CWICE Celebrates 7 Years of Service, Innovation, Leadership & Impact
Friday June 13, 2025 marks a significant milestone for the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) - seven years of groundbreaking work at the intersection of child welfare and immigration.
What started as a bold vision in 2018, through a strategic partnership between Peel Children’s Aid Society and the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, has grown into a nationally recognized model of service, innovation, leadership, impact and system change.
SERVICE & INNOVATION: Bridging Systems to Protect Children
CWICE emerged in response to a critical need: responding to settlement needs, supporting unaccompanied and separated children, managing countless young people in out-of-home care (some at risk of deportation to countries they had never known or no longer had ties to), and reuniting children with parents and kin across borders.
Through bringing together, experts in child welfare, immigration law, and settlement services, CWICE continues to offer bridging service that ensures that no child or youth—whether in out-of-home placement or at home in the community - is left without immigration status or the support required to safely integrate into life in Canada, and grow up with safe caregivers.
Over the past seven years, CWICE has become a nationally recognized model of service and a unique Centre of Excellence. Through service, we promote equity, engage in advocacy, design innovative pathways, and help reduce the width of systemic gaps. We centre our work on core values including the need to lead and champion the rights of children and youth.
Milestones and Measurable Impact
CWICE’s achievements over the past seven years have been both wide-reaching and deeply impactful:
📌 4,029 referrals received since 2018, supporting children and youth across Ontario and beyond.
🧠 10,455 individuals reached through outreach presentations to increase awareness of immigration complexities within child welfare contexts.
🎓 1,603 total training attendance since 2020, through CWICE’s 10-course portfolio, including:
- An 8-course post-graduate certificate series for child welfare professionals
- A course for allied professionals (Building & Bridging)
- A orientation course for foster caregivers
While the numbers are important, as Danielle will say, ‘We need to understand the people and stories behind the numbers’. In our most recent annual report (2024/25), we shared Aissatou’s story in her own words. We have translated it to English below:
“I arrived in Canada at the age of 12. A few years later, I entered the child welfare system. At that time, I only had my refugee papers. My journey through the system wasn't easy: I had to change homes three times, which significantly delayed my application for permanent residency. For a long time, in the foster homes where I was placed, most of the other children had already obtained their status. I was the only one still relying on my refugee papers, which made me feel very different and isolated. My lawyer and social worker were constantly changing, which made everything even more complicated. I don't have very good memories.
"I waited for the required period before I could apply for citizenship. I spoke to my social worker, who then referred me to CWICE, and Loubna contacted me shortly after. Honestly, after everything I'd been through, I didn't have much hope. But this time, things were completely different. Loubna was there for me. Loubna called me, reassured me, and kept me informed every step of the way. I really felt supported. The process was quick and efficient. We submitted the application in October, I received my invitation to take the citizenship test in December, and my paperwork was done in February. Everything went smoothly, which was a huge relief for me. Today, I have my citizenship, my Canadian passport, I can vote, and I even plan to travel. This is a real turning point in my life, and I sincerely thank Loubna and everyone who worked on my application.
"I think all children of immigrant origin should have the right to this kind of support: to be listened to, accompanied, and understood. It's essential to have a social worker by our side, someone who guides us and provides moral support. But in a country like Canada, where papers are required for almost everything—study, work, health, housing—the immigration aspect is even more crucial. Without CWICE support, many young people like me risk remaining stuck despite the system's help. That's why I'm deeply grateful to Loubna and the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence for their commitment”.
IMPACT & SYSTEM CHANGE: Systemic Influence and Strategic Partnerships
CWICE’s impact reaches far beyond individual and family-level support. Since opening the Centre, we have had numerous opportunities to influence systemic transformation and cross-sector collaboration.
Some of our key highlights include:
Legislative Advocacy and Policy Consultation:
- Child welfare policy and regulation updates in Ontario and Nova Scotia
- Canada Border Services Agency policy updates related to minors and detention
- Providing Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada recommendations on a national framework for Unaccompanied and Separated Children
- Global Affairs Canada as consultant regarding national repatriations of children, youth, and families
- Child, Youth, and Family Services Act – 5-year review with Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services in
- Proposed Senate Bill S-235 – testifying at the Senate of Canada and holding community consultations on the Bill which aimed to create a clear pathway to citizenship for non-citizen youth who have spent at least one year in out-of-home placements in Canada; was introduced in the House of Commons in October 2024 before Parliament was prorogued.
Collaborative Service Partnerships:
- Canada’s Representatives – Berkely USC Immigration and CW Practice Network (International)
- N4 National Steering Committee (Canada)
- Unaccompanied and Separated Children’s Coalition Network (Ontario)
- Regional Resettlement (GTA)
- Service Delivery Network (Region of Peel)
CWICE continues to collaborate with a wide network of local, provincial, federal, and international partners to streamline services and safeguard the rights of vulnerable children and youth. These include settlement providers in the Region of Peel; Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services; Refugee Law Office; Office of the Children’s Lawyer; Canada Border Services Agency; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Global Affairs Canada; UNICEF Canada; and ISS Canada.
As well, we maintain regular relationships with several academic institutions in Canada including:
- Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rights for Children and Youth Partnership
- University of Toronto
- University of Victoria
We’ve been able to host our own conference with over 30+ speakers and nearly 300 attendees in 2024 – for more information www.cwice.ca/conference
We’ve also had the pleasure to speak at various events and conferences. Selected highlights include:
- Metropolis Canada Conference (2025)
- International Prevention of Youth Homelessness Conference (2025 )
- Pathways to Prosperity Conference (2024)
- Guest Lecturer, University of Toronto (2023, 2024)
- Canada Border Services Agency – Vulnerable Person Team (2023, 2024)
- Ontario Bar Association (2023)
- Metropolis Canada Conference (2023)
- Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven National Secretariat (2022)
- UN World Urban Pavilion (2022)
- Pathways to Prosperity Conference (2022)
- Organization of Counsel for Children’s Aid Societies Legal Conference (2022)
- CWICE National Dialogue Event (2020)
- Pathways to Prosperity Conference (2019)
- CWICE Provincial Roundtable Event (2019)
- Child Welfare League of Canada (2019, 2023)
- Rights for Children and Youth Partnership International Conference (2019, 2022)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2018)
While we are proud of our leadership, the CWICE team, and broader agency, as Liz will say, ‘We can’t do our work alone, and must work in partnership’. It is only through our vast partnerships, can CWICE help ensure that immigration concerns are addressed in a coordinated, child-centered, and timely manner across systems.
Powered by Passion and Purpose
From the very first call received on June 13, 2018, and every call since, we have been eager to respond and support staff across the province and beyond. We know this work makes a difference and we recognize families all across Canada have similar experiences to the families we meet in Ontario. We are highly committed to continuing to expand our networks so individuals and families get the right support at the right time.
“Seven years ago, we started CWICE with a vision to close the gap for children and youth in care with precarious immigration status—a gap that too often meant silence, uncertainty, and injustice. Today, CWICE stands as a national model rooted in equity, dignity, and human rights. We are proud of the lives we’ve touched, the systems we’ve influenced, and the coalitions we’ve built. Our work is far from done, but our commitment remains unwavering: every child, regardless of status, deserves safety, belonging, and the opportunity to thrive.”
– Prasad Nair, Director, Youth Success & Innovation, Peel CAS
Beyond our passion, we utilize key principles in our work – from Katelynn’s Principle to include voice of the child and Jordan’s Principle to ensure systems are responsive in a timely manner. We have integrated equity and advocacy at every turn and will continue to promote change in child welfare and beyond.
The heart of CWICE’s success lies in its dedicated team of professionals who have spent many years developing both technical expertise, and knowledge, and bring deep compassion to their work. Strong, empowered, and steady leadership has also been key to sustaining this momentum—guiding the team through complex cases, championing systemic change, and shaping a culture rooted in equity and accountability. We thank MCCSS for their ongoing support, the leadership at OACAS, and last but not least the Board and Senior Leadership team at Peel CAS.
Looking Ahead: CWICE’s Eighth Year and Beyond
As we recently stepped into CWICE’s eighth year, the vision remains clear: expand access, amplify knowledge, and advance policies and practices that ensure every child and youth involved in child welfare—regardless of immigration status—can thrive in Canada. Through initiatives like CWICE National Outreach Project, the Centre aims to reach more organizations and communities, offering support, training, and consultation across the country.
Please join us in celebrating 7 years of CWICE!
We’re proud of all we've accomplished together and look forward to the continued privilege and opportunity to work alongside one another in the year ahead.
For more information on CWICE’s services, training opportunities, or partnerships, visit www.cwice.ca
About the Authors
Liz Okai (she/her) co-leads the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence at Peel CAS, guiding strategy and operations to improve outcomes for children, youth and families with immigration challenges. She is a champion for equity in practice and integrating migration histories into child welfare assessments.
Danielle Ungara (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker and a dedicated professional known for her creativity and commitment to excellence and equity in practice. As CWICE Manager, Danielle has brought innovative thinking and strategic leadership to the Centre of Excellence since its inception.
