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.

National Consultation Centre (NCC)

CWLC's National Consultation Centre (NCC) provides consulting and management services to organizations and governments working on behalf of children, youth and families.

The NCC's goal is to strengthen the capacity of agencies, organizations and systems to plan and deliver services that demonstrably enhance the well-being of children, families and communities in Canada and abroad.

National Consultation Centre Services

The NCC offers a range of services, data and tools that allow child and family service organizations to perform and thrive in an environment that is always changing and challenging. These services are tailored to meet the specific needs of individual clients. They include:

  • Program evaluation, development and implementation
  • Operational review
  • Legislative, policy and/or regulatory reviews
  • Decision process mapping
  • Training and development for managers, staff and/or foster parents
  • Focus group consultations
  • Environmental scans
  • Continuous quality improvement (CQI)
  • Strategic planning
  • Management of change
  • Gender analysis of services, policies and programs
  • Board governance
  • Assistant with multicultural issues.

NCC Approach

The whole approach of the National Consultation Centre is centred on children and families, using in-depth, qualitative processes to provide comprehensive, multi-dimensional profiles. It also employs a project management approach to ensure meaningful and measurable outcomes that will have a clear and positive impact on children and families. This approach involves:

  • Clarifying the purpose of the project
  • Determining achievable and measurable objectives
  • Defining and implementing achievable activities to meet objectives
  • Assessing outcomes with quantifiable indicators.

NCC Consultants and Consulting Team Members

NCC consultants and consulting team members have first-hand experience providing and managing child and family services. They are selected on the basis of skills and experience needed to fulfill the specific needs and goals of each assignment.

CWLC seconds these highly qualified consultants from its member organizations and places them on term assignments.

All consultants and team members have access to the Child Welfare League of America and the National Centre for Consultation and Professional Development.

They work on-site, in cooperation with stakeholders at every level and use participatory research and evaluation to ensure ‘buy-in’ by the client, They build the capacities of organizations and systems, while equipping clients to maintain and monitor improvements long after the consultation is completed.

Examples of consultations:

  • The development of a “Roster of Experts” available to provide consultation to child welfare organizations
  • A review and needs assessment of foster care policy, services and supports in Alberta
  • Participation in a national study of youth who have been involved with child welfare system, and their experience of homelessness in “aging out” of child welfare

NCC Costs

The National Consultation Centre provides excellent quality services at reasonable costs on a competitive basis. Detailed work plans and budgets are developed for prior approval by clients. Discounts are offered as a special benefit to CWLC members. References are available on request.

For more information

Peter M. Dudding, MM, MSW, RSW
Executive Director

CWLC / LBEC
226 Argyle Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1B9

Telephone: (613) 235-4412
Fax: (613) 235-7616
E-mail: info@cwlc.ca