toronto star information supplement
saturday, may 3, 2008
[ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
Children’s Mental Health Week
A spirit of caring
Helping hands reach out to our children and youth in need
T
his year, 500,000 children in
Ontario will struggle with a
mental health problem. That’s
one in five—or 20 per cent of
children in this province. It’s easy to
assume that these numbers could
never apply to anyone in our own
family or neighbourhood because
the kids we know are normal and
loved. But the truth is, the signs of
mental health problems are varied
and complex. It’s because of this
need to better understand these
problems that we mark Children’s
Mental Health Week.
Sometimes when children look like
they’re struggling with daily life, we find
a way to explain the behaviour. If Sarah
shuts herself in her room whenever
there’s company, for instance, we may
say it’s because she’s shy. Or if Alex goes
into a rage when he doesn’t get his
way, it’s because his parents haven’t
given him enough discipline. Sometimes, such behaviours may not be due
to just a phase or personality quirk. If
they’re intense, persistent or ageinappropriate and negatively affecting
family and school life, it may be time to
consult a professional.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
(CMHO) represents nearly 90 accredited government-funded agencies
working with children and youth
across the province, including the
Greater Toronto Area. By identifying
the signs and seeking help early, you
can help us at CMHO ensure that no
child or family struggles alone with a
mental health disorder.
For more information on children’s
mental health issues and to
view this supplement online,
visit kidsmentalhealth.ca.
[ CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE ]
SNAP develops social
skills and self-esteem
G
angs. Guns. Violence. Fuelled by headline-grabbing
stories in the media, those
words are what come to
mind when describing the Jane-Finch
area. Jamie Sutherland, a community
child and youth outreach worker at
Child Development Institute (CDI),
would like to change those terms to
multicultural, caring, resilient and,
above all, a village.
“Jane and Finch is always referred
to as an area, as in ‘that area full of
violence,’ ” notes Sutherland, who
was born and raised in what he calls
the “Jane-Finch village” and who still
lives there. “We need to change the
thinking about the hardworking people who raise families here and care
about their community.”
Part of the change, says Sutherland, will come from the children and
youth in the neighbourhood—from
teens like Joseph. Formerly an ag-
gressive and impulsive adolescent,
Joseph used to exhibit destructive
behaviour at home and at school.
Now 14 years old, Joseph has joined
CDI’s outreach program and is learning SNAP® (Stop Now and Plan), an
award-winning problem-solving and
self-control strategy developed by
CDI to build social skills and self-esteem in children and youth.
CDI has provided training in SNAP®
for agencies in cities across Canada,
the U.S. and as far afield as Japan. In
Jane-Finch’s outreach program, it
partnered with local agencies and
two schools to bring SNAP® to children and youth. The program has
received multi-year funding from the
United Way of Greater Toronto to
adapt the model to the needs of
older children in Jane-Finch.
Sutherland works with staff of
partner agencies to facilitate SNAP®
groups for youth and parents.
One in five children in
Ontario copes with a
mental health disorder.
“Working with partners helps us to
reach more children. It also lets us
tap into local knowledge and expertise to ensure that change is happening on the ground,” he says. “We’re
building a strong network of service
providers who are committed to
meeting the needs of children, youth
and families and who care deeply
about this community.”
Joseph is just one of numerous
SNAP® success stories. “He’s slowing
down and making the right choices
now,” says his mother. “He wants more
from life and he’s ready for more responsibility.” Now a peer mentor to
younger kids, Joseph leads activity
groups and is already thinking about
where he’s volunteering next.
For more information on CDI and
SNAP®, call 416-603-1827 or visit
childdevelop.ca or stopnowandplan.ca/.
For almost 100 years, Child Development Institute has been committed to
strengthening families and promoting healthy child development through
programs on parenting, children’s development and mental health issues,
child abuse and family violence. SNAP® is used in many CDI programs.
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
&
PROUDLY
SUPPORT
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
TO MARK CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
WEEK in 2008, this special supplement is a
collaborative effort of 17 agencies in the
Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Star and
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO),
which represents 90 agencies across the
province. It highlights stories of the struggles
and achievements of children and their
families coping with mental health issues
and the following agencies, which provide
them with help and support:
CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
p1
east metro youth services
2
griffin centre
2
oolagen community services
3
the george hull centre
3
yorktown child & family centre
4
the hincks-dellcrest centre
4
turning point youth services
4
YOUTHLINK
5
central toronto youth services
5
kinark child and family services
6
aisling discoveries child
and family centre
6
the etobicoke children’s centre
7
peel children’s centre
7
integra
8
the massey centre
8
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
PROUDLY
SUPPORTS
2 • Saturday, May 3, 2008 Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
toronto star information supplement
Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
kidsmentalhealth.ca [ EAST METRO YOUTH SERVICES ]
Whatever It Takes (WIT)
M
ichelle watched helplessly as her daughter,
Lisa, retreated more and
more into herself. For
Lisa, who had several learning disabilities and a social anxiety disorder,
school had become a nightmare academically and socially.
“My daughter was bullied in junior
high school because she was an odd
duck,” says Michelle. “So she went for
two years to a school that was also a
treatment centre, which really helped.
It fell under Section 23 of the Toronto
District School Board, which helps kids
who are falling through the cracks.”
But just when things seemed to be
improving, her daughter went into a
residential facility that Michelle says
was “a disaster.” Recalls Michelle:
“Lisa was sliding into a depression.
We hit the end of the line. Then we
found out about Whatever It Takes,
a program offered through East Metro Youth Services. Sandra Kidd, Lisa’s
counsellor at East Metro, never gave
up. She explored every possibility as
to where Lisa could go.
“Sandra is so compassionate, softspoken, non-judgmental and persistent. I just can’t tell you how thrilled
I am for having Sandra and WIT.”
According to Rob Witton, a supervisor for the Access Counselling
Program, WIT differs from other programs offered at EMYS because it
covers a wider age range—from
birth to 18. Operating in partnership
with Griffin Centre, another children’s
mental health agency, WIT is designed for the most complex, hardto-help kids who may otherwise fall
through the cracks. To help children,
Witton says that WIT, working with
other agencies and facilities, puts
together a cross-sectorial team,
which could include staff from hospitals, schools and mental health
agencies.
“These kids may have autism or
developmental delays combined with
complex medical health concerns,”
he explains. “The Ministry of Children
and Youth Services mandated this
E-counselling—a new way to connect
Rob Witton has worked at East Metro Youth Services for more than 25
years. He’s seen everything and knows that communication is a powerful
tool in managing crises and maintaining stability. That’s why he’s looking
forward to a new, innovative method of reaching out—E-counselling.
“We’re in the process of setting up an E-counselling service,” says
Witton. “I’m really enthusiastic about it. This is the way kids communicate these days.”
Like many of the programs and services offered at East Metro, this
Internet-based service is a partnership with another agency, Rosalie Hall,
and the University of Toronto’s School of Social Work. Scheduled to start
operating within the next few months, E-counselling is financed through
an Innovation Fund from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
East Metro is currently meeting with faculty at the U of T’s School of
Social Work to determine the appropriate software and other details
involving the project, which Witton believes is the first E-counselling
service to be offered in Toronto.
[ OOLAGEN COMMUNITY SERVICES ]
program two years ago and we’ve
been inundated with referrals. Demand has far exceeded our expectations, so we were lucky to receive
extra funding from a Community Priority grant.”
As for Lisa, WIT found the perfect
place for her to continue her education and learn valuable social skills—
Heydon Park, an all-girls high school
under the jurisdiction of the Toronto District School Board. But unlike
other schools, it allows girls to stay
until they’re 21, if necessary, and
offers both credit and non-credit
courses.
“I have so much more hope now,”
says Michelle. “Lisa can stay at Heydon and doesn’t have pressure to get
her credits by a certain time. And
she’s learning valuable skills like cooking and how to shop. WIT also directed us to Central Toronto Youth
Services, where Lisa has a mentor she
sees once a week.
“All of this has given me hope
again. I just pray she’ll be independent
one day.”
For more information on East Metro
Youth Services, call 416-438-3697
or visit emys.on.ca.
A
For more information about Griffin
Centre, visit griffin-centre.org.
W
hen I was nine, I was put
in the care of the Children’s Aid Society. For
the following six years, I
lived in more than 20 places. Only two
of those stays lasted over a year.
Life seemed hopeless. I struggled
with anxiety, anger management and
instability. I had so many goals, but
it seemed that no matter what they
were, short-term or long-term, they
were unachievable.
Then when I was 15 years old, a
Children’s Aid worker brought me to
Oolagen’s Huron Residence. I felt betrayed and did not trust any of the
staff. For the first little while, I tested
everyone’s limits every single moment.
But the staff, to my amazement, all
lived up to the Oolagen slogan—“We
don’t give up on kids.”
Eventually I realized Oolagen had
the foundation and the stability I
lacked. It was a new feeling for me.
One of the services that I liked was
the Wraparound program. It assured
To express his
gratitude to Oolagen
Community Services,
Arthur Joseph ‘AJ’
Gallant made a
personal donation in
January, accepted by
Caroline Sneath
(middle), director of
development, and
Lise van der Bliek,
Wraparound
program’s facilitator.
me that my goals were realistic and
achievable. For the first time in a long
time, I had hope. I was able to get my
major struggles under control, obtain
and maintain employment, and get
on the road to reach my ultimate
dream of becoming a journalist.
One year after being admitted to
Oolagen, I left and decided to tackle
the ongoing problems in my relationship with my mother. Though the
process was truly difficult, Oolagen
A tradition of
believing in people
A
Treating youth with
respect
group activities coaxed him out of
his shell.
With the goal of returning to a
mainstream school, Jahzan enrolled
in Griffin’s Day/School Support Services, a therapeutic program with
individualized academic
components for youth
Keen on football
with a dual diagnosis. It
and basketball,
was a stepping stone back
Jahzan, 19, also
into the school system.
wants to study
Eren Howell, a Griffin
science, “maybe
Centre child and youth
find a cure for
worker, describes the procancer.”
gram as an environment
where youth find and
build on their strengths. “The most
valuable thing here is respect,” exGriffin Centre is committed to
plains Howell. “Treating youth with
creating a culture of respect,
respect helps them find the confiacceptance and safety for youth
dence to achieve their goals.”
and adults with challenging
Participants can enroll in school
needs. Offering a place where
classes after six months in Griffin’s
they can feel like they belong,
program. In Jahzan’s case, his day is
Griffin builds skills, confidence
split evenly between the Centre’s proand connections to make the
gram and regular school courses.
transition to a satisfying life.
Next year, Jahzan will reach his goal
when he leaves Griffin Centre to become a full-time high-school student.
“We’re proud of Jahzan. It’s amazing
is surprised by everything he has acto see how far he’s come,” notes
complished. “Griffin introduced me
Howell. Now on the football team,
to so many things,” he says. “There’s
basketball team and drumline, Jahzan
a lot of stuff I would never do if I
‘For the first time in a long time, I had
hope’—AJ, former foster child
stood by me and continued to help
me make living at home a reality.
This past January was hard on me
because I was discharged—or, as
Wraparound likes to say, I graduated.
Though I accomplished so much on
my own, Oolagen’s support helped
me get my life back.
I arrived at Huron Residence in a
dramatic way, so I decided that the
only way to go out was with a bang.
At a party honouring my success, I
announced my decision to support
the program that helped me so
much: I would make a financial contribution. I wanted to express my
gratitude and thought that yelling
out “Thank you!” was not enough.
Thank you to everyone who has
helped me and who continues to
monitor my progress. My heart rests
with Oolagen! At Oolagen, they
truly don’t give up on kids.
For more information on
Oolagen Community Services,
call 416-395-0660 or visit
oolagen.org.
[ THE GEORGE HULL CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ]
[ GRIFFIN CENTRE ]
n average teen’s life consists of friends, parties
and school. For 19-year-old
Jahzan, it was hospitals,
medical tests and doctor’s appointments. Diagnosed with mental health
challenges and a mild developmental
disability, he struggled to find his way
in a world where people with mental
health needs are often judged.
An effective treatment plan helped
stabilize Jahzan’s life, but when it
was time for him to return to school,
he became lethargic and withdrawn.
He was referred to Griffin Centre’s
summer program to ease him into a
routine of activity and learning. At
first, he resisted, but the recreationbased program was the right choice:
saturday, may 3, 2008 • 3
hadn’t come here. It’s helped a lot,
you know. I met a lot of people and
learned about myself.”
The changes in Jahzan are obvious
as he walks through the school hallways and is constantly hailed by other students. Proudly sporting his football jersey, this youth with the ready
smile is a far cry from the insecure,
isolated teen he was two years ago.
“I want to study science,” says
Jahzan with a huge grin. “I want to
do research, maybe find a cure for
cancer.”
s a teacher and later a principal for 40 years in Etobicoke, George Hull gained
the respect of students
and parents. With his quiet ways, he
was able to correct undesirable behaviour without harming a child’s
sense of self-worth. Hull believed in
people’s strengths and it is this belief that provided the foundation
for the Centre, which was established in 1995. Problems faced by
young people nowadays may have
changed, but the beliefs and values
of George Hull continue to resonate,
resulting in many
happy endings at
the Centre.
One mother tells
the story of how
The George Hull
Centre for Children
and Families helped
her family. At age
15, her daughter
suddenly changed,
from having a sunny
disposition to becoming depressed
and refusing to go to school.
“The crunch came when we found
scars from self-mutilation on her
body,” the mother recalls. “The
school’s guidance counsellor suggested The George Hull Centre. It
was the beginning of a relationship
that would go on for a long time.
We were seen as a family, and our
daughter worked with her own counsellor. Functional depression was
[diagnosed] and medication was prescribed. We got our daughter back
— that sweet, cheerful young woman we once knew. Her health improved and she went willingly to
therapy because she had found
someone she could confide in and
who helped her work her own way
through problems.
“Our daughter finished her highschool education and is now completing a college program while holding a full-time job. Looking back, we
are very grateful that the guidance
counsellor steered us to The George
Hull Centre. [It was] the beginning
of a rewarding relationship.”
For more information or to speak
to a counsellor, contact The
George Hull Centre for Children
and Families at 416-622-8833 or
visit georgehullcentre.on.ca.
Offering families hope and healing
A child’s early years are often at risk because of disrupted family life, poverty
or immigration. For children up to age 5 and their parents, The George Hull
Centre for Children and Families offers a wide range of services both at the
Centre and in the community, such as assessments, group sessions, family
therapy and childcare.
• Community clinics provide assessment, consultation, individual/family
therapy and group sessions for families with children from ages 6 to 18.
• Residential services, available to disturbed youth and their families, offer
long-term residential treatment, including individual and family therapy. The
Girls House and Boys House address the unique differences between adolescent
boys and girls in terms of emotional, intellectual and physical development.
• Day treatment services feature an effective integrated therapeutic
strategy—the School Program—to residents of the Girls House and Boys
House and to youth who are unable to cope in community schools. This
program is available in collaboration with the Toronto District School Board
and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
• The Clear Directions program is geared to adolescents with serious
mental-health and substance-abuse problems. Besides day treatment and
psychiatric consultation, Clear
Directions offers family,
‘This is a family coming to
individual and group therapy,
George Hull. They’re coming for
residential care as required,
problems. The boy at the end
and community outreach
was running on the road. A car
groups in high schools.
almost hit him. He ended up
Referrals to this program—
doing it again and again. In
which is offered in collaboraschools, he beat up kids and got
tion with Breakaway Youth &
suspended and got sent home...
Family Services and the
George Hull made it better.’
Toronto District School
—Boy, age 8
Board—are accepted from
across the GTA.
• The communities served
by the George Hull Centre include Etobicoke, where Prevention & Early Intervention and Community Clinic programs are offered to children, youth and their
families; the City of Toronto, where residential services and day treatment
services are available; and the GTA, served by the Clear Directions program.
Formally affiliated with the University of Toronto, The George Hull Centre
also serves as a teaching centre for students in medicine, psychiatry, social
work, research, child and youth work, speech and language, and earlychildhood education.
The George Hull Centre for Children and Families is a non-profit charitable
organization, funded primarily by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
The Centre’s services are free of charge.
4 • Saturday, May 3, 2008 Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
toronto star information supplement
kidsmentalhealth.ca Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
[ YORKTOWN CHILD & FAMILY CENTRE]
[ THE HINCKS-DELLCREST CENTRE ]
[ YOUTHLINK ]
Rebuilding family ties
Putting smiles back
on children’s faces
‘My son and I are talking now’
A
rriving in Canada from
Jamaica, 12-year-old Katie
had high hopes for her
new life in Toronto. But
things got off to a rocky start and
before long, she was feeling depressed and hopeless.
By the time she was 15, Katie was
not getting along with her family
and was struggling at school. She
had trouble getting up in the morning because she was unhappy and
felt that she had nothing to look
forward to.
A youth worker at school referred
her to Yorktown Family Services for
help, but Katie was skeptical: How is
counselling going to help me through
the pain and sadness I feel inside?
Luckily Yorktown proved to be the
cure she needed. The first thing she
noticed was that the staff were really
friendly. And when she met with her
social worker, she was pleasantly surprised to find a good listener who
actually provided choices.
“When I started counselling, I was
feeling unhappy and bored with my
life,” Katie recalls. “Once I expressed
my feelings to someone I trusted, I
started to feel that I had more control
in my life. I started to have more selfrespect and my attitude became more
positive.
“The first choice I made was to
attend the Reconnecting program.
I noticed that there was a very positive vibe and lots of laughter. There
were lots of fun and creative things
to do, like dancing, singing and
crafts. I got to meet other kids who
were going through the same things
that I was.”
Katie’s rocky start was turning into
a smooth trail. She also learned how
to handle difficult situations.
“For example, I changed schools
and started at Central Technical,
which is a very big school and it was
very intimidating at first,” recalls
Katie. “But I learned how to make
and keep friends, and I started to
make school a priority in my life. I
actually liked school for once! I also
learned the difference between
healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Now, I place more value on my life,
friendship, family and school.”
Today, Katie is happy with her life
and grateful for the help she received
at Yorktown. In fact, she now plans
to help other youth by becoming a
Peer Mentor in Yorktown’s next Reconnecting program.
Visit Yorktown Child & Family Centre
at yorktownfamilyservices.com or
call 416-394-2424.
To contact the
Shelter for
Women, phone
416-394-2950.
If you’re in a crisis
situation, call
416-394-2999.
Adjusting to life in Canada
Reconnecting is a group program for youth aged 12–18 who have
experienced separation and reunification with a parent due to immigration.
Many of the youth involved in the program had been living apart from their
parents and then reunited with them upon arriving in Canada. Learning to
adjust to a new country as well as getting reconnected with parents and
other family members in Canada present challenges to these youth. The
program has a theme-based curriculum addressing such issues as isolation,
separation, loss, reunification with family, and immigration. Creative arts
therapy is used to help youth open up about their experiences. F
aced with the horrible
truth that her three-yearold had been abused, Kym
felt like she was “living in
a twilight zone.”
For over a year, she could not
work. “It was an impossible concept for me to leave my daughter
with anyone,” recalls Kym. “My
mission was to find someone to
help us. I was on the verge of giving up as I watched my giggling,
bright, happy child become withdrawn.”
If her daughter had suffered
from a broken leg, help would have
been as simple as finding the nearest emergency clinic. But as Kym
discovered, finding someone to
help her daughter get over the psychological mountain of abuse
would not be easy.
Over the past several decades,
much more attention has been
focused on the physical health of
children, resulting in significant
progress. Unfortunately, little comparable attention has been given
to their mental health. Left untreated, mental health problems can
lead to depression, family crises,
disruption in the classroom and
violent behaviour.
In Kym’s case, searching for help
for her child took months. She was
overjoyed when she found the HincksDellcrest Centre. “I cried uncontrollably when they said, ‘We can help,’”
recalls Kym. “Then, when they told
me about the six-month waiting period, my heart sank.”
The need for service is usually immediate; unfortunately, the help is
not. The wait for service at HincksDellcrest can be lengthy. In many
situations, families wait four to six
months for treatment to begin, and
the stress of waiting is overwhelming.
Many families find themselves desperate as they cope with their child’s
daily needs. Often they fall off waiting
lists and slip through the cracks of an
inadequately financed system. But
Kym remained tenacious, calling the
W
Helping parents connect with their teens
hen Carmela Blandizzi
signed up for a parenting group at YOUTHLINK last January, she
didn’t think it would really improve
her stormy relationship with her
17-year-old son. But after just three
sessions, her doubts disappeared.
Blandizzi learned about the realities
of peer pressure for teens and heard
other parents talk about their own
experiences with their children. “The
group helped me understand what
[my son was going through] and
showed me that I have a ‘good kid,’
too,” she says.
Especially during their teen years,
youth need to feel a sense of belonging as well as love and guidance from
their families. Parenting groups at
YOUTHLINK provide participants with
information to enable them to under-
Centre every week, usually in tears.
Then finally, she heard the words
that became a lifeline for her and her
child: “We can take you and your
daughter now!”
Says Kym: “Hincks-Dellcrest provided a team of professionals to work
with us — not just one individual’s
professional life and experience
brought to the table, but a whole
team! My daughter’s self-esteem has
been rebuilt, her trust in others redeveloped. She is now 11 years old and
doing brilliantly. Hincks-Dellcrest has
made a lifetime of difference.”
T
A SPECIAL THANK YO
TO OUR SPONSORS. U
..
“I learned how to accept my illness
and become more independent,”
says Chris.
Currently working toward a highschool diploma at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto,
where he started attending school
last fall, Chris has now earned four
credits. “Going back to school was
one of the greatest things I have ever
done,” he says. “I was ready for it.”
He is also receiving support at a
community clinic through ongoing
psychiatric care and opportunities to
continue developing his independence and interpersonal skills. Chris’s
parents say that the transformation
For more information on YOUTHLINK
or to donate, call 416-967-1773
or visit youthlink.ca.
[ CENTRAL TORONTO YOUTH SERVICES ]
Art therapy addresses struggles
with gender identity
For more information on
The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre,
visit hincksdellcrest.org.
O
n the outside, Sarah appeared to have everything
a girl could want. She was
smart, had loving supportive parents and was well liked by her
peers. She was enrolled in a school for
advanced children and excelled in
learning and sports.
Sarah was happy—until she
reached puberty. That’s when she felt
that her body betrayed her and she
became uncomfortable with herself
as a girl. When her body began to
change, so did the expectations of
Pointing teens in the right direction
Program to start his long journey to
recovery. With the help of the residential team at Turning Point, Chris
learned about self-care, responsibility and assertiveness as well as how
to socialize appropriately with staff
and peers.
At his weekly individual therapy
sessions, Chris learned more about
his illness, schizophrenia, and how it
had impacted his life. Over the course
of 17 months, he developed into a
competent, confident and productive
young man, and by September 2007
he had gained enough skills to leave
the program and move into supportive adult housing.
her group. “My son and I are talking
more now,” she says. “I don’t know
where we would be if we hadn’t received the early attention and quick
response from YOUTHLINK.”
According to Sandy Birnie, executive director of YOUTHLINK, parenting groups have been so well received
that the agency plans to run more
of them. “Our goal is run these
groups in Scarborough neighbourhoods where services are scarce and
parents are desperate for these kinds
of supports,” she says. “The only
barrier is finding the funding to make
this possible.”
with their teens is a big help in reducing conflict.
Recognizing symptoms of depression or anxiety that suggest mental
health concerns is a crucial step toward
finding help for teens. At a recent
YOUTHLINK session, a parent said, “I
hadn’t realized ch ildren could get depressed. I will now be
making an appoint- Parenting groups at YOUTHLINK share stories
ment [with our doctor] about their teens and families.
for my daughter.”
For Blandizzi, sharing stories of struggles
and successes with
other parents gave
her much-needed
relief. In fact, even
though the course is
over, she continues to
meet regularly with
YOUTHLINK offers a wide range of programs and services for
youth aged 12 to 24 years old and their families:
• clinical individual/group counselling and parent support groups
• a family support program for youth with intellectual disabilities
• a residence treatment facility for girls aged 14 to 18 years old
• supportive co-op housing across Toronto
• violence prevention and leadership-development programs in high-needs
communities in Scarborough
• an inner-city drop-in/resource centre and street outreach program
• employment and life-skills programs
[ TURNING POINT YOUTH SERVICES ]
wo years ago, Chris’s life started spiralling out of control. He
was using drugs extensively,
his friendships were falling
apart, and his grades were plummeting. Things got worse when he stopped
going to school altogether and could
barely function day to day.
Desperate to get treatment and
support for his teenage son, Chris’s
father had no other recourse but to
have him admitted into a hospital. “I
hated it at the time,” recalls Chris, “but
it was the turning point in my life.”
After his release from hospital,
Chris was admitted into the care of
Turning Point Youth Services’ Clifton
stand their children more and to
strengthen the family unit. During an
eight-week course, parents learn
about developmental changes that
teens face, sexuality, peer pressure,
communication skills and effective
ways to handle anger and conflict.
Parents also experiment with new
techniques in dealing with their children and share their experiences with
the group.
Depending on the parents and the
children, different methods work for
different families. One parent, for
example, found that responding to
her teen’s difficult behaviour in a loving way “calmed him down.” Another mother practiced role reversal:
“I was the daughter and she was the
mom. It really worked!” Some parents find that writing up “contracts”
saturday, may 3, 2008 • 5
to cope with her feelings, she isolated
herself in her room and began cutting
herself with a razor. That’s when her
mom sought help and brought her to
Central Toronto Youth Services.
At first, when she started individual counselling, Sarah refused to talk.
Admitting later that she did not want
anyone to know that there was
“something really wrong” with her,
she harboured intense feelings of
doubt and shame about who she is.
It was only when she joined Gender
Play—a group based on expressive
With expressive arts therapy through his Gender Play
group, Shawn transitioned physically, as did his sense of
self—from one of shame to one of pride.
in their son’s overall well-being is
amazing, and everyone, including
Chris, is pleased about how he has
won this uphill battle by accepting
help and his perseverance in turning
his life around.
“My outlook for the future is pretty good,” says Chris. “I would like to
stay in school, continue writing, maybe even get a girlfriend.”
For more information on the
programs and services offered by
Turning Point Youth Services,
call 416-925-9250 or
visit turningpoint.ca.
those around her. It was no longer
acceptable to dress like a boy and
behave like a “tomboy.”
Peers began to question her lack
of femininity and pressed her to
change, but she couldn’t shake the
feeling that she felt more like a boy
than a girl. And although she had
always been very close to her parents,
she stopped talking to them. She also
disconnected herself from her friends.
Meanwhile, her grades began to drop
significantly.
Sarah became depressed. In order
arts therapy for youth questioning
their gender identity—did her doubts
dissipate.
Once she felt accepted and understood by the members of her Gender
Play group, Sarah was comfortable
enough to ask them to call her Shawn
and refer to her as a boy.
Shawn then courageously spoke
about his innermost thoughts and
feelings and found commonalities
with others in the group. Instead of
hiding who he is, he started celebrating his differences. He shared his sto-
ries and wrote a play about his experiences. Slowly, he started coming out
to his school peers and teachers and
was surprised to find acceptance more
than rejection.
Not only did Shawn open up and
talk to his counsellor, parents and
peers; through Gender Play, he found
the courage to tell his personal story
in front of an audience. Over the last
two years, there have been many
changes in Shawn. His body transitioned from female to male, and his
sense of self also changed—from one
of shame to one of pride.
As well, Shawn started his first year
in university with a full scholarship
that he won for outstanding grades
and a leadership contribution to the
community. He now has good friends,
a positive relationship with his parents
and, most importantly, he feels proud
of who he really is.
For more information on Central
Toronto Youth Services, call
416-924-2100 or visit ctys.org.
6 • Saturday, May 3, 2008 Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
toronto star information supplement
Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
kidsmentalhealth.ca [ Kinark Child and Family Services ]
K
Green ribbon a symbol
of hope and healing
inark is working hard to eliminate the stigma and discrimination experienced—needlessly—by children struggling
with mental health issues.
“Until Canadians get over their
long-standing fear and misunderstanding of children’s mental health,
neither the one-in-five children
and youth who struggle with mental health nor their parents will get
the help they need and deserve,”
says Peter Moore, Kinark’s executive
director.
Kinark proudly wears the green ribbon to raise awareness and battle the
stigma facing children with mental
health problems. In recent years, the
green ribbon has been adopted by
children’s mental health agencies
across North America in an effort to
break down the barriers that prevent
children, youth and families from
seeking help.
“People must understand that
mental health issues can be serious
and can often be treated or even prevented,” says Dr. Richard Meen, a
clinical director at Kinark. “It’s important for parents to know that treat-
ment and services are available right
across the province.”
Kinark Child and Family Services
has been serving children, youth and
their families in Ontario for several
decades. Making a difference is a
critical element of the philosophy of
the organization. In fact, Kinark’s mission is:
Caring, helping and healing – so
children and youth can live socially
and emotionally healthy lives.
This mission is delivered on a daily basis by more than 800 employees,
including direct-service clinical professionals—such as social workers,
child and youth workers, therapists,
psychologists and psychiatrists—administrative support staff and management. More than 300 volunteers
also play a vital role in fulfilling
Kinark’s work.
In a move to provide clinical excellence and to embrace the direction
set out by the Ministry of Children
and Youth Services, Kinark began a
process of “clinical transformation”
in 2006. This transformation will result in a balanced menu of evidencebased practices selected to address
the myriad of issues presented by children and
youth.
Kinark provides services ranging from parenting education to
the diagnosis and
treatment of chronic
and multiple mental
health issues. The
agency offers an
extensive range of
programs for children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, as well as intensive treatment
and support for youth in conflict with
the law.
As the largest children’s mental
health agency in Ontario, Kinark
recognizes the importance of meaningful participation of parents and
youth in all aspects of service. Parents and children benefit from a
much higher level of involvement
with each other, with therapists and
with their community.
In several Northern Ontario Aboriginal communities, Kinark has
taken on a leadership role to provide
much-needed clinical services and
[ THE ETOBICOKE CHILDREN’S CENTRE ]
help build community capacity.
“We have to recognize that a child
comes with a family and a community and we have to put the three
together,” says Dr. Meen.
According to Moore,
Kinark serves children,
youth and their families
in the 905 and 705 area
codes surrounding Toronto. Geographically diverse, Kinark has program
offices in Peterborough,
Northumberland, Durham,
York Region and Simcoe
County. As well, Kinark operates the Syl Apps Youth Centre in Oakville and provides
autism throughout Ontario’s
Central East Region. The Kinark Outdoor Centre in Minden, Ont., provides
respite and educational programs to
youth and families of Kinark and similar organizations.
For more information about
Kinark Child and Family Services,
call 1-888-454-6275
or visit kinark.on.ca.
[ AISLING DISCOVERIES CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE ]
T
Helping parents raise happy,
healthy children
wo years ago, Daviann was
almost expelled from kindergarten for throwing temper
tantrums, hitting, and refusing to follow the rules. Now in Grade
2, she won the Student of the Month
award for being the most improved
student for listening, cooperating and
helping classmates.
Daviann’s success is due to three
important people—a dedicated mother, a skilled therapist and Daviann herself for her own determination.
When Sotopa, Daviann’s mother,
realized that her daughter’s behaviour
was a problem, she sought help immediately at Aisling Discoveries Child
and Family Centre. This early intervention is crucial. Not only can it stop
children like Daviann from developing
es such as computer time or an outing
a destructive pattern of anger and
to the park for being more compliant
lack of control, it can also avoid bigger
in the classroom, on the school bus
and at daycare. Sotopa learned that
problems, such as bullying, delinquency and even criminal behaviour.
structure, predictability and consisWhen Sotopa met with Joan Wiltency are key components to helping
liams, a therapist at Aisling Discoveries
her child become less aggressive and
for more than 30 years, Williams immore cooperative. With perseverance
mediately saw that Sotopa cared
and Williams’ help, Daviann did not
deeply about her daughter and was
have to be transferred to a behavcommitted to helping her cope better
ioural class, where she could pick up
with difficult situations. For the next
negative behaviours from her peers.
year and a half, Williams,
Instead, she has been
(From left) Sotopa,
Sotopa and Daviann emable to remain in a
daughter Daviann
small class setting,
barked on a journey to
and therapist
which helps her to betJoan Williams.
ter deal with her communication problems.
Aisling Discoveries provides services and programs that support the
mental health development of children from birth to age 12 and their
families living in the east end of the
City of Toronto. Over the years, Williams has seen many children—some
very young—who display violent outbursts and impulsive behaviour that
their parents perceive as just a stage
that their kids will outgrow. But as
shown in Daviann’s case, the best
remedy is to face the problem early,
when it surfaces.
At Aisling Discoveries, an approach
based on strengths is used, with the
positive aspects of both parent and
improve the young girl’s behaviour and
child highlighted during the course
social skills.
A reward system was implemented
of therapy. With Sotopa and Daviwhereby Daviann was given privilegann, there were many strengths to
saturday, may 3, 2008 • 7
Positive ways to change behaviour
E
very year, 800 children and
their families seek help from
The Etobicoke Children’s Centre, which provides a wide
range of services to children and
youth with mental health problems—
individual and family counselling,
workshops, consultations and, for
some kids, finding spots in a specialized classroom setting.
Through the ECC, children learn to
manage their anger, take control of
their behaviours, accept direction
from adults, communicate their needs
and develop better personal relationships. The ECC helps parents and
caregivers to understand their children’s behaviour, so they can respond
positively. Using music, art and games,
ECC counsellors encourage kids to
make behavioural changes that will
give them crucial skills for getting
along with peers, teachers and family members.
Enjoying the warmth of a beautiful spring day, I watch five kids playing basketball in the schoolyard.
There’s jostling, long shots, lost shots,
even a few successes.
One of the boys seems faster on
his feet than the others. Tall and
lanky, he easily dodges the other
players and looks like he has a lot of
excess energy. Another boy, the
shortest of the group, keeps flicking
his longish hair, his left hand in constant rhythmic motion. When he gets
the ball, however, he dribbles it effortlessly, runs faster and leaps high-
er than I thought he could.
A huge set of lungs sets the third
boy apart. “Pass it, pass it, pass it,”
he yells. “Here I am! Pass it!” Does
he realize he’s the one holding the
ball and the other kids are yelling at
him to pass it already? The fourth
boy is all over the court, shoving,
backing into the others, waving his
arms vigorously. I cringe when I see
him stick his foot out to trip the
shortest boy, who, luckily, misses the
foot as he jumps up with the ball and
makes his shot.
There’s only one girl in the group.
Her short dark hair is tucked underneath a cap and her black coat flaps
The Etobicoke Children’s Centre
for adults committed to making
with attention-deficit hyperactivity
offers the following support groups disorder (ADHD)
positive differences in the lives of
and programs at different times
children and teens
• Parenting on the Run—a group
through the year. For more
• Friends® Program—a support
that provides advice and support
group for children with anxiety
details, call 416-240-1111 or visit
to help busy parents assume control
disorders
etobicokechildren.com.
of their children
• COPE® —a support group for parents • Creative arts therapy—a treatment • Gym Skills Group—a support
of children with oppositional defiant
program for children with autism
program to help children who are
disorder
• Mindfulness Based Stress
cared for by relatives
• Hunter and the Remote Control— • Developing Capable People® —a
Reduction® —a support program
psycho-educational training program
to help children and their parents
a program for families of children
How to set up a
reward system
When your child misbehaves,
don’t get upset and angry.
Instead, encourage your child to
make better choices by earning
points toward a reward. Plan the
privileges with your child, so that
you know they will really be
rewarding and enjoyable.
Positive behaviours earn points,
which are “cashed in” for
privileges such as extra time
watching TV or a special bedtime
story. After earning several days’
worth of rewards, your child can
enjoy a bigger privilege at the
end of the week, such as an
outing to see a movie.
Many children and their families
have benefited from the wide
range of services available at
The Etobicoke Children’s Centre.
Here is one mother’s story about
the challenges of raising a child
with mental illness.
as she blocks the other players and
swears. None of the boys seem to
notice or care. The school bell rings.
The game ends and the five kids head
off in different directions.
One of those five children has a
mental health problem. That one of
five may have difficulty with impulsiveness and explosive anger. That
one of five might worry so much that
sleeping at night is impossible. That
one of five might have attention and
hyperactivity disorders and exhibit
compulsive behaviours. That one of
five may be depressed, even capable
of self-harming.
One in five children in Ontario has
a mental health problem that won’t
go away unless help is provided. How
do I know that one of those five children playing basketball has a mental
health problem? Because one of them
is my child.
and caregivers to become more
aware, purposeful and mindful of
their responses to daily events
• Parent-led support groups—for
parents and caregivers of children with
mental health problems to encourage
them to support and learn from one
another as well as from professionals
invited as guest participants
• Sibling support groups—for
siblings of autistic children
[ pEEL CHILDREN’S Services ]
Breaking down
barriers to treatment
A
child’s potential is the root
of every treatment strategy
at Peel Children’s Centre.
As soon as a child enters
the doors of PCC, the staff look closely at the child’s strengths and possibilities to determine the best treatment. Then, therapy is provided
within two weeks, so the child’s recovery is not jeopardized by a long
waiting period.
Peel Children’s Centre offers help
barriers to treatment—for example,
by providing transportation and childcare assistance when needed.
To shorten waiting times for initial
treatment, PCC staff have introduced
Single Session Therapy (SST), a focused, short-term counselling solution that children and their families
receive within two weeks. This also
reduces wait times for longer-term
counselling, which helps families
even more.
focus on—Sotopa’s commitment to
be the best mom possible and Daviann’s independence and happy personality. The result has been an
award-winning student at the ripe
old age of 7!
‘My family got help. [PCC staff] work very effectively with goal
setting and helpful strategies. You guys are doing an excellent job.
Keep it that way. My family and I are thankful to you.
To find out more about Aisling
Discoveries Child and Family Centre,
visit aislingdiscoveries.on.ca.
for children under 18 suffering from
serious social, emotional or behavioural problems such as aggression,
defiance, impulsivity, attention disorders, anxiety, depression and harming
one’s self. Services at the Centre include early intervention, counselling,
home-based intensive counselling for
children and their families, respite, day
treatment in schools and residential
treatment. For emergencies, crisis response by phone or in person is offered 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. PCC also helps to break down
“[The clinician] has been very helpful in providing information to us and
working with different organizations
on our behalf,” says a parent whose
family was referred to the Centre.
“[This] also helps my husband and
me with strategies in our family,
which in turn is helping our child better. Without this help from PCC, I
don’t know what would have happened to our child.”
Once a child has started therapy at
the Centre, an individualized treatment plan is developed, and progress
is reviewed, measured and celebrated.
Staff assess treatment outcomes using
tools such as the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale®,
while client surveys evaluate PCC’s
performance against several dimensions of quality. Conducting and
monitoring research as well as adjusting clinical practice accordingly are
also part of the Centre’s commitment
to continuous quality improvement.
Probably the best indicator of success at Peel Children’s Centre is its
growth. Fundraising activities in the
1980s and 1990s evolved into an economic and business development
strategy by 2000. Revenue from diverse development activities has allowed the Centre to sustain and expand its mental health services for
children, youth and families.
PCC has also expanded its scope.
In its first year, it served 350 clients;
now, 23 years later, it is providing
5,700 services to 3,700 clients an-
nually. For 2008/09, its operating
budget is more than $18 million. It
employs more than 300 staff from
diverse disciplines—social work,
child and youth work, psychiatry
and psychology—while 100-plus
volunteers support its services. Clinical service delivery is optimized
through a strong infrastructure with
expertise in program evaluation, finance, human resources, administration, information technology,
communications, development and
volunteer management.
With a budget that has more than
doubled since 2000, the agency is
poised for further growth. As part of
its slogan—“a caring community
working together for children”—Peel
Children’s Centre looks forward to
exploring new opportunities for collaboration as it strives to enhance the
future of children.
For families and professionals,
information about Peel Children’s
Centre’s services is available at
905-795-3500 and peelcc.org.
Children, youth and families in crisis
situations should call 416-410-8615.
8 • Saturday, May 3, 2008 Children’s Mental Health Week [ May 3 - 10, 2008 ]
toronto star information supplement
Integra helps Tony fly
Tony’s learning disability made it hard for him to make himself understood or to control his behaviour. He was disruptive,
frustrated and a prisoner inside himself. Others shunned, ridiculed and bullied him. He once had his face smashed.
When Tony came to Integra his life took off. His therapist, Paul, helped him learn self-control and how to get along with
others. Group and individual counseling helped him learn to cope better. At Integra’s Camp Towhee, he finally learned to
trust others. Tony’s mother said, “Without Integra, Tony would have hurt someone or been seriously hurt.”
Tony was lucky. He and his family got help in time because
Integra has been improving the lives of children and youth
with learning disabilities since 1967.
Learning disabilities are life-long childhood conditions, second
only to asthma in frequency. Tragically misunderstood, learning
disabilities affect the way the brain processes information.
Though they have average to above intellligence, people with
learning disabilities have problems with reading, writing and
speaking, as well as memory, attention and relationships.
The results can be devastating. Without treatment, these
kids commit crimes, drop out of school, have substance
problems and feel suicidal. They suffer from crippling
anxiety, depression, behaviour problems, stigma
and bullying.
Integra offers specialized counseling for kids
and families, a residential summer
camp, public education, advocacy
and research.
For more information call 416-486-8055 x 222
or go online: www.integra.on.ca
Improving the Lives of Children
& Youth with Learning Disabilities
[ THE MASSEY CENTRE ]
M
Young moms and babies get
a head start
ore than a century ago,
in 1901, an unmarried
mother arrived with her
baby at the Fred Victor
Mission in Toronto. She had no family, no money and nowhere to go.
Taken in by the mission, mother
and child had a place to live, food
to eat, and people around her
who cared.
Then in 1904, Toronto industrialist Chester Massey decided
to help more unwed pregnant
women and single mothers with
babies. He donated an old parsonage of the Metropolitan
United Church to the mission
and it was renamed Victor Home
in memory of Massey’s son Victor who’d passed away. In 1989,
the services expanded and the
name changed again, to The
Massey Centre for Women.
Today, The Massey Centre
continues this tradition of caring
for young, abandoned and often abused women by providing
pre-natal and post-natal residential care as well as counselling and parenting programs.
Besides educational and community programs, the Centre
also helps disadvantaged women to develop their social and
vocational skills.
“Every young woman here has
an individualized program and
chooses from a list of services,”
says Nancy Peters, chief executive
officer at The Massey Centre.
“Most of the young women we
see have dropped out of school,
have experienced a lot of mental and
physical abuse, and are living in poverty. A lot of them have been living on
the streets, as no housing is available
for them.
“The average woman here is scared,
isolated and has no family support.
There are histories of abusive relationships and family conflicts.”
According to Peters, although the
Centre takes in girls from ages 13 to
21. The current average age in its prenatal-care group is 18. Usually, the
young women arrive for residential
pre-natal care and support when
on-site and they can take all their highschool credits here.”
Once the baby is born, nurses at
The Massey Centre monitor the
health of mother and child, keeping
an eye on the physical, mental and
social bond between them. Residential staff also provide counselling
and support.
Peters says there is always a demand for the services at the Centre,
as reflected in the almost always full
pre-natal residence, which can accommodate 22 women. The postnatal residence can accommodate 27
mothers and their babies.
To enable these mothers go to
school or find a job, there’s an Early
Learning Centre on-site to look after
the children until they’re four-and-half
years old. This 48-space licensed
childcare centre helps many disadvantaged women break the cycle of poverty and allows them to build friendships and community links through
the Ontario Early Years Centre, which
is also on-site.
“Some of our women go to college
or university,” notes Peters proudly.
“They show that they’re able to achieve
and go back into the community. I
think they’re amazing!”
For more information on The Massey
Centre, call 416-425-6348.
they’re around five months pregnant;
then they move to the Centre’s postnatal apartments and townhouses,
where they can stay up to a year.
“We provide nursing care and stabilize the pregnancy and the mother’s
diet, so she has a healthy baby,” says
Peters. “And the teen moms have to
be in school or working. A school is
Facts at The Massey Centre
• Babies born to mothers at the Centre have higher birth weights
than babies born to teen mothers outside of the Centre.
• The cost to support a premature underweight infant in hospital
is $250,000.
• Of the teen mothers at the Centre, 85 per cent return to school or
take employment courses to improve their circumstances.
• The Centre served 1,475 families in 2007.