March 2021 Newsletter
“You always pass failure on the way
to success.” -Mickey Rooney
Congratulations/Acknowledgement:
Hanrahan Youth Services would like to Welcome Back Dr. Camargo, who is an Consulting Psychologist.
HYS would like to thank all of our employees who are working during this difficult time making sure all youth and staff are safe and making sure that Hanrahan Youth Services runs smoothly and safely. Your work is recognized and truly appreciated. This pandemic is a world changing event, we are all going to remember where we were during this difficult time including the youth you are working with. Please recognize the important roles that you have and for that we want to send a sincere thank you. As you are most likely aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency, and all Publicly Funded Ontario Schools are to be closed until May. Foster parents, staff, and residents are encouraged to follow regular respiratory illness protocols and prevention strategies which include:
Wash/sanitize hands frequently as possible
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Cough or sneeze into a tissues or sleeve rather than hands
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Stay home if you are ill
Consult Telehealth or your physician if you have any concerns
If you believe, or have been advised, that any caregiver, staff or child has been in contact or exposed to the COVID-19, please contact Bob or Brian right away, along with the resident’s worker/supervisor immediately to discuss the appropriate next steps. In light of recent events with COVID-19 and the restrictions in place by businesses to limit interaction, Hanrahan Youth Services’ head office will be locked during business hours until further notice. Only administrative staff will be permitted on site during this time. Should you require any documents/cheques, etc. or to drop anything off, please contact Erin with enough time to prepare whatever it is that you require. The mailbox attached to the home will be utilized for dropping off and picking up items.
March is Women's History Month It's Women's History Month 2021. The month-long celebration is a chance to acknowledge women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, women have been at the forefront of history-making moments.
The National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes a yearly theme for Women's History Month and 2021's is all about capturing the spirit of the challenging times we're living through. Because of COVID-19, many of the women's suffrage centennial celebrations originally planned for 2020 were restricted, so the National Women's Alliance is extending the annual theme for 2021 to "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced." https://www.etonline.com/womens-history-month-how-it-started-and-how-to-celebrate-161258 March Special Days
March 1-7- Social Work Week Each year communities and organizations across Canada take time in March to recognize the hard work, dedication and compassion of social workers.
In Ontario, we honour the compassion and strength of these caring professionals during the first week of March (March 1-7, 2021.)
This year’s Social Work Week theme is “You Are Not Alone. Social Workers: Real Experts for Real Life.”
Social workers are on the front lines supporting Ontarians who are dealing with various issues, including family violence, addictions, caregiver stress, abuse and bullying. They use their unique expertise to identify causes of stress, help with the development of coping skills, find solutions to problems and connect people with the resources they need.
The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) has created a poster to celebrate Social Work Week 2021. See below to view and download the poster.
March 8- International Women's Day International Women's Day campaign theme is #ChoosetoChallenge
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.
March 31- International Transgender Day of Visibility
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) intersectionally promotes diversity in gender identity, gender expression, and romantic and/or sexual orientation in all its forms on a national level through services in the areas of education, health, and advocacy. Our resources and programming can be used to uplift gender and sexual minorities, as well as give them tools to wider populations in building allyship.
https://ccgsd-ccdgs.org ONLINE VIRTUAL EVENTS Due to the lockdown- please see events online for fun https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/online/events/ EventBrite holds many online virtual classes & events! This is a great way of learning new things, or keeping busy but still staying safe & healthy! Gentle Yoga For Terrible Times- Simple and accessible breathing exercises, stretches, and guided meditation for all bodies, minds, and spirits. NO EXPERIENCE necessary https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gentle-yoga-for-terrible-times-tickets-107646048228?aff=ebdssbonlinebrowse
International Women's Day Celebration: Dance into Spring March 8 Celebrate International Women’s Day with energizing and relaxing seated dance. Enjoy volunteer presentation about famous women in History and resilient women stories.
Enjoy prizes!
International Women's Day: Let's hear you roar! March 11
Hear the inspirational insights and journeys of women in your community.
Panel discussion on issues affecting women
Opportunity to ask questions
Celebrate the wonderful women in your lives
Prize draws and more
Guest Panelists:
Meenakshi Sharma, South Asian Mom Blogger, Vlogger, and Radio Talk Show Host (Rukus Avenue Radio)
Assiatou Diallo, Entrepreneur, Mom, Founder and Executive Director of TAAB Community Care/Pour Tous
Sara Asalya, Palestinian Immigrant, Award-Winning Leader, and Refugee Rights Advocate
Lily Ostos, Experienced Art, Culture and Wellness Creative Entrepreneur in facilitating community programming/initiatives
https://achev.ca/event/virtual-panel-discussion-celebrating-international-womens-day/
We'll make it through this together! March 14
"We'll make it through this together" is an engaging and practical online discussion that will provide tips and insights on how we can remain calm and carry on during a pandemic. How we can avoid quarantine 15 - the regrettable gaining of weight during the shutdown. How to reduce the tension and stress in your body with movement and massage and how to avoid the negative effects on your joints and posture from working at home.
Jennifer Cassimy, MSW, RSW social worker, Dr. Nicole Constant, naturopath, Kiara Mercury-Phillips, RMT massage therapist and Zumba instructor and Dr. Christopher Morgan, chiropractor and sports specialist are your presenters for this event.
After registering, on March 13th, you will be sent the Zoom link for this event. Bring your questions, your concerns, get ready to move your body and straighten up.
This online event is a presentation of the Health and Wellness Team at Morgan Chiropractic & Wellness. "Helping families and individuals lead healthier, happier lives since 2000."
Morgan Chiropractic & Wellness (MCW) is a unique, interdisciplinary, family-oriented, health and wellness centre in North York. MCW provides services in chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, and counselling in addition to health promotion initiatives. For more about MCW go to www.mcw4life.com Spring is here!
March 20th marks the first day of Spring!
Perfect time to do some spring cleaning both inside the home (including the garage) and out! Get the whole group involved and de-clutter. Having everyone join in will make a big difference in the workload. To motivate them, try turning up some music or establishing a “reward” for when the work is done.
There are some special chores that need to be done seasonally like cleaning patios and windows. We ignore them for most of the fall and winter, but now it is time to get these things clean. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help the home look better.
Temperatures are slowly creeping upwards which means that the snow has melted. We ask that staff and foster parents take a walk around the properties to see if there is any garbage laying around that needs to be picked up or any items that may require fixing. Teasers/Facts Read Facts OR Just for fun, try to solve the following brain teasers. The answers will be at the bottom of the newsletter. Good luck! 1. The first spring flowers are typically lilacs, irises, lilies, tulips, daffodils, and dandelions 2. During the spring, birds are more vocal as they sing to attract mates and warn away rivals. DID YOU KNOW?... Why routines are good for teens
Some teens like and need routine more than others, but in general, having an organised and predictable routine can have the following benefits:
routines at home can help teens to feel safe and secure, and can provide stability during a time of change
routines that include time for fun or spending time together can strengthen your relationship with your teen
having a regular bedtime can help set your teenager’s body clock so their body ‘knows’ when it’s time to sleep
having an important job to do in their daily routine (such as feeding and walking the dog) can help teenagers to develop a sense of responsibility
routines can help teenagers to develop basic work skills and time management.
How to create a good routine
So how do you create a good routine for your teenager? The key is to involve them in the planning so they feel ownership. Here are some tips:
set a daily schedule with the same wake-up times and bedtimes for each school day—and stick to them
make study time part of your teenager’s daily routine, with more time allocated for study when assignments or exams are coming up
factor in time off—knowing there’s a reward for all that hard work is a great motivator
make it visual—draw up a chart, keep a day planner on the fridge, record the routine on your teen’s phone or computer
include your teenager’s deadlines for school assignments and exams on your calendar or planner so they can see what is coming up
practise, practise, practise—it might sound obvious, but the only way to make a routine stick is to be routine about it!
don’t worry if you miss a beat, no one’s perfect. If the day does not go to plan, just smile, stay positive and start again the next day.
https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/routines-and-teens-how-you-can-help
Duty to Report Please remember that we all have a duty to report abuse or suspected abuse of a child. The Child and Youth Family Services Act is clear on the civic responsibilities of ordinary citizens and their duty to report any concerns of abuse and neglect to Children’s Aid Societies, but there is a special responsibility on the part of professionals who work with children.It's important for all of us to increase our awareness about child abuse and neglect, to learn the signs and some of the underlying causes. Too many children lack the nurturing family and community supports essential for them to thrive and succeed. This has resulted in too many families coping with stressors and challenges affecting their ability to provide a safe, secure home for their children. (“Help Stop Abuse & Neglect”) Please be sure to revisit the Duty to Report section of the Policy and Procedure Manual should you have questions regarding reporting procedures. Strength Based Perspective The Basics of Strength-Based Approach Working from a strength-based perspective is a collaborative approach, whereby the person being supported by services is an active participant in the process of problem-solving issues they are experiencing. This allows the opportunity for the individual’s voice to be heard, and for the individual to be engaged in the decisions that affect their life. This is a chance to empower the client, but to also foster skills of self-advocacy. There is a significant focus on the quality of the relationship between the individual receiving support, and those that are providing the support. The relationship must be one of trust and transparency, in order for there to be real success. A strength-based approach focuses on the inherent strengths of individuals, what their skills and abilities are, rather than on their deficits or problems. This also means investigating what resources are available, and how they can be used to accomplish what is needed. Although the goal is to promote the positive, this does not mean denying that issues or problems are affecting the client. Instead, it means combating situations based on the abilities and resources that exist, and utilizing these things in the most effective ways possible. The problems and concerns are not the main focus of intervention – the individual is. Family and community work models often focus on the problems identified with the individual – thus, the individual is the problem that must be fixed. However, strength-based perspective focuses on the problem often existing because of interactions between people, organizations and structures. Although issues exist, the individual only experiences the issue – the individual is not the issue. The following are important principles of the strength-based perspective: 1) People are recognized as having potential, unique strengths and abilities, and have the capacity to continue to learn, grow, and change. 2) The focus of intervention is on the strengths and aspirations of the people we work with. 3) The language we use creates our reality – for the care providers, as well as children, youth, and families. 4) Communities and social environments are seen as being full of resources. 5) Service providers collaborate with the people they work with, and the client’s perspective of reality is primary. 6) Interventions are based on self-determination. 7) Change is inevitable. 8) There is a commitment to empowerment. Problems are seen as the result of interactions between individuals, organizations or structures, rather than deficits within individuals, organizations or structures. Training We would like to continue to remind our staff and foster parents of the importance of ongoing training which can be used to assist you when dealing with the youth in our care. Hanrahan Youth Services is always willing to consider funding the many different sessions/webinars offered throughout the GTA and online that would be considered useful in working with our clients. We actually encourage all of you to make it a priority and take advantage of this opportunity to expand your professional development. Should you be interested in doing so, please contact your resource worker or program coordinator with the details of the specific session you are looking to attend. We have just recently registered a number of our staff and foster parents for workshops on: · Motivating Change – Strategies for Approaching Resistance · Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – Strategies for Supporting · Sexual Assault and Abuse Training · Addictions and Mental Illness – Working with Co-Occurring Disorders Many of our staff and foster parents have attended different workshops offered through the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) in the past. They provide a wide range of training opportunities and included in their upcoming events are: · Working in Social Services – The Essential Skills · Violence Threat Assessment – Planning and Response · Self-Injury Behaviour in Youth – Issues & Strategies · Crisis Response Planning · De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations · Anxiety – Practical Intervention Strategies · Challenging Behaviours in Youth – Strategies for Intervention For a complete list and descriptions of their upcoming workshops, you can visit: https://ca.ctrinstitute.com/workshops/category/public-workshops/ * Be sure to select the Toronto or Mississauga local listings. Please note that approved training is not limited to CTRI, these are just some examples of ones that we regularly take advantage of. We are always open to anything new that comes up. If you come across something different that you think would be worth exploring for our staff and foster parents, please send the information to the management team. Our mandatory annual trainings, including UMAB and First Aid & CPR, will continue as per the usual schedules throughout the year. For upcoming sessions, please contact the head office. Foster Parent Time-Off and Scheduling Relief We understand how hard it can be to work around the clock. We also know how important it is to take time off whether it be for running errands, taking a break, visiting family and friends, or just taking care of business...we get it! Hanrahan has a growing list of relief staff to utilize for the time you need, however, there is a process that needs to be followed in order to do so. It is essential that you communicate your request with your manager/resource worker by submitting a VACATION/TIME OFF REQUEST FORM to them or the head office. They will seek approval from the directors of the agency, and then provide you with the relief staff list or book the relief for you. It is imperative that you keep them well informed of the time you take off, as well as ensure that your staff/relief staff are documenting their hours and signing signature sheets when necessary. Please note that any changes in dates or time need to first be approved by your manager/resource worker as designated by the directors. Answers: 1. - 2. -
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