The Advancing Futures Bursary applications are open! Click here for more information.  

Support for Current and Former Youth in Care in Manitoba

We assist youth ages 15-29 in the areas of mental health, housing, employment, education, ID, and financial counselling.

Our Services

The Futures Forward program provides services to youth who are in or have aged out of the CFS system in Manitoba as they transition into adulthood. Services include mentoring, education, workshops, skill development, and referrals. Appointments are available in-person or virtually.

CFS

In this section: rights, financial support, complaints process, your CFS file, and advocates.

Education

In this section: finish high school, start post-secondary, funding, and the tuition waiver program.

Employment

In this section: rights, resumes, cover letters, interview prep, and career assessments. 

Financials

In this section: budgeting, taxes, government assistance, and grants.

First Nation, Métis & Inuit Resources

In this section: youth programming, education programming, and funding post-secondary options. 

Health & Wellness

In this section: find a doctor, apply for Pharmacare, learn about harm reduction, intergenerational trauma, mental health & crisis support, and safe sex info. 

Housing

In this section: rights, low-cost housing, rental grants, and emergency housing. 

Life Skills

In this section: how to open a bank account, get ID, apply for a Status Card, and free cellphone plans. 

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Register Today

Register today to get access to Futures Forward services including employment, education, mental health, service navigation, and financial counselling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I’m eligible for Futures Forward services?

You are eligible for Futures Forward services if you are between the ages of 15 – 29* and have spent any time in Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) care. This includes both permanent and temporary wards, folks who are on an Agreement with Young Adults (AYA), or folks who have had any other involvement in Manitoba CFS care.

If you are over 29 years old, we can support your tuition-waiver application.

You do not need proof that you were in care to access the majority of Futures Forward’s services.

 

Where is Futures Forward located?

Visit the Connect page for our office locations.

Can Futures Forward help me find a job?

The employment services provided through Futures Forward can assist you with job searching, making a resume and cover letter, preparing for an interview and doing career exploration. Futures Forward does not provide job placements, but our employment facilitator will work with you for as long as you need to reach your employment goals.

Can Futures Forward do my taxes for me?

Yes! Futures Forward can help file simple tax returns for free. You can make an appointment with one of our financial counsellors to file your taxes anytime. You can also meet with them to discuss your financial situation and learn about topics related to budgeting, saving money, building credit and more.

What do Service Navigators do?

Service navigators work at CMHA and can support you with a wide range of things. They will help you obtain identification documents, support your access to basic needs, provide referrals to community agencies, help you navigate systems such as EIA or Manitoba Housing, and offer one-on-one peer support. Service navigators are here to help you with whatever you need or connect you with the resources that can.

How does the Tuition Waiver program work?

Tuition waivers are scholarships provided by ten different colleges and universities in Manitoba. They can cover tuition for students currently or previously involved in Manitoba CFS care. There is no age limit for a Tuition Waiver. The application is available each year from January – March 31.

Can you help me even if I don't know what I want to do yet?

Yes, our education and employment teams can help you with career, skills and strength assessments to help you narrow down a career you might be interested in and how to get the education you need to achieve your goals.

Do I need to use all of the services provided by Futures Forward?

No, you can access as many or as few services as you need and want.

What question do you need answered?

Get to know the people
that are working with you.

Santiago Greico

Santiago Greico

(any pronouns)

Youth Service Navigator
204 292 5261

Can Help With: I can assist you with navigating services throughout the province. I can provide advocacy in situations where your needs and voices should be met. Help with...

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Santiago Greico

Santiago Greico

(any pronouns)

Youth Service Navigator

Can Help With:

I can assist you with navigating services throughout the province. I can provide advocacy in situations where your needs and voices should be met. Help with applications, getting ID, housing, referrals to services and resources, mental health, and substance use system navigation, and understanding government systems work.

Favourite Quote:

“I’m trying to do better than good enough.” -Drake

Post-secondary pathway:

Addictions and Community Services Worker Diploma - CDI College. Current U of M student.

3 fun facts about me:

  • I play NHL habitually.
  • I like to watch cartoons.
  • I have a wide taste in all music.
Chelsey Finney

Chelsey Finney

She/her

Post-Secondary Education Advisor
204- 987-8661 EXT. 672

Favourite Quote “Maybe our favorite quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we're quoting.” - John Green. Post-secondary diploma or degree: Graduated from...

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Chelsey Finney

Chelsey Finney

She/her

Post-Secondary Education Advisor

Favourite Quote
“Maybe our favorite quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we're quoting.” - John Green.

Post-secondary diploma or degree:
Graduated from Booth University College in 2020 with a BA in Applied Psychology (Honors)

3 fun facts about me:

  • I am the proud cat mom of a 2.5-year-old marble tabby named Rue.
  • I learned how to bead earrings, wristlets, keychains etc last year through a friend. As an identifying Metis person, it is important to continue practicing this art as it allows me to explore my culture more.
  • I am a HUGE horror and true crime genre buff. Specifically, I enjoy watching documentaries that go into depth about how movies' characters, storyline, and plot devices were inspired by real-life events or phenomena. The forensic psychology behind true crime is also intriguing to me.
Christina McKay

Christina McKay

(She/Her)

Student Support Case Manager
204-987-8661 Ext. 678

Can Help With Support for Tuition-Waiver students such as navigating between post-secondary schools, living supports (Workplace, Training and Employment) and social workers. I...

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Christina McKay

Christina McKay

(She/Her)

Student Support Case Manager

Can Help With
Support for Tuition-Waiver students such as navigating between post-secondary schools, living supports (Workplace, Training and Employment) and social workers. I also help with applications for living support, scholarships and bursaries

Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)-University of Manitoba 2019
Bachelor of Arts: Political Studies (3 years)-Brandon University 2008-2011

Favourite Quote: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Fun Facts: 

  1. I adopt former lab rats from the University of Manitoba Research Lab. 
  2. In 2019 completed an Art Mentorship in the city beating out 200 applicants to receive it. 
  3. I do this work because I want to support my fellow youth from care and help them feel a little less alone.
Chantelle Chernick

Chantelle Chernick

(she/her)

Employment Facilitator
204-987-8661 ext 662

Can Help With Resume and cover letter writing, job searching/exploration and interview preparation (including mock interviews). Favourite Quote: Use what talents you possess; the...

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Chantelle Chernick

Chantelle Chernick

(she/her)

Employment Facilitator

Can Help With
Resume and cover letter writing, job searching/exploration and interview preparation (including mock interviews).

Favourite Quote: Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

Post-secondary diploma or degree: B.A. double honours, anthropology and psychology

3 fun facts about me: 

  • I was a Tuition Waiver student at the University of Manitoba
  • I have lived in Winnipeg my entire life.
  • My favourite colours are red and purple.
Evan Forest

Evan Forest

(he/him)

Outreach Coordinator
204-987-8661 ext. 671

Can Help With Support high school and under-18 students to create post-secondary plans and community presentations Favourite Quote – “When I was young, I admired clever people....

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Evan Forest

Evan Forest

(he/him)

Outreach Coordinator

Can Help With
Support high school and under-18 students to create post-secondary plans and community presentations

Favourite Quote – “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” – Abraham Joshua Heschel

Post-secondary diploma or degree – Bachelor of Science, Honours, in Psychology from the University of Manitoba

3 fun facts about me:

  • My favourite season is summer
  • My favourite sports team is the Phoenix Suns
  • My favourite movie is Twister (1996)
Ashley Kaartinen

Ashley Kaartinen

(she/her)

Financial Counsellor
204-989-1917

Can Help With: Filing your income tax return, financial counselling/navigation, and financial literacy education including detailed information on: budgeting (income and...

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Ashley Kaartinen

Ashley Kaartinen

(she/her)

Financial Counsellor

Can Help With:
Filing your income tax return, financial counselling/navigation, and financial literacy education including detailed information on: budgeting (income and expenses), credit and debt, saving, loans and contracts, and exploring most financial areas of interest.

Favourite Quote
All you can do for another person is be an environment in which if they wanted to come up for air, they could.” – Ram Dass

Post-secondary diploma or degree: Accredited Financial Counselor Canada® (AFCC), Bachelor of Human Ecology degree: Family Social Sciences with Major Concentration in Family Economic Health (U of M), and Child & Youth Care Diploma (RRC)

3 fun facts about me:

  • I am an introvert and the middle child with two brothers
  • I love discussing the mysteries of the universe.
  • My favourite activities are camping and Folkfest
Madison Hooper

Madison Hooper

(she/her)

Financial Counsellor
204-989-1909

Can Help With Income tax filing, financial counselling/navigation including budgeting, credit and debt, saving and exploring any financial areas of interest. Favourite Quote It...

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Madison Hooper

Madison Hooper

(she/her)

Financial Counsellor

Can Help With
Income tax filing, financial counselling/navigation including budgeting, credit and debt, saving and exploring any financial areas of interest.

Favourite Quote It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed —Theodore Roosevelt

Post-secondary Pathway: Bachelor in Social Work 

Fun Facts

  • I have 2 Holland Lop Bunnies, Humphrey and Theodore
  • I travelled to Poland and from there went to Austria on a train. I have also travelled to most provinces in Canada.
  • I absolutely love Spring! 
Leslie Schroeder

Leslie Schroeder

(she/her)

Youth Mental Health Clinician

Can Help with: I'm the Community Mental Health Clinician at Futures Forward. I can help you with mental health concerns like relationships, sexuality, behaviours, feelings and...

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Leslie Schroeder

Leslie Schroeder

(she/her)

Youth Mental Health Clinician

Can Help with:

I'm the Community Mental Health Clinician at Futures Forward. I can help you with mental health concerns like relationships, sexuality, behaviours, feelings and thoughts.  This could include skill building, connecting, planning,  debriefing and referrals using a One-At-A-Time model (OAAT). If I can't assist, I can surely help you find someone who can!

Favourite Quote:

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do"- Steve Jobs

Post-Secondary Pathway:

Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba, and current Masters student

Fun Facts about me:

I really LOVE food, I have a dog and a little human at home, and my favourite season is Fall.

Heaven Geller

Heaven Geller

(she/her)

Indigenous Youth Service Navigator
204-230-2989

Can Help With Advocacy, help with applications, getting ID, housing, referrals to services and resources, mental health and substance use system navigation, understanding...

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Heaven Geller

Heaven Geller

(she/her)

Indigenous Youth Service Navigator

Can Help With
Advocacy, help with applications, getting ID, housing, referrals to services and resources, mental health and substance use system navigation, understanding government systems work, and Indigenous cultural support through activities, ceremonies, and knowledge.

Favourite Quote – “They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn't Know We Were Seeds” -Dino Christianopoulos

Post-secondary diploma or degree: Child and Youth Care Diploma 

3 fun facts about me:

  • I have 2 dogs, Simon, and Skye 
  • I am a Libra 
  • My favourite movie is the Wizard of Oz

Get Involved!

Interested in improving the lives of youth in and from CFS care in Manitoba? Check out job postings and volunteer opportunities.

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