October 2019 Newsletter
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Congratulations/Acknowledgement:
Please make sure that all homes are to be clean, licensable and up to standards on a daily basis. Note that ALL property standards are the responsibility of the foster parents- the yard and the home are both important.
Please make sure to remember the Ministry Terminology Changes:
Crown Ward -> Extended Society Care
Society Ward -> Interim Society Care
Apprehension -> Brought into a Place of Safety
Indian & Native Children -> First Nation, Inuit and Metis Children and Youth
Extended family -> Expanded Definition
Dealing with Matters -> Dealing with children
He /She -> They / Person / Child/ Youth
Runaway/ Abandoned -> No Longer Used
CIBC RUN FOR THE CURE
Erin Hurley and her family along with Liza’s family will be running in Liza’s memory on October 6th, 2019 for the CIBC Run for the Cure for Breast Cancer on the team LIZA’S LEGACY and The EAST COAST CRUISERS.
A number of staff and Foster Parents make donations on an annual basis in her memory and it is in Alliston.
October Special Days
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Breast cancer awareness month is a yearly campaign that intend educate people about the importance of early screening, test and more. This campaign starts on October 1st and ends on October 31st every year.
Thanksgiving- October 14th 2019
Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year. Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
Thanksgiving Festivities
On Monday the 14th of October, Canada is privileged to celebrate Thanksgiving. This festivities of fall truly come alive during this time – baked pumpkin pie, turkey, falling leaves, apples and cinnamon, and the pleasant aroma of fire wood burning tracing through the air. Although this is a gorgeous time of year, it can also be very sensitive as it is often a time shared with family and very close friends. For many of our residents, they do not have families of their own to go home to.
Every year HYS ensures all foster homes and group homes have a warm and satisfying thanksgiving dinner with their residents. Many of our foster parents go above and beyond to ensure their kids feel a sense of belonging. Please ensure you are planning and preparing a Thanksgiving celebration with your residents, even if they do go home. Monday will be a public holiday, and many schools in Peel have a PD day on Friday so there is plenty of time and space to make available.
Don’t wait until last minute to buy a turkey! Get your orders in now, and plan something lovely for your kids to be part of. If you have your own family functions, bring your kids along with you! This is a great way to build stability in their lives and to make sure they feel accepted and loved.
Ontario Dress Purple Day- October 24th 2019
Every October Children’s Aid Societies across the province raise awareness about the rights of children and youth to safety and well-being, and the responsibility of adults and community services to help children, youth, and families who need support. On Ontario Dress Purple Day we join together with our key partners, Boards of Education, schools, and child care centres and homes, to share this positive message that help is available and to celebrate the community that cares for kids and families.
This year Ontario Dress Purple Day will take place on Wednesday, October 24, 2019.
To support Ontario Dress Purple Day and its focus on getting and giving help, we are providing online classroom resources to help teachers and education professionals make the day a meaningful and engaging learning opportunity for students from JK to Grade 12. The classroom resources are intended to support teachers and education professionals to engage with their students in conversations about safety and well-being in all aspects of their lives, helping adults in the community, and how to ask for help.
Halloween- October 31st 2019
Get your costumes and candy ready to go Trick-or-Treating!
October Events
A Stroll into Nature @ Chinguacousy Park
Wednesday, October 9 from 10:00 - 11:30 am
Experience autumn’s beauty and spend time outdoors together with your little one. We will walk along an easy trail, play games and learn about nature.
Meet at Chinguacousy Park Ski Chalet, 9050 Bramalea Rd, Brampton
This event will run rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and wear closed-toed sturdy footwear. In the event of extreme weather, participants will be contacted with notice of cancellation.
Register here = https://trca.checkfront.com/reserve/?item_id=1591
TRCA is committed to creating an accessible experience for all participants. If you require any accommodations, please email christopher.bialek@trca.ca at least four days before the event.
Ghost Walks- Downtown Brampton
October 12, 8pm
Gage Park
Who haunts Heritage Theatre, who roams the street dead? We bring you as close as possible at 9 Haunted stops, that have on going paranormal activity. Yes you will be scared
Fall Fair's
Markham Fair October 2-6
Erin Fair October 10-14
Toronto Pumpkin Fest
October 12th
Downsview Park
If you’re looking for something fun to do Thanksgiving weekend, this is it! Toronto or Richmond Hill Pumpkinfest has something for all ages. Come experience this family event over 3 days with great food, vendors, entertainment and loads of pumpkins! Guests are welcomed to enjoy all things Autumn.
Halloween Haunt
Every Weekend in October
7PM-12AM
Canada’s Wonderland
Face your fears when darkness falls as Canada’s Wonderland is transformed from a “theme park” into a “scream park” during Halloween Haunt. Experience the thrills of your favourite rides at night and the frights awaiting you in our terrifying haunted attractions and shows. You won’t be able to hide from the hundreds of monsters waiting to feed off your screams. Halloween Haunt is the largest Halloween event in the Greater Toronto Area, taking place on select nights this fall. Don’t miss the fright of your life!
Fall House Maintenance
As the seasons begin to change from the warmth of summer into the crispness of fall, memories made across the summer shouldn’t be the only thing on our minds. Friendly reminder that furnace filters need to be changed as well as all battery operated smoke alarms/carbon dioxide detectors should be tested changed and if any concerns, brought to the attention of your resource worker/manager.
While the leaves change and fall to leave a lovely scene of colours, please ensure that yards are raked and eavesdrops are free from leaves and tree debris as we prep for the next season on hand. Invite your youth to pump some muscle with you during your yard clean up!
Brain Teaser
Just for fun, try to solve the following brain teasers. The answers will be at the bottom of the newsletter. Good luck!
1. How far can a rabbit run into the woods?
2. What can you hold without ever touching or using your hands?
DID YOU KNOW?...
Tired teens prone to risky business: Study
Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to engage in unprotected sex than those who get enough shuteye, according to a study by the American Psychological Association.
In addition, teenagers with sleep issues are more vulnerable when it comes to engaging in risky behavior such as the consumption of alcohol and drugs, smoking, bad driving and aggression.
Psychologists determined disturbances in sleeping patterns lower teens’ decision-making skills and their control over emotions. So forgetting to use a condom or having sex with multiple partners are examples of the byproducts of a lack of sleep, according to the findings of the study. Risky decisions can come with serious consequences such as “higher rates of sexual transmitted disease (STD)” which increases chances of HIV, warns the study. Oversleeping during the weekend can make it harder to fall asleep during the weekdays. According to the National Sleep Foundation, only 15% of teens get the eight to 10 hours of sleep recommended each day. In addition to getting the right amount of sleep, teens should have a schedule that incorporates regular times for going to bed and and waking up. https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/tired-teens-prone-to-risky-business-study
Duty to Report
Please remember that we all have a duty to report abuse or suspected abuse of a child. The Child and Youth Family Services Act is clear on the civic responsibilities of ordinary citizens and their duty to report any concerns of abuse and neglect to Children’s Aid Societies, but there is a special responsibility on the part of professionals who work with children. It's important for all of us to increase our awareness about child abuse and neglect, to learn the signs and some of the underlying causes. Too many children lack the nurturing family and community supports essential for them to thrive and succeed. This has resulted in too many families coping with stressors and challenges affecting their ability to provide a safe, secure home for their children. (“Help Stop Abuse & Neglect”)
Please be sure to revisit the Duty to Report section of the Policy and Procedure Manual should you have questions regarding reporting procedures.
Strength Based Perspective
The Basics of Strength-Based Approach
Working from a strength-based perspective is a collaborative approach, whereby the person being supported by services is an active participant in the process of problem-solving issues they are experiencing. This allows the opportunity for the individual’s voice to be heard, and for the individual to be engaged in the decisions that affect their life. This is a chance to empower the client, but to also foster skills of self-advocacy. There is a significant focus on the quality of the relationship between the individual receiving support, and those that are providing the support. The relationship must be one of trust and transparency, in order for there to be real success.
A strength-based approach focuses on the inherent strengths of individuals, what their skills and abilities are, rather than on their deficits or problems. This also means investigating what resources are available, and how they can be used to accomplish what is needed. Although the goal is to promote the positive, this does not mean denying that issues or problems are affecting the client. Instead, it means combating situations based on the abilities and resources that exist, and utilizing these things in the most effective ways possible. The problems and concerns are not the main focus of intervention – the individual is.
Family and community work models often focus on the problems identified with the individual – thus, the individual is the problem that must be fixed. However, strength-based perspective focuses on the problem often existing because of interactions between people, organizations and structures.
Although issues exist, the individual only experiences the issue – the individual is not the issue.
The following are important principles of the strength-based perspective:
1) People are recognized as having potential, unique strengths and abilities, and have the capacity to continue to learn, grow, and change.
2) The focus of intervention is on the strengths and aspirations of the people we work with.
3) The language we use creates our reality – for the care providers, as well as children, youth, and families.
4) Communities and social environments are seen as being full of resources.
5) Service providers collaborate with the people they work with, and the client’s perspective of reality is primary.
6) Interventions are based on self-determination.
7) Change is inevitable.
8) There is a commitment to empowerment.
Problems are seen as the result of interactions between individuals, organizations or structures, rather than deficits within individuals, organizations or structures.
Training
We would like to continue to remind our staff and foster parents of the importance of ongoing training which can be used to assist you when dealing with the youth in our care. Hanrahan Youth Services is always willing to consider funding the many different sessions/webinars offered throughout the GTA and online that would be considered useful in working with our clients. We actually encourage all of you to make it a priority and take advantage of this opportunity to expand your professional development.
Should you be interested in doing so, please contact your resource worker or program coordinator with the details of the specific session you are looking to attend.
We have just recently registered a number of our staff and foster parents for workshops on:
· Motivating Change – Strategies for Approaching Resistance
· Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – Strategies for Supporting
· Sexual Assault and Abuse Training
· Addictions and Mental Illness – Working with Co-Occurring Disorders
Many of our staff and foster parents have attended different workshops offered through the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) in the past. They provide a wide range of training opportunities and included in their upcoming events are:
· Working in Social Services – The Essential Skills
· Violence Threat Assessment – Planning and Response
· Self-Injury Behaviour in Youth – Issues & Strategies
· Crisis Response Planning
· De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations
· Anxiety – Practical Intervention Strategies
· Challenging Behaviours in Youth – Strategies for Intervention
For a complete list and descriptions of their upcoming workshops, you can visit:
* Be sure to select the Toronto or Mississauga local listings.
Please note that approved training is not limited to CTRI, these are just some examples of ones that we regularly take advantage of. We are always open to anything new that comes up. If you come across something different that you think would be worth exploring for our staff and foster parents, please send the information to the management team.
Our mandatory annual trainings, including UMAB and First Aid & CPR, will continue as per the usual schedules throughout the year. For upcoming sessions, please contact the head office.
Foster Parent Time-Off and Scheduling Relief
We understand how hard it can be to work around the clock. We also know how important it is to take time off whether it be for running errands, taking a break, visiting family and friends, or just taking care of business...we get it!
Hanrahan has a growing list of relief staff to utilize for the time you need, however, there is a process that needs to be followed in order to do so. It is essential that you communicate your request with your resource worker by submitting a TIME OFF REQUEST FORM. He or she will get this time approved, and then provide you with the relief staff list or book the relief for you. It is imperative that you keep them well informed of the time you take off, as well as ensure that your relief staff are documenting their hours and signing signature sheets when necessary.
Please note that any changes in dates or time need to first be approved by your resource worker.
Brain Teasers answers:
1. Halfway. After that, he is running out of the woods.
2. Your breath!