and pilot study phase of the study. The project’s activities included developing an environmental scan, the data collection instrument, methodology and the data collection approach for the study. CWLC also recently hosted the project team from the South African Department of Social Development, the purpose of which was to discuss key topics including the conceptual framework, the methodology, data collection strategy, and overall project planning and risk mitigation. For more information, please contact us at info@cwlc.ca
Past Projects
Promoting Parent Education and Support (PPES)
The objective of this endeavour was to develop culturally relevant parenting education tools and professional education materials to inform parents and/or guardians about positive parenting. The effects of physical punishment of children and child abuse were also incorporated. For more information, please contact us at info@cwlc.ca.
Building Education Opportunities in Canadian Child Welfare Servcies (BEO)
This three-year project from the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program, Human Resources and Social Development, wrapped up on December 31, 2010. The BEO focused on increasing access to post secondary education for children in care and children receiving services from child welfare agencies. For information on Building Education Opportunities contact us at info@cwlc.ca.
National Consultation Centre (NCC)
The NCC provides consulting and management services to organizations and governments working on behalf of children, youth and families.
Parenting Resources Information Development Education (PRIDE)
The PRIDE program is a foster parent and adoptive parent recruitment, preparation and selection program that also provides foster parent inservice training and ongoing professional development.
Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW)
CWLC, in partnership with the University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work, and l'Institut de recherche pour le développement social des jeunes (IRDS), forms the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, one of five Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being funded by Health Canada.
Canadian Looking After Children Project (CanLAC)
The CanLAC project links jurisdictions across the country to improve the experience and outcomes of children and youth in state care.
National Child and Family Services Accountability Development Project
CWLC, in partnership with Family Service Canada, undertook a study to determine the need for an independent accrediting body in Canada. In February 2003 a National Symposium was held in Ottawa. Symposium papers can be found at Canadian Outcomes Institute.
