Mission & Vision
mission
We exist to support youth involved in child welfare and to drive at better systems and approaches for educational achievement, securing stable housing, and building long-lasting support networks.
vision
A world where all young people thrive and have a sense of belonging with people who love and support them.
about us
What we do
An award-winning and Charity Intelligence Canada A+ and 5 Star-rated organization, we assist marginalized young people who are or have been involved, through no fault of their own, in Ontario’s Child Protection Services and who have significant histories of trauma, abuse, and neglect. Our intended objectives for our target population are to create positive and meaningful connections with family, community, and culture; strengthen a sense of belonging; increase school engagement, high school graduation, and post-secondary enrolment; improve mental and physical health; secure long-term and stable housing; and build strong support networks young people can rely on for life.
Our strategic direction is informed equally by the Members of our Board of Directors and by the young people we serve. We work in solidarity with youth who have lived experience in foster and group home care and their voices, ideas, and suggestions guide all aspects of our work from programming to evaluation. We seek to actively address the structural and systemic barriers that prevent individuals from accessing opportunities to participate and from realizing their potential, particularly youth from Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities who are over-represented in the child welfare system.
Our vision of a world where all young people have a sense of belonging with people who love and care about them guides our evidence-based Building Connections program. Our model of service operates with the knowledge that strong, long-term connections to people and support networks create better outcomes for isolated children and youth from foster care than simply gaining skills in an isolated context. We help youth build relational connections with caring, non-paid adults including mentors, extended family members, and community allies who reflect their cultural identities and lived experiences. Our targeted methods of prevention achieve long-term and sustainable impact rather than short-term, temporary solutions.
our beliefs
We exist to support youth involved in child welfare, and drive at better systems and approaches.
See our youth programsFinding and Developing Innovative Solutions
We identify gaps in services and we research interventions that drive positive and long-term outcomes for children and youth from foster and group home care.
Demonstrating Success through Program Delivery
We adapt, implement, and evaluate promising interventions to support youth in successfully transitioning to adulthood, with a focus on stabilizing their housing, mental health, and education, and through building connections and community and cultural belonging.
Driving at Systems Change through Education, Influence and Awareness
We leverage our experience, research, and successful programming to raise awareness about youth from foster care; we amplify their voices, engage with key stakeholders and policymakers, run awareness campaigns, and participate in collective impact and collaborative forums and initiatives.
More About StepStones
StepStones is honoured to have received several prestigious awards for our unique programming and outstanding outcomes for youth.
Donate to stepstones
Find out how you can help children and youth in and from foster care.
