Carizon will be joining the United Way to celebrate and create awareness for United Way Waterloo Region Communities. Join us on September 20th for a 3 km March of 1,000 Umbrellas that will begin at Waterloo Public Square and conclude at Carl Zehr Square in Kitchener.

11:30 a.m.: Gather at Waterloo Public Square, 75 King St. S., Waterloo

11:45 a.m.: March commences along King St.

12:30 p.m. March ends at Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St. W., Kitchener

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Harvest Lunch is served. Special Musical Performance by Alex Price

$10/person

#areyoutheone #iamtheone

United Way March of 1,000 Umbrellas Kick-off

Carizon is participating in the 2018 Ride for Refuge on September 29th. We are encouraging as many folks as possible to sign up for this Fall event! You will not only have a great day of camaraderie cycling in our glorious Region, but you will also support Carizon and the children, youth and families we help every day!

You can learn more and register to ride or walk for Carizon by visiting the Ride for Refuge website. If you want to join an existing Carizon team or sponsor a rider/walker, you can visit the dedicated Carizon Ride for Refuge page here. We hope to see you on September 29th!

Carizon offers a wide range of group programs. Fall 2018 group times are now scheduled. Registration is required for all groups, including groups with no fee. For more information on any group, please contact us at 519-743-6333. Unless otherwise indicated, group programs are based on a sliding fee scale. Course material charges may apply to some groups.

Carizon offers workshops to help individuals manage life’s challenges. Workshops have no fee, but registration is required. Upcoming workshops include:

Money Matters
Wednesday, October 17, 6 – 7:30 pm

Trauma
Wednesday, October 24, 6 – 8 pm

Supporting Someone with Anxiety and Depression
Tuesday, November 6, 6 – 8 pm

Warming Up The Winter Blues
Thursday, November 8, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Fall Workshops 2018

On Saturday, September 15th, Carizon is one of 34 locations featured in this year’s Doors Open Waterloo Region. This event provides our community with the opportunity to explore noteworthy buildings, places and heritage sites in the Region. The event’s theme is “Places, Patterns and Plans” and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At Carizon, we will be touring guests and sharing information about our services and the hubs housed at the agency. Come and see where over 45 community partners meet once a week to support at-risk members of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. This creative gathering place is home to globally recognized and innovative collaborations, among them the Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region and The Waterloo Region Child and Youth Advocacy Centre.

Join the Tour September 15th!

In collaboration with International Softball Congress 2018 World Fastball Tournament, a mental health event in the community is featuring Clint Malarchuk, former NHL goaltender who speaks about his mental health challenges and attempted suicide. This mental health awareness event will take place on Monday, August 13th at the Edelweiss Sports Banquet Hall. Tickets are $10 per person.

The parking lot at our location at 1770 King St. East is being resurfaced in sections over the next three weeks, which will greatly reduce parking availability for our services delivered at this location, including Front Door walk-in on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We have been given permission to use parking at Eastwood Collegiate during this period. We are asking clients to contact us if they have any accessibility concerns (including mobility, strollers, difficulty walking on uneven surfaces), and we will assist with making special arrangements. Thank you for your patience!

Parking Issues at our 1770 King St. E. Location

On Sunday July 29, 2018, Carizon’s Promise of Partnership Project and Football for the World (FFTW) will be hosting a Community Soccer Tournament at Waterloo Park. The focus of this tournament is to promote diversity and community engagement within Waterloo Region.

Carizon is entering a soccer team in the tournament, but we need some competition. Please form a team and join us. For more info, contact Julio Realegeno at jrealegeno@carizon.ca or call (226) 808-2502 for more details.

Proceeds of the tournament will be going to Carizon’s Youth and Newcomer Programs and FFTW Global and Community based initiatives.

Carizon is grateful to our Title sponsor McCarter Grespan Lawyers, and Drayton Entertainment for providing Carizon with a fundraising theatre experience to raise funds for our programs and services. Many thanks to all who joined us to see “The Rainmaker” on Tuesday, June 26th at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse!

Front Door’s walk-in hours are changing for the summer months to reflect trends noted over the past two summers.

Check out the flyer in the link below for further details!

Also, note that Front Door has a Facebook page. If you haven’t already, hop on and give it a “Like”: https://www.facebook.com/FrontDoorCMH/

We know that summer break can be a challenge for families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, so Carizon offers a camp that supports the kids and helps the parents to relax, knowing that their children are in good hands.  Our trained professionals provide a specialized camp that is safe, therapeutic and fun. The camp provides opportunities for indoor and outdoor play,  creativity,  and skill development.

Carizon’s Board Member, Craig McNiven, achieved an impressive milestone, and in doing so, raised $5400 for Carizon. Craig entered the 2018 Boston Marathon through the Manulife employee training program. Supported by John Hancock (the American branch of Manulife), Craig was able to run the marathon without qualifying, which also provided him with the opportunity to fundraise for Carizon. “The story of Carizon is compelling,” says Craig, “and I have been very pleased with the enthusiastic response from family, friends, co-workers and Carizon staff and board members.”

Having very little previous experience, Craig began training for the Boston in late October. “The first week I ran about 20 km, and from there I increased my distance a little bit each week until I peaked at about 65 km a week in late March. I also joined the Around the Bay 30 km race as a warm-up for Boston.”

Despite heavy rain and high winds, Craig successfully completed the marathon, and credits the crowd for propelling him across the finish line in a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes. “Hundreds of thousands of people line the marathon route to shout encouragement to runners. The experience of running the marathon was unforgettable. Thank you to everyone for your support!”

Many thanks to Craig for undertaking such a grueling experience to benefit Carizon. Kudos, Craig!

Every year, one very special volunteer from each of Make-a- Wish Canada’s nine offices is honoured with a Volunteer Spirit Award. It recognizes a volunteer’s outstanding contribution to bringing hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Award winners exemplify the true spirit of Make-A-Wish® and serve as ambassadors for the wish-granting organization. Carizon’s own Shannon Nicholson, Director of Clinical Counselling, was selected as one of this year’s recipients in recognition of all she has done for the organization. Shannon volunteered with Make-A-Wish for close to 10 years and helped grant 20 wishes within her chapter. Her infectious positivity and excitement was lauded for inspiring fellow volunteers and members of her community to invest their time and efforts into making every wish experience exciting and memorable.

During Mental Health Week, Carizon in partnership with Grand River Hospital Foundation, hosted an inaugural breakfast event featuring Steven Page from the Barenaked Ladies. To a sell-out crowd, Steven shared his personal journey with mental health and the importance of everyone having access to mental health supports. Proceeds from the event support mental health programs at both Carizon and Grand River Hospital.

We are grateful to our event sponsors, in particular our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors:

Children’s Mental Health Week is coming – May 7 – 13th. This is an important week where we are able to bring awareness to mental health issues for children and youth, promote wellness for families, and recognize the dedication of those supporting families in the mental health industry.

Carizon partners this week with others in the mental health field to present some events and activities during the week to celebrate and is also joining in a social media campaign to inspire conversation during the week about mental health and wellness.

Events:
Saturday, May 5 – PCMH Family Engagement Conference
Sunday, May 6 – Lutherwood Steps for Kids
Tuesday, May 8 – Carizon and Grand River Hospital’s Mindful Mornings Event
Tuesday, May 8 – OK2BME LGBTQ+ Youth Group Real Talk
Wednesday, May 9 – SafeTalk, Grand River Collegiate
Thursday, May 10 – SafeTalk, KCI
Saturday, May 12 – Positive Parenting Fun in the Mud Family Play

Join the Conversation Throughout the Week Using These Hashtags:
Monday, May 7 – #MindfulMonday
Tuesday, May 8 – #TalkTuesday
Wednesday, May 9 – #WearItWednesday
Thursday, May 10 – #ThankfulThursday
Friday, May 11 – #FunFriday

Kick start your morning and recognize Mental Health Week at Mindful Mornings, a collaboration between Grand River Hospital Foundation and Carizon. The breakfast event features guest speaker Steven Page, co-founder of The Barenaked Ladies, who now boasts an impressive solo career. With wit and passion, Steven speaks about mental health challenges and ending the stigma associated with mental illness. Proceeds will support both organizations and the greatest needs in their mental health programs.

Mindful Mornings
May 8, 2018
Catalyst137
137 Glasgow St, Kitchener, ON

Sponsorships for Mindful Mornings are now available.

Individual tickets on sale April 10th.

Wellbeing includes such things as: feeling safe, feeling connected to your community, being able to participate fully in the activities you love, and access to quality food and shelter, public transportation, the Internet, parks and the natural environment, clean water and healthcare.

The community is being asked to help determine priorities by participating in a community-wide wellbeing survey. The goal is to help with future planning and, ultimately, improve wellbeing in our community. This Waterloo Region Survey, funded by the Waterloo Region LHIN, Regional and local governments and community agencies, is requesting that one person (16 years of age or older) from households in Waterloo Region take the survey.

Please participate and complete a survey. Promote this survey with your family and friends in The Region. The more voices heard from, the better! There are also prizes to be won from participating!

The wellbeing survey is voluntary and anonymous.

Last Fall, Carizon established a new way of delivering mental health services to young children and their families. This evolution led to the transition from our residential model for children, age 12 and under, to an in-home and community-based model.

We are pleased to announce that Carizon has officially branded the new model the “Polaris Program.” The name was selected through a series of focus groups and with the input of parents. The team liked the symbolism behind “Polaris” – a bright central star that seems to have other stars rotating around it – emulating wrapping services around the family. They also liked that Polaris has a smaller star beside it, representing the adult and the child within the families we support. This symbol speaks to our placing the family at the centre of all that we do at Carizon.

Social Work week in Ontario is being celebrated March 5th – 11th. Carizon recognizes and celebrates the amazing contribution of our Social Workers and the difference they make in the lives of children, youth, adults and families!

The theme for Social Work week is “Social Workers on the Front Line of Real Issues.”

Happy #SocialWorkWeek to all of our Carizon Social Workers who help turn issues into answers every day!

Family Compass (FamilyCompassWR.ca) launched February 12! Offering a one-stop website to guide families and youth to local services that meet their needs, Family Compass includes a brand new tool, the first of its kind in Waterloo Region. This website will be a new go-to site for finding community-based services and supports for parents, youth and children in Waterloo Region. Visitors to Family Compass will have 3 “doors” to choose from when they visit the site: Search for Services, I Have a Concern, and Resources for Parents, families will be able to connect to information and resources, any time, anywhere.

We know that February can be a tough month for feeling the winter blahs. At Carizon, we want to help counter those winter blahs by promoting activities of self-care. Check out this blog for some tips on activities that you can incorporate in the month of February – and all year long – for your emotional, physical, social and financial well-being.

We’ve also designated Wednesday, February 21st as “Me Day.” We’re proposing that members of our community do at least one thing on February 21st that is dedicated to their self-care and to share it with us on Twitter @carizon and use the hashtag #MEdayWR. We all know that we cannot take care of others if we do not take care of ourselves. So on February 21st, let’s walk that talk.

Family Day is a day when we celebrate families and spend time together as we cherish our relationships with the people that mean the most to us. Many families, however, face difficult struggles and need professional help to overcome or address these challenges. On Family Day, please consider helping families by donating to Carizon’s programs and services. You can make a difference.

January 31st is Bell Let’s Talk Day. Every time you talk, text, and join in on social media on January 31st, Bell will donate 5 cents more to mental health initiatives. This includes Retweets. Carizon has a series of tweets on mental health that we are sending out on Bell Let’s Talk day. Please watch for them and retweet away! @carizon #BellLetsTalk

Carizon’s CEO, Tracy Elop, was one of the presenters at the January 19th all-party committee of MPPs. MPPs heard the budget wishes of groups representing diverse interests, such as education, health care, agriculture, transportation, labour and business. Tracy spoke about the need to provide sustainable funding for children’s mental health so we can meet the demand for services, respond to diverse and complex circumstances, reduce wait times and retain highly-skilled professionals.

Long and McQuade held another successful fundraising drive this year during the holiday season, locally raising $1725 to advance music therapy at Carizon.  This was part of a cross-country Long & McQuade Music Therapy Fundraising initiative that continues to raise funds annually to support numerous charities. This year, Long and McQuade surpassed the $1 million mark in fundraising for music therapy at children’s hospitals and centres across the country.

In music therapy, children use improvisation and song-writing as tools to connect with and communicate their feelings. Sharing musical experiences with another person builds a powerful therapeutic relationship that highlights the strengths of the child. These experiences alone build personal confidence and develop the child’s capacity to manage challenges.

Carizon is so grateful to Long &McQuade for leading this initiative and to their customers that have so generously supported the children in our programs that benefit from music therapy.

Do you have a child or youth who is not moving past a difficult situation? Do you have questions about how to help your child or youth cope with their feelings after difficult situations?

Front Door offers an educational workshop for parents/caregivers of children and youth who have experienced trauma. The purpose for this workshop is to assist parents/caregivers with understanding trauma and what it means to parent their child from a trauma-informed perspective.

Upcoming Workshop Dates:

Thursday, January 18; 6 – 8 pm
Location: Carizon Family and Community Services, 645 Westmount Rd. E., Kitchener N2E 3S3
Register Online

Thursday, March 1; 6 – 8 pm
Centennial Public School, 100 Weaver St., Cambridge N3C 1W4
Register Online

Interpreters provided upon request.

For More Information or To Register for One of the Above Dates: Contact 519-749-2932 and press 2 to speak with reception.

The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation recently issued their latest edition of their annual Community Impact Report. Learn more about the numbers they collected, the voices they heard and a small sampling of the stories their grantees shared this year, including a story about Carizon’s hosting of Connectivity KW4. Carizon is proud to host Connectivity KW4, a collaboration of 30 local agencies that support at-risk individuals in our community.

Derek Vollebregt interviews Carizon CEO Tracy Elop. Learn more about Tracy’s passion for community service and her family’s year of travelling the world.

Thank you to all of our supporters for Giving Tuesday donations! If you missed participating in Giving Tuesday, you can still support Carizon’s holiday campaign. Check our Donation page and support kids, parents and families! Together, we can build strong communities.

As we enter the holiday season, in the spirit of giving, Carizon is launching its holiday campaign, highlighting our community services programs in vulnerable neighbourhoods. You can help children, youth and families to be successful in all aspects of life and strengthen families and communities.

The campaign will be launched in celebration of Giving Tuesday and the holiday season. We all have a role to play in making life a safe, happy and healthy experience for all children and youth. Donations mean that Carizon can support children, youth and families.

Giving Tuesday is coming on November 28th. Join the Global Giving Movement that showcases how much Canada cares and how we all can make a difference.  Carizon will be celebrating Giving Tuesday as we launch our holiday campaign, highlighting our supportive programs in vulnerable communities. You can support our Waterloo Region neighbourhoods by donating to Carizon. Jump on the giving bandwagon and donate to Carizon.

As you move through all of life’s stages, your financial needs and responsibilities evolve. This workshop will help individuals to learn about the importance of budgeting and financial literacy through life’s many transitions.

Attend this free two-hour session to learn:

• How to set financial goals
• How to track your finances
• Budgeting tips and advice
• Choosing the right type of credit
• Understanding your credit score

Workshop: 
Monday, November 20, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Carizon Family and Community Services, 400 Queen Street South, Kitchener
Register: 519-743-6333

Sponsored by: Hoyes, Michalos and Associates

Workshop on November 20th

On September 29, 2017, Kitchener Pathways students had the honour of attending Canada 2020’s luncheon event with President Obama today at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Pathways Canada has partnered with Canada 2020 to provide 50 Pathways students from Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener and Kingston with this amazing opportunity to hear from one of the most inspiring leaders of our generation.

A group of Guelph kids baked cookies and raised $171 at their goodies stand in support of Carizon and mental health. These kids are awesome and inspiring in their desire to help others. Thank you from Carizon!!!

Our MATCHING DONOR Removed the Ceiling and will Match ALL Donations over $30,000.

Last Friday, we announced that we had a matching donor for the next $10,000 we raised over $30,000! Our matching donor was so impressed that we raised $8000 additional dollars in just one weekend, that they removed the $10,000 ceiling and will match every dollar raised over $30,000!!!

Today we are at $39,000, but the sky is the limit. Once we pass $40,000, we still double all donations thanks to our generous matching donor!

What a great investment and a great incentive to encourage our donors to give!

We have 4 days until the ride! How far can we climb???!!!

WE HAVE A MATCHING DONOR FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE RAISE OVER $30,000.

Today we hit a milestone of raising $30,000 in our Ride for Refuge campaign. As added incentive to raise even more dollars to help us deliver our programs and services to this community, a matching donor has stepped up to the plate and said they will match every dollar raised above $30,000 to a maximum of $10,000! So, if we get to $40,000 in dollars raised through our Ride for Refuge campaign – we really will have raised $50,000!

What a great investment and a great incentive to encourage our donors to give!

We can do it together!!! Let’s show everyone that we have it in us and get to $40,000!!!

Carizon is offering a new clinical group called “Healing through Yoga and Mindfulness.”  Through simple postures, breathing and mindfulness-based practices, this experiential group will help participants to cultivate greater overall awareness of the mind and body connection and practices that support emotional healing. Individuals will gain new tools and skills to better manage their mood, regulate their emotions, reduce stress and build emotional resilience.

This fall group is held on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 7 p.m. beginning on September 27 and running until December 6, 2017. Call 519-743-6333 for information or registration. Fees are based on a sliding scale.

Carizon was honoured and excited to be part of the @LibroKW Roadshow where they delivered more than $450k in community grants across #swOnt #prosperhere

The $20,000 grant for Carizon will help us to deliver credit counselling and money management support in our community neighbourhoods that need it the most. Thank you Libro for all you do to strengthen individuals, families and community!

Cambridge Times and Kitchener Post recently published an article on Carizon’s pilot project that established a multidisciplinary approach to helping children in our Encompass Learning program. An Ontario Trillium Foundation grant allowed us to deliver a comprehensive system of assessment that included professionals like occupational therapists, psychologists and speech and language therapists.

Bob Wilson, a clinical counsellor at Carizon, was interviewed by Kathryn Storring for an article entitled “Beyond Stress” in the July/August issue of Grand Magazine.

You can learn more about managing anxiety in this feature.

On Friday, June 30th at 12 noon, Jonatan Ulloa, Student Support Worker and Alison Valencia, Pathways Alumna, visited Mike Farwell at 570 News. Listen to the podcast and learn more about the impact of this successful program offered in Kitchener in partnership with Carizon.

Carizon shares the story of one child, Natalie, in this two-minute video that relates the impact of a multi-disciplinary approach to helping children that face mental health challenges.

Today, Carizon shared the results of a pilot project that established a multidisciplinary team approach to helping children with mental health challenges. An Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant allowed for the delivery of a comprehensive system of assessment that included professionals like occupational therapists, psychologists and speech and language therapists, to share their expertise so that the children could experience greater success in their learning environment. Local MPP Mike Harris’ representative, Meghan Martin, and OTF Grant Review Team member Gebre Berihun were on hand to congratulate Carizon’s staff on this project and learn more about how it made a difference in the lives of the children.

We know that the summer break can be a challenge for families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, so the Encompass Program at Carizon created a camp that supports the kids and helps the parents to relax, knowing that their children are in good hands. Our trained professionals have the skills, experience and expertise to provide a specialized camp that is safe, therapeutic and fun.

The camp provides opportunities for children ages 8-12 to experience indoor and outdoor play, creativity, and skill development.

The camp will run August 21-25.

For more information, parents can check out the camp flyer via the link below.

Carizon Family and Community Services has launched a new tagline – “Inspiring Hope and Wellness in Our Community.”

Since a 2013 amalgamation process that resulted in the formation of Carizon, many have asked, “what exactly does Carizon do?” As a multi-service organization that provides therapeutic, supportive and preventative programs, this question doesn’t summon a simple answer. By establishing a tagline,

Carizon hopes to spark further conversation about how we inspire hope and wellness in our community.

The Carizon tagline came out of an engagement process with stakeholders, including staff, Board and community members.

So why this tagline?

• The tagline includes words from the Carizon vision: Hope, Wellness, Community.
• The word “Inspiring” adds an action that reflects how Carizon works alongside people to help them find the strength, skills and resilience to achieve wellness.
• The tagline also highlights “Our Community” expressing Carizon’s commitment to serving our neighbours in this Region.

Carizon celebrated the opening of our new operating location at 645 Westmount Road East at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, February 23rd.We were pleased to highlight our Pathways to Education program that is delivered from this site. As part of the celebration, we heard from two of our Pathways students, Idman Burhaan and Asia Maria Masengesho, who both shared their inspiring stories and experiences with the Pathways program. In addition, Chair Ken Seiling brought greetings from the Region. Amanda Hostler from MPP Kathryn McGarry’s office and Carly Pettinger from MPP Catherine Fife’s office joined in the celebration as well.  At the event, Carizon also unveiled its new tagline: Inspiring Hope and Wellness in our Community. The Record was present and shared our story community-wide.

Thanks to a new opportunity funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Front Door is making children’s mental health services more accessible to rural communities in North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Front Door works with children and youth to build, strengthen and sustain mental wellness.

Rural appointments are available as follows:

Mondays:

• The North Dumfries Community Health Centre, a satellite of Langs, Ayr

Tuesdays:

• Wellesley Township Community Health Centre

Thursdays:

• Interfaith Counselling Centre, New Hamburg
• Woolwich Counselling Centre, Elmira

This single session consultation and access service will be offered in the heart of our rural communities by simply calling Front Door at 519-749-2932 to arrange an appointment on the scheduled day. Experienced counsellors can help identify issues and equip families with tools and strategies to address concerns such as behaviour, emotional state, self-harm, unsafe activities, conflicts at home, troubles at school, struggles with peers or a mental health diagnosis. Counsellors can also provide access to more intensive mental health services if needed.

Carizon is now offering Tuesday Walk-in Counselling at 400 Queen Street South. From 12 – 6 p.m. These 90 minute walk-in sessions will help individuals address a wide range of life’s challenges.

The goal is to respond to individuals with a plan on how they can begin to work toward practical solutions and establish a wider range of coping skills.

Like our counselling fees, walk-in sessions will be delivered on a sliding scale basis dependent on household income. Clients may have coverage for services through employment, insurance or a funding source.

CTV News Reporter Nicole Lampa is featuring a series on Children’s Mental Health. The first of the series was aired on Thursday, December 8th and highlighted Front Door. Check out the link below.

Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) recently announced the election of 59 members as Fellows, including Carizon’s CEO Tracy Elop. This considerable achievement recognizes leading accountants for their professional accomplishments and contribution to their community. Fellows are bestowed with the right to use the prestigious FCPA designation, the profession’s highest distinction.

“We are extremely proud to count these Fellows as members of the accounting profession,” said Carol Wilding, FCPA, FCA, President and CEO of CPA Ontario. “Each and every one of them have made a valuable contribution to their companies and their communities and their achievements reflect the depth and diversity of the profession and the opportunity it affords to make a difference.”

“It is a unique privilege for members of our profession to receive the FCPA distinction,” said Johanne Charbonneau, FCPA, FCGA, Chair of CPA Ontario’s Council. “Fellows are nominated and elected by their peers in recognition of their outstanding achievements, and this year’s exceptional cohort reflects the breadth and talent of our profession as well as the esteem with which they are held.”

Congratulations, Tracy, on receiving this honour!

Why is a health and social service initiative featured in a magazine that is touted as the voice of Canada’s environmental community? The most recent issue of AJ (Alternatives Journal) shares the story of The Connectivity Table, “a groundbreaking new solution that asks agencies to pool their expertise to provide innovative responses to high-risk situations.” The article is included among a slate of features about community development. This special issue was developed in collaboration with The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (The KWCF) in a shared journey of exploring the concept of “belonging.” AJ’s team wondered if the community-building stories about enhancing a sense of belonging could be transferable to the Canadian environmental community. “Nearly a half century young,” says AJ Publisher David McConnachie, “our movement is only beginning to understand the importance of collective impacts and unified voices.”

Carizon is pleased to announce that The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation has awarded the agency a Smart and Caring Community Grant to assist us in furthering the working of Connectivity Kitchener, serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich and Wellesley. Connectivity brings health and social service agencies and Waterloo Region Police Service to a weekly meeting to proactively address situations of elevated risk and mobilize supports in a timely and collaborative approach.

Connectivity aligns with The KWCF’s commitment to build our sense of belonging through collaboration. Connectivity is helping to strengthen families’ and individuals’ sense of belonging by connecting them to treatment and supports they need.

Carizon is very pleased to announce that it has been awarded a four year accreditation by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA). The programs included in this accreditation are: Child and Youth Mental Health Services, Family Counselling and Groups, and Credit Counselling.

Carizon Family and Community Services is proud to be accredited through the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, in affiliation with the Canadian/Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services. The CCA provides a third-party review based on accepted organizational practices that promote ongoing quality improvement and responsive, effective community services. The review includes an extensive written and on-site evaluation that addresses all aspects of the organization, including governance, management, programs and services.

“There are many benefits that result from undergoing the accreditation process,” says Carizon Board Chair Vivian Zochowski, “including strengthening our organization, building a culture of continuous learning, demonstrating our accountability and implementing evidence-based services and leading practices.”

Carizon attributes its successful accreditation to great teamwork. “Engaging and including our key stakeholders throughout the accreditation process has been critical to our success,” says CEO Tracy Elop. “Our site reviewers also applauded the commitment and dedication of our staff, Board, volunteers and students to serving our clients, to striving for quality improvement, to living the Mission, Vision and Values of the organization and to treating our clients with respect and understanding the vulnerability of the population we serve.”

Carizon is celebrating our volunteers this week who have contributed over 16,000 hours each year to Carizon clients, programs and services. One such volunteer is Bharat Patel.

Bharat has been volunteering in our Pathways Kitchener program since September 2014. A software engineer by profession, Bharat volunteers multiple nights each week as a volunteer tutor. “I have a pretty good life overall,” says Bharat, “but I felt that something was missing. I figured I’d volunteer to try to fill that void. I always had a passion for learning, and I was always good in academics. So I said to myself, ‘Why not tutoring?’ and tutoring with Pathways has been everything I expected, and so much more!”

Pathways to Education helps youth in low-income communities graduate from high school and successfully transition to post-secondary education or training. Pathways addresses systemic barriers to education by providing leadership, expertise and a community-based program proven to lower dropout rates. Its success is built on the dedication of its volunteer tutors and mentors.

“Bharat has a strong desire to see Pathways students succeed at school and in life and he goes out of his way to ensure that students and other volunteers are comfortable in the tutoring environment,” says Carizon Volunteer Coordinator Dale Gellatly. “He is often the first one to arrive and stays with staff until the last student goes home.”

Bharat recognizes the rewards that come with volunteering. “If you take anything from my tutor experience, know that tutoring is truly life-changing,” says Bharat. “You’ll learn so much more about yourself than you “teach” the students. Most importantly, you’ll see first-hand what difference you can make by helping others.”

As of April 9th, Front Door will be providing our Walk-in Service for children and youth on Saturdays instead of Mondays at our Kitchener location at 1770 King Street East. This will give families easier access during times that are less likely to conflict with work and school.

Front Door provides walk-in counselling, helping children and teens with the first step to strengthen and sustain mental health. Through a single family counselling session, our experienced counsellors help identify issues and equip families with tools and strategies to address their concerns. A single free counselling session can help with: behaviour, emotional state, self-harm, unsafe activities, conflicts at home, troubles at school, struggles with peers or a mental health diagnosis. These sessions also provide access to more intensive mental health services.

Front Door is a joint initiative of Lutherwood and Carizon Family and Community Services.

FRONT DOOR POSTER

We know that March break can be a challenge for families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, so we’ve created a camp that supports the kids and helps the parents to relax, knowing that their children are in good hands. Our trained professionals have the skills, experience and expertise to provide a specialized camp that is safe, therapeutic and fun. The camp provides opportunities for indoor and outdoor play, creativity, and skill development. The camp is for children living with FASD, ages 8 – 12, and runs from March 14 – 19th.

Monday, February 15th is Family Day. It is a day when we celebrate families and spend time together as we cherish our relationships with the people that mean the most to us. Many families, however, face difficult struggles and need professional help to overcome or address these challenges. Learn about how Carizon helps families. On Family Day, please consider helping families by donating to Carizon’s programs and services. You can make a difference.

Every year, the focus of the holiday season is on consumerism and the need to spend money on the perfect gifts, the perfect decorations and creating the perfect dinner. And every year, Canadians end up spending too much money, putting them at risk for financial difficulties once the holiday season is over.

Heather Cudmore, Manager of Credit Counselling at Carizon spoke with Doug Hoyes, Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc. on limiting Christmas spending, budgeting, and establishing new holiday traditions that don’t break the bank.

The holidays are known for being a time of happiness and joy. But for those struggling with depression, anxiety or loss, the holidays can be a difficult time. Theresa Karn, Carizon’s Manager of Clinical Services, spoke with Doug Hoyes, Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc., on this topic on a Podcast. You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link below.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) awarded the 2015 IACP/Motorola Solutions Webber Seavey Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement to the Waterloo Regional Police Service in partnership with Langs Health and Wellness Centre and Carizon Family and Community Services. The award recognizes a collaborative, community-based initiative called “Connectivity.”

Connectivity brings health and social service agencies to a weekly meeting to collaboratively and proactively address situations of elevated risk and support individuals to access the services they need. There are currently two situation response tables – one in Cambridge hosted by Langs Health and Wellness Centre, and the other in Kitchener, hosted by Carizon Family and Community Services. The partner organizations, which support the discussions and identify the response, come from areas such as health, education, justice, mental health assistance, family supports, police, and community services.

The Board of Directors at Carizon Family and Community Services proudly announces the appointment of Tracy Elop as CEO, effective January 4, 2016. “The Board of Directors is thrilled to have Tracy taking the helm at Carizon as we embark on a new year,” says Vivian Zochowski, President, Carizon Board of Directors. “Tracy’s expertise in developing and executing collaborative, innovative strategies and her strength in building strong partnerships will increase the capacity of Carizon to serve our community.”

Lesley Barraball, Carizon’s Director of Children’s Mental Health, and Theresa Karn, Manager of Clinical Services, spoke with Dave Callander at 570 News about Trauma on the show “Ask the Experts.” Lesley and Theresa shared their insights about trauma: what it is, its impact on the lives of children and adults, and when and how to get help. You can hear the Podcast by clicking on the link below.

In an effort to help people know where to turn when facing life’s challenges, Carizon has placed an ad on CHYM radio this fall to create awareness about our counselling services. The ad highlights Carizon’s expertise in helping people manage stress, relationships, anxiety, depression and traumatic events.

We are very pleased to announce that Carizon and the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) will be providing the community with a FASD classroom for students grades 8-12 beginning in the 2015-16 school year.

The program name is Temenos.* Temenos will provide a specialized classroom environment designed to meet the needs of youth living with FASD. It will be uniquely equipped and structured to meet the social/emotional, sensory and learning needs of the youth in the program.

The classroom will be designed based on the successful FASD classroom (The Fort) which has been in operation for the past two years by the Waterloo Region District School Board and Carizon.

A multi-professional team will support the youth and their families through various aspects of the program; including a teacher, child and youth workers, and a child and family therapist and an occupational therapist.

The program will start in the fall with a group of pre-selected students from our local school boards. In the future, referrals for this program will be accepted through Front Door. We will keep you informed as these details emerge.

*Temenos – sacred enclosure or precinct

Operated in partnership with the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), The Fort is a program for students ages 8-12 with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnosis. We are very pleased to share that as a result of a successful two-year pilot project, Carizon and the WRDSB are moving forward and will provide The Fort program to the community on an ongoing basis.

“I am thrilled,” says a  parent of a Fort Student, “that (my child) is receiving the care and supervision he needs and is staying in school, developing positive relationships and is fully engaged in his education.”

For additional information about the Fort, including eligibility criteria and how to make a referral, please see the Fort Fact Sheet below.

Operated in partnership with Waterloo Region District School Board, The Fort is a pilot Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder class for students ages 8—12 years that has been operating since September 2013. The name “The Fort” was recently created to reflect a classroom that is a safe place, guided by the needs of the students where students can learn and have fun together because they are understood and supported. The name also echoes its French derivative “forte” – meaning strong point.

Lesley Barraball, Carizon Family and Community Services’ Director of Children’s Mental Health, talks to Gary Doyle on 570 News about troubled youth.

Carizon Director of Clinical Services, Theresa Karn, speaks with CBC about The Empty Nest Syndrome. and why empty-nester parents need to focus on themselves once children leave for university, or they run the risk of missing out on an exciting time in their lives.

A new year is here, and with it comes a new chance to do things right when it comes to your finances. For many of us, a few pointers on budgeting couldn’t come at a better time. According to Statistics Canada, the ratio of Canadians’ household credit debt to disposable income reached an all-time high: 163.7 per cent. CBC Kitchener-Waterloo spoke to Heather Cudmore, the Manager of Mosaic Credit Counselling, a program of Carizon Family and Community Services in Kitchener. Click the box below to read a synopsis of some of her tips to keep your budget on track in 2014.

The City of Kitchener recognizes the great passion of active older citizens and their role as community champions. As such, the City hosts a special Salute to Seniors awards presentation to honour seniors for being role models through active involvement and contributing to a healthy community. Two of the individuals being recognized at this year’s ceremony on June 13th are Abdullah and Farida Mohibuddin. Abdullah and Farida are both tutors in the Pathways to Education program at Mosaic Counselling. The couple emigrated from Bangladesh two years ago to be with their 3 children, all of whom came to Canada for University and decided to stay. Abdullah and Farida, both in their 60s, are making a difference by bridging the generation gap and contributing to the success of students. Only four months after arriving in Canada, they began exploring ways to volunteer in their new community. Pathways to Education drew their attention because the program involves youth and education. Farida was a teacher in two English schools in Bangladesh, so she is able to draw from her own experience when working with Pathways students. For Abdullah, however, it is something new. He was a commercial pilot prior to coming to Canada. They share a passion for working with the students, and have many stories to impart.They will soon have been with the program for two years. When asked what keeps them going, the answer is simple says the Mohibuddins: “To be with the students, as we love children. Tutoring the students is interesting and brings pleasure for us, especially when we find the students are eagerly waiting for us.” It is a rewarding experience. Farida shares a story of a Grade 10 student who was struggling with Geography. The student said she didn’t like it and found the homework, assignments and tests really hard. At that point, she wasn’t passing and was disheartened. Farida started working with her once per week for three hours and used many encouraging techniques. After only one month, the student came back and told Farida happily that she had improved her mark so much that she passed Geography!Farida and Abdullah strongly believe they are making a difference and are happy to share their experience with the students. They say it all comes down to patience, love and affection.

CTV anchor Rosie Del Campo looks at the warning signs of financial trouble in the first part of a three part series exploring Canada’s rising household debt to income ratio. Carizon’s Credit Counselling Manager Heather Cudmore shares her insights.

Listen to the Gary Doyle Show on 570 News as Gary and Theresa talk about a study about Couples and Chores.

Mosaic Counselling and Family Services and kidsLINK (Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc.) are pleased to announce today the amalgamation of these two long-standing and successful social and mental health service leaders. The Ministry of Government Services has approved the incorporation of the new organization that will operate as Carizon Family and Community Services as of April 1st, 2013. “Both kidsLINK and Mosaic are recognized for their leadership in providing a multitude of services that strengthen individuals, families and neighbourhoods,” says Carizon’s President of the Board of Directors, Rich Steinmann. “This merger will allow these two agencies to enhance their ability to contribute positively to the well-being of children, youth, adults, families and communities.” CEO Sue Gillespie, who will lead Carizon, identifies the ability of the new organization to provide a continuum of care that meets the changing needs of our community. “Combined, kidsLINK and Mosaic have the experience of providing services to our community for more than 216 years. As a leader in social and mental health service delivery,” says Gillespie, “we will draw on that expertise to leverage complementary strengths and proactively pursue an even more impactful future.” The name Carizon, a combination of the words care and horizon, was designed to capture the nature of the services provided by the agency, as well as its hope and vision for the future of this community.