Children in Limbo Task Force started as a task force of the Sparrow Lake Alliance. The Alliance, founded by Dr. Paul Steinhauer in 1989, was a voluntary coalition of Ontario professionals who work with and for children. After over twenty years of activity it came to a close in 2012, but the Task Force is still vibrant and represents Dr. Steinhauer’s goal: to bring together people from all sectors and disciplines, who would inspire, support, teach and learn from each other, and who are committed to working towards ensuring a better life particularly for all of Ontario’s children, youth and families who are involved with child welfare.

Vision:

  • All children and youth have permanency and reduced periods of limbo in their lives, permanency in terms of their caregivers, as well as permanency in terms of “sense of self.”
  • All children and youth grow up in a meaningful and nurturing social context, and have access to their own life story.
  • All adult interaction with children and youth is consistent with the principles stated in the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mission:

  • The Children in Limbo Task Force, through its membership of individuals representing different disciplines and professions, work to improve the lives of children and youth in contact with, receiving services from, or in the care of the child welfare system.
  • The Task Force meets monthly to share ideas about how best to serve children and youth in contact with, receiving services from, or in the care of the child welfare system.
  • The Task Force functions as a think tank which engages in inclusive and respectful professional and public discourse in the form of written publications, conference papers and workshops, submissions regarding social policy, and meetings with other offices and individuals sharing the same goals.