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September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To commemorate this day, we collaborated with Anishinaabe Onyota’a:ka artist, Tsista Kennedy (@hotdog.water.art on Instagram), on orange t-shirts for our StepStones community. Tsista Kennedy’s style is described as a merging of Indigenous traditionalism and modernism, with his personal experiences and stories incorporated into his pieces.

This is the third year this day has been marked as a statutory holiday by the Canadian government and StepStones offices are closed Monday to give staff the opportunity to further educate themselves on the legacy of the residential school system within the child welfare system and the impact that has on Indigenous communities today.

Today and every day, StepStones is grateful for the opportunity to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people across Turtle Island.

Are you ready to accept the challenge while helpin

Are you ready to accept the challenge while helping to fundraise for youth in and from foster care? At StepStones for Youth, the three key pillars of our programming are Healthy Living, Education, and Building Connections. And in the StepStones community, we lead by example!
In this spirit, we are calling on our supporters to take the StepStones for YOU Challenge – a week of simple and fun activities for you to participate in that reflect everything we want youth at StepStones to have: a healthy life, continued learning, and connection with loved ones. Let your friends and family know you are taking the StepStones for YOU Challenge to raise donations on your fundraising page that will help young people from the child welfare system thrive.
PLUS, if 25 people sign up to take the challenge, everyone’s donations will be matched. That means all gifts supporting the StepStones for YOU Challenge will have DOUBLE the impact up to a maximum of $10,000!
Sign up today at the link in our bio or here: https://shorturl.at/tJRW9

StepStones for Youth is proud to be selected for #

StepStones for Youth is proud to be selected for #TheStarbucksFoundation #NeighborhoodGrants, thanks to local Starbucks partners and employees in our community! This recognition will enable us to continue offering unique and inclusive supports to marginalized young people in and from the foster care system. Thank You Starbucks Foundation Neighbourhood Grants!

Registration for the 2023 International Transition

Registration for the 2023 International Transitions from Child Protection Symposium is now open. As a passionate advocate for building connections and promoting cross-sectoral engagement on the issues related to child welfare and improving pathways for youth exiting the child welfare system, Shuah Roskies sat on the planning committee for this Symposium, along with StepStones’ founder and Executive Director, Heather O’Keefe. If you are a policy maker, leader or supervisor in the child welfare sector, please consider attending this informative event to help continue this valuable work.

The link to register is in the Linktree in our bio!

Our late colleague, Shuah Roskies, was passionate

Our late colleague, Shuah Roskies, was passionate about access for young people at the critical age of late adolescence, when they age out of foster care with little or no support. One support available to these young people is the Voluntary Youth Services Agreements (VYSAs), but they aren’t perfect. Shuah cared deeply about working on how to improve access to VYSAs and broaden the supports they offer. Learn more about VYSAs in these slides.

We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Sh

We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Shuah Roskies, an incredible and tireless advocate for youth and an invaluable member of the StepStones team.  

Shuah was an amazing and integral part of StepStones, as well as a vital connector of organizations and people across the provincial and national child welfare space.

Her passion and drive to address the needs of vulnerable young people in our community was unparalleled. She was a true champion for youth and widely recognized leader in the child welfare sector. We offer our deepest condolences to Shuah’s family, friends, and the many colleagues who had the pleasure of working with her. 

We have come together to mourn Shuah’s passing and try to process this tremendous loss. We encourage you to reach out to your colleagues and communities for support at this time.  

Although StepStones will never be the same without her, we will work diligently to honour her memory and legacy, and her hopes for a better and brighter future for all youth.

As the summer holidays come to an end, we are send

As the summer holidays come to an end, we are sending our very best wishes to every young person at StepStones returning to their studies in September! We are proud to support youth in pursuing their educational goals at all levels, and we look forward to seeing them continue to learn and thrive!

Carrie was living in a shelter with her three chil

Carrie was living in a shelter with her three children when she first heard about StepStones. She made contact and was paired with a Connection Coordinator, who guided her in mapping out a brighter future that included continuing her educational journey.

With the help of ScotiaRISE, StepStones was able to provide Carrie with a laptop and tuition subsidies as she took an online Personal Support Worker course. She has almost completed it, and after two months of hands-on training she'll be a certified PSW!

Carrie always dreamed of having a career that gave back, while being able to care for her family. In a field that's critically short of workers she'll soon be able to pay forward the support she received. Thank you to ScotiaRISE for helping bridge the gaps so Carrie could pursue her goals and achieve her dreams!

To wrap up our series on International Youth Day,

To wrap up our series on International Youth Day, StepStones is prioritizing green skills for youth with a variety of cooking workshops featuring different cuisines, food groups, and tips on sustainable shopping.

The theme of this year's International Youth Day i

The theme of this year's International Youth Day is "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World." Our contribution was the Plant Propagation and Mini Herb Garden workshop on April 13, which taught youth at StepStones all about small-scale gardening, using herbs in cooking, and how to grow plants from leaves and stems at home!

Happy International Youth Day! Each year on August

Happy International Youth Day! Each year on August 12, the international community comes together to amplify the voices of young people across the world. The theme for 2023 is "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World." Stay tuned to hear more about how StepStones for Youth ensures a greener future for the next generation.

Have you read our recent Impact Report? This annua

Have you read our recent Impact Report? This annual report captures the tremendous outcomes in young people's lives that our amazing community of staff, volunteers, mentors, and donors make possible each year. Check it out on the "Our Impact" tab in the Linktree in our bio!

Emancipation Day marks the anniversary of the Slav

Emancipation Day marks the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act, which came into effect on August 1, 1833 and banned enslavement across the British Empire, including what we now know as Canada. The legacy and impact of slavery on Black Canadians continues through systemic racism, which is seen through the overrepresentation of Black children in foster care. StepStones for Youth is dedicated to the principles of anti-racism through our service delivery, representation on our team and in our volunteers and mentors, and most importantly, by including the voices of marginalized youth in our programming and decision-making processes. These and other steps we've taken can be found on the "Our Commitment to Anti-Racism" link in our Linktree.

Curious about all the different ways you can becom

Curious about all the different ways you can become a StepStones supporter? Find more information on our website under the “Support & Donate” tab!

A warm welcome to two of our newest Connection Coo

A warm welcome to two of our newest Connection Coordinators, Sam and Frankie! Connection Coordinators assist young people with developing and nurturing long-term relationships with natural supports, volunteer mentors, community members, and broad support networks in the community.

Swipe for a step-by-step guide on how to refer a y

Swipe for a step-by-step guide on how to refer a young person to StepStones and how they can access our services using our website.

Youth at StepStones are full of creativity and our

Youth at StepStones are full of creativity and our recent art workshop hosted by our front-line team on May 16 gave them a chance to express it! We are grateful to the young people who showcased their talents and shared their evening making beautiful and inspiring works of art.

A warm welcome to the two newest members of our De

A warm welcome to the two newest members of our Development & Awareness Team, Pomaa & Abhi! DAT is responsible for ensuring our front-line staff have the resources they need to effectively assist young people in our program, and for growing our community of supporters who share our belief that young people involved in child welfare deserve better outcomes.

Tristan was referred to StepStones in 2022 by a wo

Tristan was referred to StepStones in 2022 by a worker at the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre in Toronto. His Connection Coordinator was able to help him secure a housing grant that allowed him to focus on his education, career, and passion – music!

A talented singer and multi-instrumentalist, StepStones helped Tristan locate a home in Kensington Market, the vibrant arts community in the heart of Toronto. When not working or studying, he often attends music events, such as concerts and open mic nights, to share and hone his skills.

Tristan has remarked that he’s so grateful to have secured stable housing so he can focus on pursuing his passion at Humber College. With the support of RBC Future Launch Foundation, he's now in his final year of a Bachelor of Music program. Thank you, @rbc, for launching bright futures like Tristan’s!

Our work at StepStones is based on four pillars th

Our work at StepStones is based on four pillars that represent our goals, values, and mission. Swipe to learn what these pillars are, and visit the "Our Impact" tab on our website to read more about StepStones' goals and accomplishments!

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StepStones for Youth © 2019 | Registered Charitable Number: 85355 0077 RR0001