b'Leadership inAdvocacyPeel CAS has an important role to play in advocating for causesthat impact the children, youth and families we work with. Ouragency is actively engaged in raising awareness of social issuesandfacilitatingcontinuouslearningbothforourstaffandourcommunity partners.PeelCASsChildWelfareImmigrationCentreofExcellence(CWICE) hosted a national conference in June 2024. The themewas Global Horizons in Child Welfare and Immigration: BridgingBordersandBuildingFutures,andthediscussionincludedarangeofimportanttopicsrelatedtotheintersectionofchildwelfareandimmigration.Specialguestspresentedaboutunaccompaniedandseparatedminors,supportingrefugees,internationalstudents,reunificationandplacementsacrossborders,andinternationaltrends.Hundredsofattendeesfromthe child welfare, immigration, and social services sectors cametogether for this impactful and varied day of learning.OnFebruary19,2025,ourAnti-HumanTraffickingCommitteeandpartnershostedStoppingTraffic,across-sectortrainingeventtodiscusspreventionstrategiestoaddresshumantrafficking,andsharesupportsthatareavailable for survivors and their families. The event featured an exclusive screening of Dark Highway,adocumentarythatexposesthelivedexperiencesofsurvivors of sex trafficking, and the gaps in awareness andsupport.WearegratefultoAJEdmonds(thefilmmakerbehindDarkHighway)andKellyTallonFranklin,founderand Chief Executive Director of Courage for Freedom, forleading a powerful panel discussion and insightful trainingsession for service providers in our region.Bycoordinatingcollaborativetrainingopportunitiesliketheseforoursectorandourpartners,wehopetodrivesystemchangeandchampionbetteroutcomesforyoungpeople and their families as noted in our Strategic Plan.7'