The Children in Limbo Task Force (CLTF) is a group focused on improving the lives of children and young people who interact with, receive services from, or are cared for by the child welfare system. CLTF acts as a think tank that encourages inclusive and respectful discussions through written publications, conference papers, workshops, and meetings with others who have similar goals. Since it began as part of the Sparrow Lake Alliance, created by Dr. Paul Steinhauer in 1989, the Task Force includes child welfare staff, social workers, lawyers, psychologists, psychiatrists, advocates, and government members, all with many years of experience in this area.

In our view, we have noticed some serious issues in the Child Welfare Sector. We hear stories of workers feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a system that treats child welfare like a business. They struggle to do good work because of policies that limit them. Programs that once helped families are closing because of a lack of funding. Media reports talk about children being taken from homes and families being left behind. This is not the child welfare system we used to appreciate. We feel the need to take action and closely examine what is happening, what is effective, what isn’t, and what changes can be made.