Voices Manitoba

Voices: Manitoba's Youth in Care Network provides support, encouragement, and advocacy to young people in and from care in Manitoba. We come alongside youth while they are in care, as they transition to in(ter)dependence, and as they grow into adults pursuing their goals. We are youth-driven and youth-focused.

We raise awareness of the challenges youth-in-care face, educating the public and working with child welfare professionals to create a better system of care in Manitoba, improving living conditions for children and youth who find themselves in alternative care, such as foster homes, group homes, and independent living programs.

Our members range in age from 12 to 30 years old. We have a growing youth membership comprised of the many cultures and ethnicities that reside in Manitoba.

About Us

Manitoba's Youth in Care Network was started in 1995. After a bit of 'placement bouncing', Voices was brought under the stewardship of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg in January, 1998. We celebrate our 18th birthday September 2013!

The program currently has one full time and one part-time youth outreach workers staff. We have an advisory committee which consists of former youth in care, a C.F.S. Social Worker, a foster Parent, a supervisor of a residential care facility, a community development consultant, and Manitoba's Children's Advocate. The network is active in community awareness, youth outreach, advocacy and networking.

Our Mission

Through youth driven community awareness and advocacy, Voices: Manitoba's Youth in Care Network is committed to empowering and supporting youth in and from care.

Community Awareness

We educate the public on issues facing youth in care in Manitoba .

Outreach & Support

We meet with youth people who have recently come into care to offer support, understanding and friendship. Entering care can be scary, stressful and confusing, and we believe that it is beneficial to have someone, who has already been through it, there to answer questions and offer support.

The goals of our outreach programs are:
- to make the transition into care easier
- to share personal experiences about being in care
- to answer questions about being in care
- to provide support and resources
- to help normalize their new situation of coming into care
- to be a positive role model

Advocacy

We represent the youth perspective on how youth feel about the foster care system. We also work with youth to ensure that their voices and opinions are heard in decisions about their future.

Networking

We network with other agencies to improve the care of youth. The network was actively involved in the current re-organization of Winnipeg Child and Family Services.