Strengthening Systems Together: Manitoba Reflections from the CWICE National Outreach Project

In October, CWICE Manager Nadia Drepaul and Child Welfare Immigration Specialists Fatima Mukai, Abimbola Fajobi, and Alicja Grabarczyk took the National Outreach Project to Manitoba; this article shares some reflections from the road.

Our journey across Manitoba took us to Winnipeg, Steinbach, and Portage la Prairie, where we delivered five training sessions and connected with committed child welfare professionals from across the province. The training days were well attended by frontline staff, supervisors, and senior leadership including CEO-level participation—which speaks to the province’s strong commitment to enhancing practice at the intersection of child welfare and immigration. We were also grateful to welcome local Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) providers and settlement agencies, who shared valuable insights about their services. Their involvement fostered meaningful dialogue and strengthened connections between child welfare and newcomer-serving partners.

Reflections from Trainer and Child Welfare Immigration Specialist, Alicja Grabarczyk

Training in person is always a humbling experience. It’s often more challenging than imagined, but also incredibly rewarding. Our recent sessions in Manitoba were a great example of this. We had excellent participation and attendance from staff, who brought thoughtful and engaging questions that added real depth to our discussions.

Travelling outside of one’s own province also provides an opportunity to reflect on both the similarities and differences we see across regions. It helps us understand what issues are most important in each context, while also reminding us that, collectively, we share a common purpose: to strengthen supports and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Throughout the training, it became clear that many of the challenges our clients face are similar across provinces. This reinforced the importance of collaboration, particularly with settlement service partners and local agencies. Working together is essential not only to build stronger, more connected services and pathways for families, but also to bridge any misconceptions about each organization’s role and explore how we can complement each other’s work.

The staff from the Manitoba General Authority were exceptionally welcoming, supportive, and engaged. It was evident that they are deeply invested in their teams’ learning and professional development, as well as in continually enhancing services for newcomer communities. It was a privilege to learn from them about the uniqueness of their region, the strengths within their communities, and opportunities to build further collaboration.

Overall, being in Manitoba was a truly rewarding and energizing experience. We are grateful for the meaningful conversations, shared learning, and the spirit of partnership that shaped these sessions. These opportunities remind us of the power of connection, collaboration, and shared commitment to strengthening our collective practice.

To continue our connection, collaboration, and outreach in Manitoba, CWICE colleagues Rosario Elmy, Abimbola Oyeyinka, and Danielle Ungara are looking forward to attending the Canadian Council for Refugees Consultation in Winnipeg this November. 

About the Author:

Alicja Grabarczyk is a Child Protection Worker and Immigration Specialist at Peel CAS’ Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence. Alicja joined Peel CAS in 2011, as an assessment worker and with CWICE. Alicja transitioned into the Immigration Specialist role with CWICE over three years ago. Alicja has always pursued immigration-related courses as part of her post-secondary studies and on-going professional development. This includes obtaining a certificate in Customs and Immigration and working in the settlement service sector.