Ontario Resources / Ressources de l'Ontario
Ontario Resources / Ressources de l'Ontario
ONTARIO
BETTER BEGINNINGS / BETTER FUTURES
Le projet Partir d'un bon pas pour un avenir meilleur est un projet
pilote qui met l'accent sur la recherche relativement aux
politiques de prévention à long terme. Le projet se déroule en
Ontario et s'adresse aux familles d'enfants de zéro à huit ans qui
vivent dans onze localités ou quartiers défavorisés. Les objectifs
du projet visent à prévenir les problèmes de comportement, les
problèmes sociaux, affectifs, physiques et intellectuels. Ils
visent aussi à promouvoir le développement social, affectif,
physique, intellectuel et du comportement de ces enfants.
Finalement, ils tentent de rendre les différents milieux impliqués
plus aptes à répondre aux besoins des familles et de leurs enfants.
Le programme est basé sur une participation significative des
parents et des résident(e)s du milieu aux activités et sur
l'utilisation des ressources locales pour répondre aux besoins des
groupes concernés. Il existe deux versions du modèle Partir d'un
bon pas. Dans le premier cas, les programmes pour le développement
durant la grossesse et la petite enfance sont intégrés aux
programmes préscolaires (0-4 ans). La deuxième version permet
l'intégration des programmes préscolaires aux programmes de l'école
élémentaire (4-8 ans).
Les familles et les autres résident(e)s définissent aussi d'autres
composantes de programme qu'ils jugent importantes pour les enfants
de leur milieu. Ainsi, les modèles varient d'un endroit à l'autre
selon les besoins exprimés. Par exemple, les groupes ont mis sur
pied un programme de petit-déjeuner et d'appui aux devoirs des
enfants et les journées "sam'di d'jouer" à Cornwall, un autobus
communautaire à Ottawa. Les projets de Sudbury et d'Ottawa ont un
programme en français tandis que le projet de Cornwall se déroule
complètement en français. Quelques projets se déroulent dans des
communautés autochtones.
Better Beginnings, Better Futures is a pilot project highlighting
research on long-term prevention policies. It focuses on children
aged 0-4 and 4-8. There are 11 Better Beginnings, Better Futures
projects in economically disadvantaged communities across Ontario.
The goals of the project are to:
% Reduce the incidence of serious, long-term emotional and
behavioral problems in children;
% Promote the optimal social, emotional, behavioral and
cognitive development in those children at highest risk
for problems;
% Strengthen the ability of communities to respond
effectively to the social and economic needs of children
and their families.
The guiding principles of the projects include: family and
community involvement in program development, implementation and
evaluation; accessible, non-stigmatization programs (available toall children in a geographical area); availability of short, mid
and long-term effects; capability of integration into various
service sectors; relatively low cost; sensitive to social and
cultural diversity of families and communities; promotion and
facilitation of coordination, cooperation, and collaboration of
service providers across health, education, child care, mental
health, social housing and recreation sectors to ensure holistic
and consistent support for children and families.
The approach to project development is holistic, supporting the
child and family consistently from the prenatal years through the
preschool years. The project is designed to ensure that the
children have Better Beginnings in all their social environments,
starting with their family and including their immediate
neighbourhood and local community.
Les différents projets Partir d'un bon pas pour un avenir meilleur:
The various Better Beginnings, Better Futures projects are:
* Cornwall (F):
231 McConnell Tel.: (613) 938-2000
Cornwall, Ontario Fax: (613) 938-8465
K6H 4L4
* Etobicoke (A)
85 Mount Olive Dr. Tel.: (416) 394-6150
Etobicoke, Ontario Fax: (416) 394-6151
M9V 2C9
* Guelph - Onward Willow (A)
Unit K-45, 15 Willow Road Tel.: (519) 824-6892
Guelph, Ontario Fax: (519) 824-1785
N1H 1V7
* Kenora (M)
Pat Portage Reserve/Wauzhushk Tel.: (807) 548-5663
Onigum Nation Fax: (807) 548-4877
P.O. Box 1850
Kenora, Ontario
P9N 3X8
* Kingston (A)
1201 Division St. Unit B Tel.: (613) 542-2835
Kingston, Ontario Fax: (613) 542-3861
K7K 6X4
* Longlac (M)
Ginoogaming First Nation # 58 Box 687 Tel.: (807) 876-2962
Longlac, Ontario Fax: (809) 876-2968
P0T 2A0
* Sud-est d'Ottawa (B):
22-1485 Heatherington Rd (B) Tel.: (613) 523-2223
Ottawa, Ontario Fax: (613) 523-2360
K1V 8Z4
* Sudbury (F)
450 Morin St. Tel.: (705) 671-1941
Sudbury, Ontario Fax: (705) 671-1782
P3C 5H6
* Toronto (A)
85 River St. Tel.: (416) 362-0805
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 362-5899
M5A 3P4
* Walpole Island (A)
Shkimnoyaawin/Niigaan Nikeyaa Tel.: (519) 627-0763
R.R. # 3 Walpole Island Fax: (519) 627-5358
Wallaceburg, Ontario
N8A 4K9
* Wiarton (M)
Chippewas of Nawash Tel.: (519) 534-4992
First Nations Fax: (519) 534-2130
#27 R.R. 5
Wiarton, Ontario
NOH 2T0
Pour obtenir plus d'information sur le programme Partir d'un bon
pas pour un avenir meilleur:
For further information on Better Beginnings, Better Futures,
please contact:
Centre ontarien d'information en prévention/Ontario Prevention
Clearinghouse
415 Yonge, Bureau 1200
Toronto, Ontario
M5B 2E7 Tél.: 1 (800) 263-2846 ou (416) 408-2121
ABC COMMUNAUTAIRE (F)
706, East Maine Tél. et Télécopieur: (905) 788-3711
Welland (Ontario)
L3B 3Y4
L' ABC communautaire est un centre d'alphabétisation qui existe
depuis 1988. Il offre des services pour toute la région du
Niagara. Les services sont offerts dans trois autres points de
services (Ste-Catherines, Niagara Falls et Port-Colburn). ABC
communautaire met l'accent sur l'apprentissage de groupe afin de
briser l'isolement que vivent les personnes analphabètes. Les
services sont offerts selon une formule de 'drop-in'.
ALEXANDRA PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE
105 Grange Avenue Tel.: (416) 603-9603
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 603-8289
M5T 2J6
The Alexandra Park Community Centre is a charitable organization
run by a volunteer Board of Directors who are residents of the
low-income, public housing community of Alexandra Park in downtown
Toronto. The Board is committed to fighting drugs and crime in the
area and providing a safe and caring community. With this goal in
mind, it organizes a range of social, recreational and educational
programs for children, youth, adults and seniors and advocates for
better housing conditions.
The residents have made youth a priority and through fundraising
bingos, hall rentals and other activities, board volunteers raise
money for programs. Currently, the Centre provides a summer day
camp, an after-school program, gymnastics and self-defence classes,
sports activities, and skills training and counselling for youth.
Through a Parent/Child Drop-in, parents have an opportunity to meet
neighbours, learn and share ideas about parenting and health, and
children have a chance to socialize and learn. The Centre also
offers programs for seniors.
As well this year, the Centre has undertaken a community economic
development project. Using a skills questionnaire, skills, talents
and business interests are being identified and mobilized for
individual and community economic and social development.
Since 1992, in an effort to gain more power and control over their
environment, the Residents' Association has been working toward
converting its public housing project into a tenant-run housing
co-op. The residents have the support of the Ontario Housing
Corporation and the Minister of Housing. If successful, the
project will be the first of its kind in Canada.
CAROUSSEL DES AMIS (LE) (F)
169, rue Spring Tél.: (705) 946-3273
Sault Ste-Marie (Ontario) Télécopieur: (705) 946-2008
P6A 3A3
Le Caroussel des amis est un centre de ressources et une
joujouthèque. On y offre des services aux familles d'enfants âgés
de 0 à 12 ans. Le Caroussel offre des ateliers et des cours aux
parents. Il offre aussi des vêtements pour enfants, des jouets, un
service d'échange d'équipement et une garderie coopérative.
CENTRE DE VIE FAMILIALE ET JOUJOUTHÈQUE DE TIMMINS-TIMMINS FAMILY
LIFE CENTRE AND TOY LENDING LIBRARY. (B)
172, Algonquin Blvd East Tél.: (705) 267-6255 ou 267-6256
Timmins (Ontario) Télécopieur: (705) 268-4860
P4N 1A9
Le Centre de vie familiale et joujouthèque de Timmins assure un
soutien collectif et autonome pour les parents, les gardiennes et
les enfants de la ville de Timmins. Les activités principales de
l'organisme se déroulent autour du Centre de vie familiale (groupe
de jeux, ateliers, service coopératif de garderie, bibliothèque) et
la joujouthèque. L'esprit d'ouverture du Centre assure un
environnement non menaçant et l'accueil de toutes et de tous
indépendamment des situations socio-économiques.
CENTRE D'ALPHABÉTISATION MOI J'APPRENDS (F)
687, Laurier Tél.: (613) 446-5312
Rockland (Ontario) (613) 446-7898
K4K 1E6
Le Centre d'alphabétisation moi j'apprends s'adresse aux adultes
qui ont de la difficulté à lire et à écrire. Il offre des ateliers
dans 6 villages du Canton de Cumberland: Embrun, St-Albert,
Casselman, Limoges, Rockland et Bourget. Le Centre produit des
livres qui sont écrits dans un langage simple. Pour ce faire, les
gens de la communauté (ex. personnes âgées) ont été invités à
raconter des histoires qui ont par la suite publiées et utilisées
pour l'enseignement.
LE CENTRE PIVOT DU TRIANGLE MAGIQUE (F)
22, rue Paquette Tél.: (705) 983-4203
Azilda (Ontario) Télécopieur: (705) 983-5422
P0M 1B0
Le Centre pivot du triangle magique offre différents services pour
les familles d'enfants de 0 à 12 ans. Le Centre est un lieu o% les
parents peuvent venir passer du temps 'de qualité' avec leurs
enfants. On y trouve une joujouthèque, un groupe de soutien pour
les parent ('club jasette') qui permet aux parents de partager
leurs expériences dans un cadre très peu structuré. Le Centreoffre aussi un service de location/emprunt aux familles à faible
revenu. Celles-ci peuvent se procurer des chaises hautes, des
sièges d'auto, etc pendant toute la période o% l'enfant en a
besoin.
CHETWYND (A)
26 Maitland St. Tel.: (416) 395-1534
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 925-8087
M4Y 1C6
Chetwynd is a community development program. Its goal is to enable
low-income families in three Toronto housing projects to take a
free vacation in a natural setting at the Chetwynd Park summer
camp. Participants see Chetwynd as a 'catalyst' that can lead to
social change and improve living conditions for families in their
neighbourhoods. Emphasis is placed on the development of family
relations, networking, both within the family and with other
families and community organization workers from their
neighbourhood, before, during and following the camp.
With the support of community workers, families participate in the
organization of the Camp itself. Resident committees are
responsible for selecting the families who go to the camp, for
programming activities, and for drawing up camp rules. During the
camp itself, which lasts one week, the families participate in the
running of activities. Special activities for small children and
young people are organized, freeing parents for several hours so
they can participate in adult activities. Certain time periods are
reserved for discussion of neighbourhood issues and for drawing up
strategies to deal with them. At the end of the summer, the
families get together to tackle the problems identified over the
summer and to participate in other community activities in the
neighbourhood (women's groups, baby-sitting network, tenant
association meetings).
COALITION FOR STUDENT NUTRITION (A)
c/o Foodshare Tel.: (416) 392-1669
238 Queen Street W.
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1Z7
The Coalition for Student Nutrition brings together groups of
parents, students, community workers and school trustees in a
network, whose goal is to establish a fund to support existing
nutrition programs, and to foster the creation of community or
school groups that seek to start up their own programs. It is
intended that the fund would be run by a 'coalition' of parents,
community authorities, schools, businesses, governments and unions.
The Coalition for Student Nutrition has a document resource centre
on community development and matters relating to student nutrition. It also has contacts with other programs in Canada, the United
States and Europe to facilitate the creation of nutrition programs
in schools.
COLLEGE - MONTROSE CHILDREN'S PLACE (M)
301 Montrose Ave. Tel.: (416) 532-9485
Toronto, Ontario
M6G 3G9
The College Montrose Children's Place is a family resource centre,
set up to create a resource for children, their parents, caregivers
and grandparents, in response to the needs of the culturally
diverse community it serves. The organization's goal is to create
a model for a multicultural resource centre that is accessible to
families, who are often isolated as a result of the problems they
experience communicating in English, and of the lack of awareness
of the resources available to them. Such isolation creates a
stressful environment for the families that can lead to many
difficulties within the families.
The creation of preventive social ties is achieved in two ways: by
fostering the development of friendship ties between families who
use the Centre, and by directing families toward appropriate
resources. Services are provided in English, Portuguese, Spanish,
Italian and Chinese.
COMMON GROUND WOMEN'S CENTRE (A)
736 Bathurst St. Tel.: (416) 921-1646
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2R4
The activities offered by the Common Ground Women's Centre cover
the spectrum of difficulties facing young mothers and their
children, 95 percent of whom live below the poverty line.
Moreover, 75 percent of them experience housing problems.
According to a report produced by Common Ground, "the majority of
women have suffered physical or sexual abuse, and at least half of
them are still living in an abusive environment."
The objective of the Common Ground Women's Centre is to create a
safe, comfortable and welcoming meeting place where young mothers
and their children can gain control over their lives, share their
experiences, help each other and learn together. Day care is
provided during scheduled programs, and the Centre also provides
free transportation by bus or subway.
Activities are divided into two main categories:
%
Informal activities like those in the Drop-in Centre
where, through informal conversations among participants
and workers, an atmosphere of support is created, and
where women can build ties of friendship. The Supper and
Lunch Clubs also foster exchanges in a convivialatmosphere, while providing the nutritional supplement,
often necessary to the well-being of the participants and
their children.
%
More structured activities such as Caring for Ourselves,
a series of 12 weekly meetings that enable women to
identify their needs in their social environment, to
develop self-confidence, and to act as counsellor to
their peers. Among these more structured activities are
prenatal classes and a counselling program.
Common Ground also provides a support group for parents, day care
for the children of participants, a volunteer program, a clothing
counter, a support group for women victims of violence, workshops
and special events dealing with violence and racism. A summer
program, funded by the Labatt's People in Action Project and by
contributions from the business community, enables children and
women to participate in recreational activities and community
events that would otherwise be inaccessible to them because of
their difficult financial situation.
Common Ground adopts a holistic approach and takes into account the
double or triple discrimination on the basis of race and/or gender.
COOPÉRATIVE CAROUSSEL POUR PARENTS ET ENFANTS FRANCOPHONES (F)
5, Avenue Myrand Tél.: (613) 789-4004
Ottawa (Ontario) Télécopieur: (613) 789-3022
K1N 5N7
La Coopérative Caroussel accueille les parents et les gardiennes
accompagnés des enfants de la naissance jusqu'à cinq ans. Elle
offre à celles et ceux qui ont la responsabilité d'enfants
l'occasion d'établir des contacts et d'échanger avec d'autres
parents ou gardiennes. La formule coopérative pemet aux membres
d'inscrire leur(s) enfant(s) pour une saison ou une session et
d'obtenir une réduction sur présentation de leur carte lors de
l'achat de certains produits. Les services offerts incluent des
groupes de discussion, des rencontres parents-enfants, une halte-
garderie, une bibliothèque, une ludothèque et un camp d'été.
COOPÉRATIVE JEUNESSE AU TRAVAIL (F)
Services à la jeunesse de Hearst Inc. Tél.: (705) 362-7313
CP. 2428 Télécopieur: (705) 362-7427
Hearst (Ontario)
La Coopérative Jeunesse au travail fonctionne surtout durant l'été.
Elle met l'accent sur la prévention et permet à des jeunes âgés de
14 à 18 ans d'acquérir une expérience de travail et des aptitudes
à la gestion et au leadership. Les jeunes ont participé eux-mêmes
à la création de la coopérative.
CORVETTE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE (A)
c/o Neighbourhood Resource Centres Tel.: (416) 396-5822
of Scarborough
30 Corvette Ave.
Room 4E
Scarborough, Ontario
M1K 3G2
Corvette Family Resource Centre is a community organization that
provides programs and services to parents and their children. The
Centre's main activities include a resource centre, a toy library,
a clothing counter, a drop-in day centre and a reception program
for new families to the neighbourhood.
DAYCARE CONNECTION (A)
1954 Gerrard St. East Tel.: (416) 698-0750
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 698-5264
M4E 2B1
The Daycare Connection offers five different programs:
%
A supervised home day care (Day Care Connection);
%
A drop-in day care and a meeting place for parents,
caregivers and nannies (Family Life Connection). The
program provides workshops for parents and caregivers, a
toy library, a play room and support groups for nannies,
parents and children. Its goal is to build and create
support networks for those who are responsible for caring
for small children;
%
A telephone network for children after school (Kids
Connection), enabling them to call an adult to get help
in case of emergency. The program also organizes
workshops on issues such as loneliness or anxiety for
children, parents and professionals;
%
A day care centre located in a residence for the elderly
encourages contact between the residents and young
children (Inter-generational Connection);
%
Temporary child care for babies waiting to be adopted
(Foster Care Connection).
The Day Care Connection has recently acquired two new day care
centres. By linking programs that meet the needs of different
aspects of family life, the Day Care Connection has developed a
holistic network based on the needs of the family.
DELTA CHILD CARE NETWORK (A)
95 Eddy Stone Avenue, 2nd floor Tel.: (416) 747-1172
North York, Ontario Fax: (416) 747-7415
M3N 1H9
The Delta Child Care Network serves the communities of Downsview
and Weston in North York. These communities are characterized by
a large concentration of low-income families who live in isolation,because of their recent arrival as immigrants or other
circumstances leading to poverty. The Delta Child Care Network is
therefore particularly sensitive to the multicultural context in
which it operates. Its staff and Board are comprised mostly of
former or current users, thus reflecting the ethnic, racial, and
cultural diversity of the community.
Delta Child Care Network operates at three levels:
%
At the individual level, it provides direct service to
families by putting them in touch with the appropriate
resources, and by ensuring that such contacts are made
under the best conditions. In such cases, Delta Child
Care Network facilitates the creation of a network of
friends, child care workers, and professionals on whom
families can count, if need be;
%
At the neighbourhood family group level, community
workers, who know the neighbourhood and live there,
facilitate the creation of groups centred on activities
that enable families to share skills and receive training
in fields they have identified as important (babysitter
training, advocacy and leadership, creation of a bank of
"specialists" in neighbourhood resources, or parenting
skills);
%
At the inter-neighbourhood networking level, Delta Child
Care Network facilitates contacts between parents and
groups of parents and the community at large by creating
ties among groups, within and between neighbourhoods.
Networking is therefore the main function of the Delta Child Care
Network and the direct services set up by its staff are seen as
tools for community development. These services, ranging from
parenting skills programs like Nobody's Perfect to English language
classes for recent immigrants, take family constraints and
schedules into account. They include a day centre for children and
parents, a toy library, office services, workshops on self-employment, violence against women, citizenship, translation,
community recreation activities etc. In addition, Delta Child Care
Network is associated with a number of coalitions and cooperates
closely with some 20 agencies in the region.
Delta Child Care Network emphasizes the importance of community
development work on a defined geographical basis, and of taking
into consideration the characteristics of the local neighbourhood,
particularly in culturally diverse communities. Its flexibility,
due to its network operation and its coordination role, enables the
organization to meet pressing local needs, while maintaining its
goal of social change at the community level.
DRYDEN TOY LIBRARY & RESOURCE CENTRE (A)
113 Albert Tel.: (807) 223-7145
Dryden, Ontario Fax: (807) 223-5101
P8N 3B7
The Dryden Toy Library & Resource Centre seeks to reduce isolation
and encourage family support in Dryden. Activities and programs
are open to all and include a toy library, play groups, educational
workshops for parents and children, cooking and craft activities
for children, special events, and a reception centre.
EAST END CHILDREN'S CENTRE (A)
200 Wolverleigh Boulevard Tel.: (416) 469-0495
Toronto, Ontario
M4C 1S2
The East End Children's Centre is a family resource centre located
in the Toronto's East End. It provides a program where small
children and the adults responsible for their care (parents,
grandparents or home-based childcare providers) can meet, interact,
play and receive support for the very important work they do. The
Centre was founded by neighbourhood parents to create a flexible
resource, different from the day care services already available.
The centre has a toy library and clothing exchange services. The
organization is characterized by an absence of scheduled
activities, and by a great flexibility in its response to the needs
of participating members. The Board and program committees are
composed of programs users. The Centre offers a parent-relief
program that allows people to make arrangements to leave their kids
in care for about two to three hours. The East End Children's
Centre has published a brochure entitled Environmentally Friendly
Activities for Pre-School Children.
ENTRAIDE BUDGÉTAIRE (B)
255, Chemin Montréal Tél.: (613) 746-0400
Ottawa (Ontario) Télécopieur: (613) 746-9284
K1L 6C4
Entraide budgétaire offre des services gratuits aux personnes à
faible revenu. On y trouve des services de consultation
relativement aux questions financières personnelles et familiales.
Certains services sont offerts en français seulement tels que le
counselling de groupe, les sessions d'information sur les droits et
les obligations des consommatrices et consommateurs ainsi que les
conseils relativement au revenu insuffisant. De plus, on y offre
des cliniques et des ateliers d'impöts.
Entraide tente de susciter chez les usagères et les usagers de ses
services une vision à long terme, en faisant par exemple un budget
pour une année. L'Entraide a opté pour une philosophie de non-ingérence, c'est-à-dire que les intervenant(e)s ne prennent aucune
décision pour les clients et ne jugent pas le type de priorités de
consommation privilégiées par ceux-ci.
Entraide s'appuie sur un membership. Ses membres sont recrutés
parmi sa clientèle et le membres du conseil d'administration
doivent être des membres de l'organisme.
EQUALLY HEALTHY KIDS
185 Fifth Street Tel.: (416) 252-6471
Etobicoke, Ontario Fax: (416) 252-4474
M8V 2Z5
Equally Healthy Kids was founded in 1989. The organization is
committed to working within the community of Etobicoke-Lakeshore to
promote health and community development. Children and young
people are the main beneficiaries of the programs and activities
offered by the organization. The project's goal is to foster the
health of children, young people and families who are socially and
economically underprivileged.
Numerous initiatives have been undertaken within the framework of
the project. They can be classified according to the organizing
committees that administer them:
%
The Lakeshore Social Action Group created a program to
feed children breakfast before school hours, and fought
to increase community participation in decisions taken by
the School Board;
%
The Youth Recreational Committee set up a day centre for
young people (13-20 years) and instituted various
activities for young people;
%
The Kids After Four Programme Committee set up an
activity and recreational program for children aged 6 to
16 who found themselves alone after school hours;
%
The Parent Relief Action group established a drop-in day
care centre.
In this project, there is no clearly defined distinction made
between social objectives and health objectives. The aim to
improve health should be taken in the wider sense of promoting
health, brought about through community development, consideration
of the impact of poverty on physical and mental health, and
organizing activities for children and young people that
concentrate on self-esteem and breaking isolation. For example, in
the children's breakfast program, the main activity is complemented
by recreational and craft activities. It also provides children
with an opportunity to make friends. Breakfast is considered a way
to promote academic achievement and social interaction among young
people, while providing nourishment.
When it was initiated, Equally Healthy Kids was designed to respond
to studies that identified the community as having major social
needs. Its activities and programs were initiated, planned and
implemented by members of the community. Equally Healthy Kids
became a part of the local community through the participation of
people in the four committees mentioned above.
ERIN CHILD CARE OUTREACH (ECCO)
East Wellington Advisory Group Tel.: (519) 833-9696
for Family Services (EWAG) Fax: (519) 833-7563
15 Main Street, Box 786
Erin, Ontario
N0B 1T0
ECCO is a resource centre for parents and children in rural
settings. It supports an informal network of caregivers and
provides a meeting place for parents and children, as well as a toy
library, a child safety seat service, a resource library for
parents, workshops and parent support groups.
FAMILLES-ENTRAIDE (B)
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier
305-150, chemin Vanier Tél.: (613) 744-2892
Ottawa (Ontario) Télécopieur: (613) 749-2902
K1L 8H7
Familles-entraide offre un service de garde aux femmes cheffes de
familles à faible revenu. La philosophie de familles-entraide
repose sur le postulat voulant que la cellule familiale est le
noyau d'apprentissage et d'épanouissement essentiel au
développement de l'enfant. Familles-entraide considère que les
pressions et les attentes reliées à la conjoncture socio-économique
actuelle rend le soutien aux familles indispensable.
Familles-entraide jumelle des familles ressources à des familles
participantes. Les objectifs de ce programme sont:
%
Offrir du temps de répit aux parents pour une période
indéterminée;
%
Diminuer les risques d'abus physique et émotionnel;
%
Prévenir et diminuer les placements en famille d'accueil;
%
Prévenir l'effritement de la famille;
%
Promouvoir l'épanouissement du climat familial;
%
Permettre aux familles de briser l'isolement;
%
Favoriser la notion de prévention au sein de la famille;
%
Favoriser l'entraide communautaire;
%
Offrir un encadrement flexible aux familles participantes
et aux familles ressources bénévoles.
FAMILY RESOURCE CONNECTION
Kew Beach United Church Tel.: (416) 690-0102
140 Wineva Avenue Fax: (416) 698-5264
Toronto, Ontario
M4E 2T4
Family Resource Connection provides support to families with young
children. It provides education and information to parents and
caregivers and a safe, stimulating environment for children. It
offers programs such as child care registry, a toy library, nanny
support groups, parent support groups, and infant groups.
FAMILY RESOURCE SERVICES, WEST SCARBOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMUNITY
CENTRE, (A)
313 Pharmacy Avenue Tel.: (416) 755-9215
Scarborough, Ontario Fax: (416) 755-7521
M1L 3E7
Located in the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre,
Family Resource Services organizes activities and programs designed
to prevent family problems, break the isolation of families,
promote the creation of self-help networks, and foster the social
development of children and adults. The main activities of Family
Resource Services are support services (information, referral,
emergency assistance, workshops, and conferences, etc.),
educational activities for children, and assistance to families at
risk.
FIELD TO TABLE
238 Queen Street West, Lower Floor Tel.: (416) 392-1658
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 392-6650
M5V 1Z7
Field to Table is a non-profit organization that sells fresh fruit
and vegetables to low-income communities of Toronto. Field to
Table buys fresh food products from farmers and suppliers at the
Toronto Food Terminal, and delivers them the same day to community
groups. The goals of the organization are to foster nutritional
security and health. It is designed to give communities the
opportunity to develop social interaction mechanisms and a sense of
community belonging. In addition, Field to Table is an alternative
to food banks, and an answer to the problems of accessibility to
low-price supermarkets, which are usually located far from low-income neighbourhoods and public housing projects.
At the initial level of Field to Table activities, a mobile food
truck stops at 20 low-income neighbourhoods every week during
summer and fall, so that residents can buy fresh produce at low
cost. The informal structure of the market also gives the people
of the community the opportunity for social interaction. Secondly,
the organization also delivers produce to community markets
organized by residents. These markets are often located in the
lobby of public housing projects. At the third level, purchasing
groups (school meal programs, welfare recipient groups, collective
kitchens, etc.) can also order food from the organization.
Field to Table's distinguishing feature is the way it attempts to
recreate a market atmosphere in underprivileged neighbourhoods as
a means of promoting sociability and self-help. In addition, the
organization provides an answer to a problem common to those
communities: difficult access to affordable fresh produce. Field
to Table's action is based on a very broad concept of health
covering problems of food/nutrition and poverty.
HARAMBEE CENTRES CANADA (M)
29 Bayswater Ave. Tel.: (613) 729-6654
Ottawa, Ontario Fax: (613) 729-0253
K1Y 2E5
The word Harambee in Swahili means "Let's all pull together". The
Ottawa chapter is one the eight Harambee centres across Canada.
The philosophy of the Harambee centres is based on self-help,
interdependence, sharing resources and working together. Their
objective is to provide community-based support programs and
services to the black community in Canada. It offers various
programs, including a school support program that creates and
promotes ties between the home, the school and the community, a
labour adjustment program, and a read and write program.
The Centre has a committee for the establishment of an African-Caribbean-Canadian credit union. The credit union is expected to
be established by late 1995. Its objective is to empower people of
African and Caribbean descent by providing equitable access to
financial services and by focusing on community needs.
THE HELP CENTRE (A)
1005 William Street, Suite 301 Tel.: (905) 372-2626
Cobourg, Ontario Fax: (905) 373-4467
K9A 5J4
The Help Centre provides assistance to unemployed people. It
provides individual counselling on employment, and a résumé writing
service. It helps families through a budget management and income
tax return service for low-income people. It also refers people to
training programs in the region as well as "coping with
unemployment" support groups. In 1990, the Northumberland
Community Legal Aid Centre became a separate branch of the Help
Centre.
JANE/FINCH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY CENTRE
4400 Jane Street Tel.: (416) 663-2733
Apt. 108 Fax: (416) 663-3816
Downsview, Ontario
M3N 2K4
The Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre is a multi-service
centre that serves an underprivileged neighbourhood in North York
characterized by a lack of appropriate community support
structures. It provides services to individuals, families and
community groups.
The meeting place for parents and children (Child/Parent Drop In)
is at the heart of the Centre's family services and is the starting
point for self-help activities for isolated parents. The Centre
also provides decentralized activities in neighbourhood locations,
such as single-parent support groups for Latin American orVietnamese mothers. It also organizes activities for very young
children (aged 2 to 4), an arts program, a community mental health
program (Getting in Touch), and a support and budget management
service. The Centre has also organized a meeting place that
provides sports and craft activities for men living in isolation.
The Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre is characterized by the
continuing commitment of its staff to community development.
JESSIE'S CENTRE FOR TEENAGERS
205 Parliament Street Tel.: (416) 365-1888
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 365-1944
M5A 2Z4
Jessie's Centre for Teenagers is a vast community organization that
meets the needs of mothers under 19 years old. A wide variety of
programs and activities are provided by the employees and
volunteers at Jessie's: prenatal and parenting classes, women's
support groups, recreational activities, a medical clinic, a 24-hour relief service, an in-house school program, a nursery,
assistance in finding housing, a community kitchen, and advocacy
for young families. In addition to its comprehensive response to
the needs of young mothers, Jessie's Centre is characterized by its
structure as a collective.
LAKESHORE AREA MULTISERVICE PROJECT / TOY LIBRARY (A)
185 Fifth Street Tel.: (416) 252-6471
Etobicoke, Ontario Fax (416) 252-4474
M8V 2Z5
The Lakeshore Area Multiservice Project & Toy Library is a
community health and social services organization where a number of
programs, activities and services are provided for families:
outreach programs, family support services, day centre for
families, a home visiting program, a toy library, an adult literacy
and educational programs for parents and caregivers. This
organization is notable for its view of health, which extends
beyond the individual to the community.
LIFE*SPIN (LOW-INCOME FAMILY EMPOWERMENT * SOLE-SUPPORT PARENTS
INFORMATION NETWORK)
P.O. Box 2801 Tel.: (519) 438-8676
Station A Fax: (519) 438-7983
London, Ontario
N6A 4H4
LIFE*SPIN is an organization dedicated to providing information and
support for individuals surviving on low incomes. LIFE*SPIN
strives to support the empowerment and self-development of these
individuals in their efforts to attain self-sufficiency.
LIFE*SPIN is, and will continue to be, an organization comprised oflow-income wage earners and social assistance consumers. By
enabling individuals to access appropriate, available services and
information, LIFE*SPIN endeavours to help individuals break the
cycle of poverty.
The immediate goal of LIFE*SPIN is to establish an information
network centre to facilitate the publication of a community
resource manual for low-income, sole-support parents. LIFE*SPIN
has also begun the process of advocacy and opportunity planning on
behalf of individuals facing problems of a discriminatory or
discretionary nature.
LIFE*SPIN's hope is to bring individuals, business, government,
unions, churches, agencies, services, families and groups together
to talk, plan, and begin the process of building a community--one
that welcomes, respects, and values the needs, skills and knowledge
of all people in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of our
community.
LIFE*SPIN's first project was the publication of a survival guide
called How To Get There From Here, which contains information about
access to services available to the local population.
LIFE*SPIN is now working on several projects that come under the
banner of community economic development involving women, including
a cottage industry packaging beans called the Southwest Bean
Project. In conjunction with this project, LIFE*SPIN is working
on alternative food strategies for low-income individuals, which
include student gardens, The Good Food Box, container gardening,
Collective Kitchens, Food Buying Clubs and much more.
LIFE*SPIN recently finished a workshop series designed to give
women a head start on understanding community economic development
and to assist women in the recognition of the immense value they
bring to the socio-economic arena.
LOW INCOME FAMILIES TOGETHER (LIFT) (A)
238 Queen Street W. Tel.: (416) 392-6651
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 392-6650
M5V 1Z7
Low Income Families Together is a community organization that is
run by low-income people. The main objective of LIFT is to
encourage the mobilization of low-income people as a means of
overcoming the problems of poverty. The organization provides
resources that foster social change: a place and material for
meetings, information and technical assistance for starting up
community programs, and workshops on issues of concern to low-income people.
LIFT is currently developing a data base to help connect low-income
groups across Ontario through networks like CEDRIC. It also
publishes a newsletter.
LA MAGIE DES LETTRES (F)
297, Dupuis Tél.: (613) 748-3879
Bureau 304 Télécopieur: (513) 748-7643
Vanier (Ontario)
K1L 7H8
La magie des lettres est un centre d'alphabétisation communautaire
pour les adultes francophones de la Municipalité régionale
d'Ottawa-Carleton. Le centre a pour objectifs de sensibiliser la
communauté aux problèmes reliés à l'analphabétisme et au décrochage
scolaire. Il recrute et forme des intervenant(e)s, offre des
ateliers de lecture et d'écriture en francais à des petits groupes,
des services de soutien aux adultes et aux enfants qui ont des
difficultés à lire et à écrire. La magie des lettres offre aussi
des ateliers sur la prévention du décrochage scolaire et sur
l'écriture simple.
MAISON COMMUNAUTAIRE DU BON VOISINAGE DE LA BASSE-VILLE (M)
145, Promenade Beausoleil Tél.: (613) 562-2925
Ottawa (Ontario)
K1N 8W3
La Maison communautaire du bon voisinage de la Basse-Ville est une
initiative de personnes à faible revenu (Coalition du bon
voisinage) en collaboration avec des personnes ressources (Centre
de ressources communautaires de la Basse-Ville). L'objectif de la
maison est d'être un lieu de rassemblement et un centre
communautaire non institutionnel. Elle répond aussi au désir de
resserrer les liens entre les membres de la communauté. La maison
est unique en son genre dans la communauté francophone. Les
personnes impliquées ont obtenu une maison qui appartient à la
Commission de logement d'Ottawa-Carleton.
Une campagne de financement a permis de recueillir 10,000$ qui ont
servi à rendre la maison conforme aux règlements municipaux. Les
services offerts incluent des sessions de cuisine collective, des
ateliers d'alphabétisation, des cours de langue, une halte-accueil,
de cours de préparation à l'emploi. On songe aussi à offrir de la
formation relativement à la création de petites entreprises
communautaires.
LA MAISON VERTE (F)
10, rue Girard Tél.: (705) 362-7040
Hearst (Ontario) Télécopieur: (705) 362-8721
P0L 1N0
La création de la Maison Verte remonte à 1981. L'association
Parmi-elles de Hearst entreprenait alors une étude de projet de
serres dans le cadre d'un programme gouvernemental de création
d'emplois.
Aujourd'hui, la Maison verte emploie 8 personnes à temps plein etune dizaine de travailleuses saisonnières. Les serres ainsi que le
centre-jardin (Au coin du pouce vert) appartiennent à l'association
Parmi-elles. Cette association à but non-lucratif regroupe une
douzaine de femme et a pour objectif la promotion de l'autonomie et
du bien-être des femmes par la création d'emploi pour les femmes de
la région de Hearst.
MALVERN FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE (A)
1301 Neilson Road Tel.: (416) 281-1376
Scarborough, Ontario
M1B 3C2
The Malvern Family Resource Centre seeks to encourage the residents
of Malvern in Scarborough to make changes at the individual, family
and community levels, through their programs and services. These
programs and services are designed by the parents, children,
seniors, and caregivers. They include workshops, support and
self-help groups, group outings, a day centre for parents and children,
drop-in day care for parents and caregivers, emergency assistance,
and a child care registry. The activities and programs organized
by the Centre are particularly sensitive to the socio-cultural
diversity of community members and to the changing needs of the
community.
MASSEY CENTRE (A)
1102 Broadview Ave. Tel.: (416) 425-6348
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 425-4056
M4K 2S5
The Massey Centre is a resource centre and a housing complex for
pregnant teenagers and young single mothers. The Centre provides
residential programs (before and after birth, up to two years) and
day programs, such as a drop-in day care, an employment training
program and an opportunity to complete high school, a resource
centre for parents and their children, workshops on health and
personal development, counselling, and recreation.
The Centre favours an holistic model and long-term support. It
links its housing program (which it considers essential to young
women) with its community outreach programs to ease the
reintegration of young women into the community.
MORNELLE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE (A)
c/o Neighbourhood Resource Tel.: (416) 287-3578
Centres of Scarborough
110 Mornelle Court, Box 1611
Scarborough, Ontario
M1E 4R1
Mornelle Family Resource Centre is a community organization thatprovides programs and services to parents and their children. The
main activities of the Centre include a resource centre, a toy
library, a clothing counter, a drop-in day centre and a reception
program for new families to the neighbourhood.
MOUVEMENT FIERS DE NOS ENFANTS (F)
A/S Conseil de planification des services communautaires de
Prescott-Russel
178, Principale E. Tél.: (613) 632-5662
Hawkesbury (Ontario) Télécopieur: (613) 632-4361
K6A 1A5
Le Mouvement Fiers de nos enfants vise les familles d'enfants de 0
à 6 ans du comté de Prescott-Russel. Il repose sur un réseau entre
parents et entre parents et ressources communautaires. Son
objectif est d'ouvrir des maisons de la famille o% les gens
trouveront des services adaptés aux besoins qu'ils définissent
eux-mêmes (groupes de discussions, information sur la santé, cuisines
collectives) dans le but d'offrir plus de bien-être aux enfants du
comté. Jusqu'à maintenant, le mouvement a ouvert trois maisons.
Les adresses des maisons:
% 542, Principale Est
Hawkesbury, Ontario
K6A 1A9
Tél.: (613) 632-6959
% 840, St-Joseph
Rockland, Ontario
K4K 1K5
Tél.: (613) 446-4220
% 3, Séguin
Embrun, Ontario
K0A 1W1
Tél.: (613) 433-1614
NATIVE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF TORONTO (M)
464 Yonge Street, Suite 201 Tel.: (416) 969-8510
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 969-9251
M4Y 1W9
The Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is an aboriginal
community agency providing support services to native children and
families living in Toronto. Its goal is to create and maintain a
family service based on native culture, respecting the values and
traditions regarding the extended family and self-determination.
To develop well-being and healing in families, NCFST provides:
%
An individual support program for families based on a
case management approach;
%
A placement program within native families for children
in need;
%
A liaison program with Ontario native communities and
bands to ensure the continuity of services provided to
families, and the repatriation of children to their
community whenever possible;
%
A community program encouraging self-help within the
Toronto Aboriginal community.
NCFST also provides special activities in direct response to
community demands. It published a report entitled "Native Family
Well-Being in Urban Setting - A Culture Based Child and Family
Services Model." The report is based on a study conducted on
Toronto's Aboriginal community, which proposes strategies in areas
of Native Family Services.
NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PROJECT OF SUDBURY (N.A.P.O.S.) (A)
326 Elgin Street Tel.: (705) 671-9627
Sudbury, Ontario Fax: (705) 671-9627
P3E 3N8
N.A.P.O.S. provides information, advocacy and support to families
and individuals in their attempts to obtain welfare subsidies,
unemployment insurance, family allowance, etc. This organization
refers families to the appropriate services and acts as liaison
with social services to coordinate assistance to low-income
families more efficiently and more rapidly.
NEW DIRECTIONS
542 Mount Pleasant Road Tel.: (416) 487-5317
Suite 203
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 2M7
New Directions offers information, referral and peer support
services for separated, divorced or widowed women. It offers
workshops in the evening to meet the needs of women who had to
return to work after separation, divorce or the death of their
partner. It offers a support group for widowed women under age 60
in order to target women with young children. The objectives of
New Directions is to help these women reconstruct their lives by
restoring self-esteem and achieving self-sufficiency.
NEW EXPERIENCE FOR LATIN AMERICAN REFUGEE WOMEN (N.E.W.) (M)
815 Danforth Avenue Tel.: (416) 469-0196
Suite 406
Toronto, Ontario
M4J 1L2
N.E.W. is an organization created in 1983 to assist Latin-American
refugee women. To counter the obstacles facing refugee women whenseeking employment, N.E.W. set up an English as a second language
(ESL) program, and an employment training program. The
organization also provides individual support to women experiencing
problems within their families, and who are victims of isolation.
N.E.W. promotes the integration of language courses, employment
preparation and placement in the work place. It publishes a
bilingual English-Spanish newsletter and is very active in
defending the rights of refugee women.
NORTH YORK WOMEN'S CENTRE (A)
201 Caribou Road Tel.: (416) 781-0479
North York, Ontario Fax: (416) 781-3822
M5N 2B5
The North York Women's Centre seeks to respond to the social,
educational, economic, physical and mental health needs of women in
North York. The Centre provides a reference and information
service for women and a number of educational and personal,
development programs (English as second language, a program for
women of colour, employment preparation workshops, support groups,
dealing with mental health, lesbian issues, friendship and
communication. Wen-Do classes, support groups for victims of
incest, etc.) In addition, the Centre is involved in activities
aimed at educating the public, defending women's rights and
fighting racial discrimination.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT (E)
801 Eglington Avenue, Suite 301 Tel.: (416) 787-1481
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 787-1500
M5N 1E3
Opportunity for Advancement is a community organization that works
with women living in poverty experiencing racial discrimination,
women in single-parent families, women with disabilities and
victims of violence or chronic disease. Its work includes both
employment preparation programs and popular education activities to
make the community aware of the structural obstacles facing low-income women.
%
"Preparing for Change" targets women welfare recipients.
It is a pre-employment program that seeks to explore and
develop participants' self-confidence, expectations and
knowledge of their rights in the work place.
%
"Women Under Stress" is for all women, particularly those
who have been through the traditional mental health
system and are experiencing difficulties.
%
"New Options for Women" is a program designed to prepare
women aged 35 and over to return to paid employment.
Each of these programs is accompanied by a day care service. OFA
gives public transport tickets to participants to enable them to
come to classes and provides a snack during its programs. Two ofthe programs are held in community centres near where the women
live.
The approach adopted by OFA promotes awareness of the ties between
social processes, such as the oppression of women and minorities,
and the personal lives of the participants. OFA places emphasis on
the support that collective group processes can bring to the
development of the personal abilities of women. OFA is run by a
Board composed of 25 percent former program participants, with the
rest of the members drawn from the community at large.
OFA publishes Preparing for Change, a manual that proposes
strategies for promoting empowerment within women's groups and for
low-income women. The organization also facilitates workshops
based on role play (The Poverty Game) first developed by a group of
women in British Columbia and adapted to the multi-ethnic diversity
of Toronto. Its aim is to sensitize community groups to the
multiple facets of the systemic barriers facing women, and to
invite professional service providers to question some of their
assumptions concerning low-income people.
ORIENTATION AU TRAVAIL POUR LES FEMMES (B)
424, Catherine Tél.: (613) 232-4273
Ottawa (Ontario) Télécopieur: (613) 232-4018
Orientation au travail pour les femmes offre du counselling aux
femmes qui intègrent ou réintègrent le marché du travail. Les
services offerts comprennent deux volets. Le premier consiste en
un cours d'une durée de 4 semaines visant portant sur la
connaissance et l'affirmation de soi, la prise de décision la
définition d'objectifs. Le second porte sur la recherche d'emploi:
préparation de c.v., d'entrevue, etc. Les femmes peuvent aussi y
trouver des informations sur le marché du travail et un service de
soutien
PARENT CONNECTION (A)
Niagara Child Development Centre
1604 Merritville Hwy, R.R.2 Tel.: (905) 384-0122
Welland, Ontario
L3B 5N5
Parent Connection is a Niagara Child Development Centre program
that provides family support services in that region. The program
targets children (2-5 years old) with moderate or severe behavioral
problems. It is based on the idea that parents best understand the
problem, and that their own knowledge and experience or improved
behavioral management of their children makes them the most
appropriate resource people for new parents joining the program.
Experienced parents therefore provide front-line services to new
parents, with the help of staff and volunteers.
PARENT PRESCHOOL RESOURCE CENTRE
300 Goulburn Private Tel.: (619) 565-2467
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 1C9
The Parent Preschool Resource Centre provides a community-wide
resource service for parents, child care providers, and educators
of young children in Ottawa-Carleton. The outreach team provides
support to low-income, socially isolated families through community
development initiatives and by cooperating with other organizations
and agencies to meet community-defined needs. The programs are
neighbourhood based and emphasize bridging differences, encouraging
richness in diversity, and facilitating the process of self-help by
acknowledging and building on community strengths, wisdom and
experience.
The services include resource and referrals to community groups and
agencies, support group start-up, parenting courses (Nobody's
Perfect, single parent, newcomers to Canada), single-parent support
groups, playgroup start-up information, toy lending library for
groups, resources for caregivers and extensive book library, video
and audio tapes. The Parent Preschool Resource Centre published
Playgroups: Start Your Own, Playgroup Tips, Playgroup Connection
and Caregiver Connection.
LA PASSERELLE. CORPORATION DES SERVICES DE GARDE DE NIPPISSING
OUEST. (F)
CP. 472 Tél.: (705) 753-4144
Sturgeon Falls (Ontario) Télécopieur: (705) 753-5422
La Passerelle est un centre de ressources et une joujouthèque. On
y offre des services aux familles d'enfants âgés de 0 à 12 ans. La
Passerelle offre des ateliers et des cours aux parents. Il offre
aussi des vêtements pour enfants, des jouets, un service d'échange
d'équipement et une garderie coopérative. Elle offre de plus un
programme de stimulation des bébés, une halte-garderie ainsi qu'un
programme pour mères adolescentes.
THE PATRICIA CENTRE FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH
68 Princess Street Tel.: (807) 737-2086
Sioux Lookout, Ontario Fax: (807) 737-1998
P8T 1H4
The Patricia Centre for Children & Youth is a non-profit
organization. It seeks to alleviate isolation and to encourage
family support in Sioux Lookout. It offers activities and programs
to families of children under 18. Its activities include an infant
development program, support for children's emotional, behavioral
and interpersonal problems, a toy library, as well as a mobile toy
library.
PETERBOROUGH COLLECTIVE KITCHENS TASK FORCE (A)
c/o Cindy Workers Tel.: (705) 748-6842
77 Towerhill Rd. #30
Peterborough, Ontario
K9H 7N3
The Peterborough Collective Kitchens Task Force includes 8-10
collective kitchens operating in the City of Peterborough. Most
receive or have received financial support from local agencies.
The majority have become autonomous when the funding stopped. The
collective kitchens are not only seen as a way to get access to
better food, but also as a way of meeting other people, discussing
personal issues and breaking isolation. Some community gardens
(mostly in housing communities) were also started, as well as a
food cooperative and breakfast clubs. Breakfast Clubs not only
meet specific needs, but also bring together people from all walks
of life to give them the opportunity to get to know and understand
each other.
The Peterborough Collective Kitchen Task Force produced a handbook
($15) designed to help people start their own collective kitchen:
"Collective Kitchens: Putting Food on the Table."
PLACE À LA FAMILLE (F)
720, East Maine Tél.: (905) 788-2360
Welland (Ontario) Télécopieur: (905) 734-1678
L3B 3Y4
Place à la famille est un centre de ressource pour les familles
francophones socialement et financièrement défavorisées. On y
offre des services de garderie pour enfants de 0 à 5 ans. Les
parents participent à l'organisation des activités offertes. Place
à la famille offre aussi des ateliers aux parents et aux gardiennes
d'enfants. Le centre anglais offre un service de 'toy mobile' tous
les mercredi du mois.
REXDALE WOMEN'S CENTRE (A)
925 Albion Road, Room 207 Tel.: (416) 745-0062
Rexdale, Ontario Fax: (416) 745-3995
M9V 1A6
The Rexdale Women's Centre is a community organization that
provides settlement guidance and supportive counselling,
information and referral services, support groups and information
workshops primarily to immigrant and refugee women in Rexdale. The
Centre offers individual or group sessions to Spanish, Punjabi,
West Indian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Caribbean, Somali and
Italian women. It also provides life skills information workshops.
The Rexdale Women's Centre has produced two videos to promote
better understanding of the conditions in which immigrant andrefugee women live: No More Stranger and Tapestry: Images of
Immigrant Women. It has also published several reports and
research studies.
RIVERDALE IMMIGRANT WOMEN'S CENTRE (M)
1326 Gerrard Street E. Tel.: (416) 465-6021
Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 465-4785
M4L 1Z1
The Riverdale Immigrant Women's Centre provides support to Chinese
speaking and South-East Asian women to help them empower
themselves. Through strategies developed by the women themselves,
the Centre provides settlement, support and counselling services
that respect the socio-cultural background of these women. The
spectrum of activities, ranging from cultural interpretation and
translation services, to programs on violence against women,
counselling and employment assistance, indicates the flexibility of
the organization.
While it is the major distinguishing feature of the Riverdale
Immigrant Women's Centre, the recognition of the socio-cultural
roots of immigrant women also presents major challenges: how to
continue responding to the diversity of needs of a wide range of
socio-cultural groups and to maintain practices that are culturally
appropriate to the needs of South-East Asian women.
ROSE OF SHARON (A)
Services for Young Mothers
102 Main Street South Tel.: (905) 853-5514
Unit 1
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 3Y7
Rose of Sharon is a non-profit agency that provides support and
educational services to young pregnant women and young mothers. It
offers workshops and courses, support groups, prenatal and
childbirth education. It also has clothing, toy and equipment
exchange programs, a food bank, lunch and transitional programs.
RUSSEL HEIGHTS FAMILY HOUSE (M)
1799 Russell Road Tel.: (613) 736-9855
Unit E
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 0N1
Russel Heights Family House provides educational, recreational and
personal services to low-income families living in and near the
Russel Heights community. It provides language classes for new
Canadians, family literacy, drop-in centre, emergency food,
counselling and referral services. It operates at a grass-roots
level to meet the needs expressed by the community. It offersprograms such as a 'well-baby' clinic twice a month, health
prevention and a homework club after four o'clock for school
children. The staff includes a number of people from the
community, so they can gain work experience.
SCARBOROUGH WOMEN'S CENTRE
2100 Ellesmare Rd. Tel.: (416) 439-7111
Scarborough, Ontario (416) 439-6999
M1H 3B7
The objective of the Scarborough Women's Centre is to help women to
participate in the community. It promotes self-esteem and
assertiveness. It offers information and referrals about community
resources available to women, and workshops and support groups on
physical and emotional health and employment.
SISTERING OUTREACH PROGRAM (A)
181 Bathurst Street Tel.: (416) 861-1954
Toronto, Ontario (outgoing calls only)
M5T 2R7 Fax: (416) 861-0958
Created in 1981 in response to the needs of homeless women in
Toronto, Sistering provides a safe drop-in centre where homeless
women can rest, recuperate, and participate in activities designed
to create friendship and empowerment (coffee, meals, telephones,
washing machines, recreation programs, physical activities, and
development of personal and social skills).
In addition, outreach workers visit isolated women, often the
elderly and weak; a transportation program brings them to a
community centre where they have access to social and recreational
activities. In its activities and programs, Sistering places no
barriers between the physical and mental health and the socio-economic conditions of the women who come through its doors.
THE SYME FAMILY CENTRE (A)
City of York Tel.: (416) 767-2186
69 Pritchard Avenue Fax: (416) 394-4433
York, Ontario
M6N 1T6
The Syme Family Centre is a community organization. Its main goal
is to provide support and encouragement to families and
individuals. Its main activities include a cooperative drop-in
child care centre, a day centre, a clothing counter, and a reading
club. Various workshops and activities complement the array of
programs offered. This organization employs a very broad
definition of the concept of the family, in order to respect the
socio-cultural roots of the different ethnic groups in the
community.
TOTS AND TOYS
2576 Carling Avenue Tel.: (613) 820-0754
Ottawa, Ontario
Tots and Toys is an organization that provides a guarantee of
mutual support to parents and caregivers through a toy library and
play groups for children. Parents and caregivers are invited to
play with children and must, from time to time, take charge of the
playgroups with a partner. This fosters the development of
relations among parents and caregivers, as well as between
children. Several group outings are also organized during the
year.
WOMEN'S COMMUNITY LOAN FUND (A)
c/o Northern Women's Centre Tel.: (807) 345-7802
184 Camelot St.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7A 4A9
The Women's Community Loan Fund provides small business loans,
basic training and support to women who wish to start or expand
their micro-businesses. Peer-lending circles are comprised of four
to seven women, each of them with their own micro-businesses or
plans to start a small business. A group-defined interview process
determines loan approval. Loans are available in three stages:
$500-$1000, $1500-$2000, $2500-3000. Borrowers are eligible for
another increment if all members of their circle are up to date
with their payments. After successfully repaying their loans,
borrowers are encouraged to join the management board of the Fund.
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT GROUP (A)
c/o Northern Women's Centre
184 Camelot St.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7A 4A9
The Women's Empowerment Group offers a space where women can learn
to feel stronger and more confident about themselves. It uses a
holistic 'healing' process based on the skills of the women. Women
learn to give effective feedback and be their own advocates. The
learning and empowering process includes discussion, sharing of
experience, drawing of self-portraits, etc.
