Child Welfare League of Canada
A Canadian national membership organization that advances the safety, well-being, rights, and belonging of children, youth, and families.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC) is a national, membership-based charitable organization focused on improving outcomes for children, youth, and families, with particular attention to people who are vulnerable, marginalized, or affected by the child-welfare system. Its work combines sector convening, public-policy advocacy, professional learning, research dissemination, organizational support, and collaboration across jurisdictions. The League operates in both of Canada's official languages and presents itself as an organization open to people and institutions of all cultures, ethnic origins, and social classes. CWLC's membership and network span all Canadian provinces and territories, with representation at the federal level. Participants have included provincial and territorial ministries responsible for child and family services, child- and family-serving agencies, Indigenous organizations, health and social-service providers, youth-serving organizations, and federal departments. Rather than functioning as a consumer-products brand, CWLC is a mission-led institutional brand whose principal offerings are knowledge, policy engagement, convening, publications, learning opportunities, and collaborative initiatives. The organization's roots extend to Canadian participation in the Child Welfare League of America, which had included Canadian agencies and government departments among its members since the late 1920s. During the 1980s, Canadian members sought stronger support tailored to Canadian policy and practice. A needs assessment identified the value of a Canadian public-policy symposium and a more permanent Canadian presence. These efforts contributed to the 1991 Ottawa symposium Canada's Children: The Priority for the '90s and the opening of a Canadian office in Ottawa in January 1992. A Canadian National Steering Committee was formed in May 1992, and the League was incorporated on April 21, 1994, while maintaining an affiliation with its American counterpart. Over time, CWLC has addressed a broad range of child- and youth-welfare issues. Its activities have included an annual achievement award presented from 2000 through 2013, support for legal and public advocacy against physical punishment, research and reporting on foster care, and initiatives related to poverty, youth transitions, Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and the experience of children and youth in care. In 2019 it marked 25 years of operation and launched a Learning Community on Reconciliation involving more than 30 organizations from across Canada. The initiative was designed to help mainstream child-, youth-, and family-serving organizations work respectfully with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and put the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into practice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CWLC supported a moratorium on young people in care aging out of support services. It also worked with academic, foster-family, and youth organizations on the Close Ties conference, which was intended to examine relationships, family, community, culture, and belonging for children and youth in care. The planned in-person event was cancelled because of the pandemic and replaced by an online learning program. The League's positioning is therefore that of a national connector and advocate: it seeks to strengthen systems and organizations so that children and families can experience safety, care, participation, identity, and belonging.
History
Canadian involvement with the Child Welfare League of America predates the creation of CWLC by several decades. Agencies and government departments in Canada were members of the American organization from the late 1920s onward. By the 1980s, Canadian participants were seeking membership services and policy work that better reflected Canada's federal structure, provincial and territorial responsibilities, Indigenous realities, and distinct social-policy environment. In response, the Child Welfare League of America engaged a Canadian consultant in the mid-1980s to provide membership assistance and assess national needs. Two priorities emerged: a Canadian public-policy symposium on children's issues and consideration of a stronger, more permanent Canadian presence. Canadian members subsequently collaborated with the Canadian Council on Children and Youth and the Canadian Child Welfare Association to organize Canada's Children: The Priority for the '90s. Held in Ottawa in October 1991, the symposium helped build continuing alliances among child- and youth-serving organizations, federal politicians, and municipalities. It also contributed to the development of provincial coalitions. A Canadian office of the Child Welfare League of America opened in Ottawa in January 1992. This office could focus more directly on Canadian public policy and advocacy than the American headquarters. In May of the same year, Canadian members created a National Steering Committee chaired by Monsignor William Irwin of Edmonton Catholic Social Services. The committee examined how to establish a Canadian organization that would support members without duplicating the work of existing bodies. The steering committee recommended the creation of the Child Welfare League of Canada. The proposed organization would retain an affiliation with its American counterpart, allowing Canadian members to continue accessing selected services and publications. The American organization also agreed to provide financial support during the Canadian body's first three years. CWLC was incorporated on April 21, 1994. From 2000 to 2013, the League presented an annual Child Welfare League of Canada Achievement Award. Its later work broadened across policy, research, advocacy, and learning. In 2004, it supported the anti-spanking campaign associated with litigation involving the Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law and the federal government. In 2014, it published a report concerning the condition of foster care in Canada. The League celebrated its 25th anniversary in April 2019. The organization's reconciliation work became a significant focus in 2019, when it created a Learning Community on Reconciliation. The community brought together more than 30 organizations from child welfare, housing, health, and youth justice. Its goals included strengthening respectful collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, enabling peer learning and experimentation, and helping organizations operationalize the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and UNDRIP. In 2020, CWLC supported a moratorium on youth in care aging out of support services during the COVID-19 emergency. It also helped plan the Close Ties conference with McGill University's Centre for Research on Children and Families, the Canadian Foster Families Association, and Youth in Care Canada. The event was intended to highlight relationships and belonging for children and youth in care, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families, migrant children, 2SLGBTQ+ youth, children with disabilities, and youth transitioning from care. The in-person conference was cancelled because of the pandemic, and an eight-month online learning program was developed as an alternative.
- 2020
Pandemic advocacy and online Close Ties program
[1]CWLC supported a moratorium on youth aging out of care during COVID-19 and replaced a cancelled in-person conference with online learning.
- 2019
25th anniversary and reconciliation learning community
[1]The League marked 25 years and launched a national Learning Community on Reconciliation involving more than 30 organizations.
- 2014
Foster-care report published
[1]CWLC published a report examining the state of foster care in Canada.
- 2000
Achievement Award period begins
[1]The League began presenting an annual achievement award, a practice that continued through 2013.
- 1994
CWLC incorporated
[1]The Child Welfare League of Canada was incorporated on April 21, 1994.
- 1992
Canadian office and steering committee established
[1]A Canadian office opened in Ottawa and Canadian members formed a National Steering Committee to design a permanent national organization.
- 1991
Canada's Children: The Priority for the '90s symposium
[1]Canadian partners held a national public-policy symposium in Ottawa that helped generate follow-up alliances and provincial coalitions focused on children and youth.
- 1920
Early Canadian participation in the Child Welfare League of America
[1]Canadian child- and family-serving agencies and government departments began participating in the Child Welfare League of America by the late 1920s, creating an institutional foundation for later Canadian coordination.
Products and positioning
A national Canadian convenor, advocate, and learning partner for child welfare and related sectors, emphasizing safety, well-being, equity, cultural belonging, family connection, and the rights of children and youth.
Research and information
Policy and research publications
Reports, publications, and information resources addressing child welfare, foster care, public policy, and the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families. These materials support practitioners, member organizations, policymakers, and the wider public rather than functioning as commercial consumer products.
Education and training
Learning and professional development
Learning communities, webinars, conferences, and related educational programming provide opportunities for child- and family-serving organizations to exchange practice knowledge, examine systemic issues, and develop more effective responses for children and youth.
Collaborative initiative · 2019
Learning Community on Reconciliation
A cross-sector initiative launched in 2019 to help mainstream organizations strengthen respectful relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and translate reconciliation commitments, the TRC Calls to Action, and UNDRIP into organizational practice.
Conference and learning program · 2020
Close Ties online learning program
An online adaptation of a planned conference on significant relationships, family, community, culture, and belonging for children and youth in care. The program was developed after the intended Montreal gathering was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Moratorium on aging out of care during COVID-19
Canada
The League supported pausing the transition of youth out of care and related support services during the public-health emergency.
Outcome. The reference records the League's support for the moratorium but does not provide a national implementation result.
- 2020Close Ties
Canada
CWLC partnered with McGill University's Centre for Research on Children and Families, the Canadian Foster Families Association, and Youth in Care Canada on a program about relationships and belonging for children and youth in care.
Outcome. The planned in-person Montreal conference was cancelled because of COVID-19, and an online learning program was developed in its place.
- 2019Learning Community on Reconciliation
Canada
CWLC convened more than 30 organizations from child welfare, housing, health, and youth justice to develop practical reconciliation work and improve collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
Outcome. The community created an ongoing forum for peer learning, reflection, and development of organizational reconciliation initiatives.
- 2004Anti-spanking advocacy
Canada
CWLC supported an anti-spanking campaign launched by the Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law in the context of the legal challenge involving section 43 of the Criminal Code.
Outcome. The League's role was supportive advocacy; the available reference does not establish a separate organizational outcome.
Brand decisions
2020
Convert Close Ties from an in-person conference to online learningOtherBackground
The planned Montreal conference could not proceed in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action taken
The organizing partners developed an eight-month online learning program based on the intended conference content.
Aftermath
The alternative format preserved a program focused on relationships, belonging, and marginalized children and youth in care.
1994
Create an autonomous Canadian league while retaining an American affiliationStrategyBackground
Canadian members needed services and policy advocacy adapted to Canada's national, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous contexts, while still valuing access to the Child Welfare League of America's resources.
Action taken
CWLC was incorporated as a Canadian organization and continued an affiliation with its American counterpart.
Aftermath
The structure established a national Canadian platform for membership services, advocacy, publications, and collaboration.
Recent events
- 2020
CWLC supports moratorium on youth aging out of care during COVID-19[1]
Campaign · Regulation
During the pandemic, the League supported suspending the transition of young people out of publicly funded care and related supports.
- 2020
Close Ties in-person conference replaced by online learning[1]
Other
A planned Montreal conference on relationships and belonging for children and youth in care was cancelled because of COVID-19, with its content adapted into an online program.
- 2019
CWLC launches Learning Community on Reconciliation[1]
Campaign
The League established a cross-sector learning community involving more than 30 organizations to support practical work on reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and UNDRIP.
- 1994
Child Welfare League of Canada incorporated[1]
Other
The Canadian organization was formally incorporated after several years of planning, membership consultations, and support from the Child Welfare League of America.
Sources2 sources
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