A look back at 1999-2000
February 7, 2010
At the end of 1999 Martha Kirby (National Director) and Yvonne Andrews (National Development Officer) retired from the NYICN. Lynda Manser was hired as the new National Director and soon after, Matthew Geigen-Miller joined the team as the Director of Education and Communications.
In that year, staff and board members coordinated network development projects in Toronto and Montreal. In partnership with the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre and the Ontario Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy, the NYICN also travelled to Japan on a learning exchange. This group was hosted by Directors of orphanages and their families, where they learned a great deal from children and youth about their experiences of living in institutional care. Canadian representatives also spoke at conferences and seminars about youth in care networks, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the child welfare system in Canada, and models of effective advocacy.
In the spring of 1999, the NYICN launched a new strategic plan that focused on Member Support, Advocacy and Education. This vision led to new projects in 2000 such as:
* Funk'd: A magazine for youth in and from care;
* Bifocal: A bi-monthly magazine written for service providers and caregivers;
* The launch of a national study with the Canadian Council on Social Development on youth in care and access to education;
* The NYICN historical research project: From The Roots Up and,
* The release of a new network development manual: The Network Connection.
Also in 2000, the NYICN voted in 8 new board members at the AGM held during a national youth in care conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
For more information contact:
Yvonne Andrews
yvonne@youthincare.ca
