Etobicoke Educational Series

The Etobicoke Educational meetings are as follows:

TUESDAY MARCH 20

7:00-8:30PM
ODSP - ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM

An overview of ODSP eligibility criteria, application process, rights and benefits for recipients. A brief discussion about the current Social Assistance Review.
Speaker: Sayonara Mairena
Community Legal Worker
South Etobicoke Community Legal Services


TUESDAY APRIL 17

7:00-8:30PM
DISABILITY TAX CREDIT AND REGISTERED DISABILITY SAVINGS PLAN

Overview of the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (DTC) and RDSP. The DTC offers many benefits to individuals with disabilities through Canada's tax system. The RDSP, introduced in 2008, is a long-term savings plan de-signed for persons with disabilities that attracts up to $4,500 a year in fed-eral contributions.
Speaker: Brendon Pooran, LLB., B.Comm
Lawyer
Pooran Law

Both events will be held at:
Fairfield Seniors’ Centre
80 Lothian Avenue, Room 4
(South of Islington/Bloor intersection. Turn East from Islington onto Springbrook Gardens, at the second intersection, turn Right onto Lothian)

Hope to see you! To register call Mary at 416-207-5032 ext. 29

Scarborough Family Support Groups

Caregivers often need knowledge, perspective

and support when relating to a relative

who is affected by mental health issues.

There are two groups each month in Scarborough:

'2nd Tuesday' each month - Neilson & Ellesmere Rds.

'Last Thursday' - near Birchmount Rd. and Finch Ave.

You could attend either or both groups.

You also have the option of making a confidential

appointment at the F.A.M.E. office in Scarborough.

Call Paul at 416-913-2144

or email paulo@fameforfamilies.com

Upcoming fameKids Group

Can you believe that it's March already? I hear Spring calling for us, we seem to have already gotten a taste of it.

We are excited to announce our upcoming group in the Peel Region.

Peel Region:

Start date: March 22 2012
End date: May 10th 2012
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm (Thursday's)

Where is it you ask?

At the FAME Mississauga office located at 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. Mississauga ON L5B 3C2

Who do I contact to register my child?

Safra Farouque - fameKids & fameYouth Outreach Worker
Phone: 416 - 207 - 5032 ext. 25
Email: safraf@fameforfamilies.com

Mississauga Family Support Group

I hope everyone will be able to join myself and other family members at the Mississauga February Family Support Group on Monday, February 27th, 2012 from 7-9pm.  Our meetings are usually the third Monday of every month, although in February that falls on Family Day!  So please come out the following Monday to share, meet new people, and self care with us. 
I hope everyone will use their day off on Family day to spend some quality time with those that you love (and that includes yourself!).

I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and if there are any questions regarding the group, please feel free to contact me at 905-276-8216.

Hope to see everyone there!

Stephanie

When Mental Illness Becomes Part of a Family

Award Winning Journalist, Andre Picard continues his ongoing series about mental illness in the Globe and Mail. This time Mr. Picard writes about when mental illness becomes part of a family. I encourage you to take a few minutes and have a read at one of the latest installments in this series.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/conditions/addiction/mental-health/when-mental-illness-becomes-part-of-the-family/article2309983/
Finally, February 8th rapidly approaches and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you about Bell's "Let's Talk About It" campaign. Let's talk. Let's get this all out in the open. The only way we'll ever move towards removing stigma and increasing tolerance and understanding of the complexities of mental illness is to talk about it.

Upcoming fameKids groups

For children the start of the new school year marks the beginning of a new journey and the opportunity for endless possibilities. Whether its new classmates, teachers, school, or experiences...it is definitely an exciting time.

It is also an exciting time for the fameKids program, we are currently starting our fall groups in the Toronto and Peel area. Our Etobicoke group starts on September 22 at The George Hull Centre for Children and Families. We are excited to continue our partnership with the George Hull Centre in providing support to children who have a family member with a mental health issue.

In Peel, we are starting our fall fameKids group on October 18 at our Mississauga Office within the Community Door (50 Burhamthorpe Road West).

As well, the fameKids program will the held for the first time at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre-Jarvis Site (440 Jarvis Street) starting November 24. This is an opportunity for FAME to support families and children within the Toronto core.

The fameKids program is currently in the process of establishing partnerships within your community to support families that are affected by mental health issues. I will keep you informed of upcoming fameKids groups in the Toronto and Peel area and current developments within our program.

If you would like to register for support or fameKids groups that are starting in your area, please contact:

David Cho, fameKids coordinator (Toronto), children's outreach worker
416-207-5032 x 26 email: davidc@fameforfamilies.com

or

Safra Faroque, fameKids facilitator (Peel Region)
416-207-5032 x.25 email: safraf@fameforfamilies.com

Kids are Amazing! Let's make this the best year yet.


David Cho
fameKids coordinator, children's outreach worker

OACP Approves Sealing of Mental Health Records

Great news for people with mental health issues and their families! The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP)is adopting a new guideline which will protect the privacy of people with mental health issues when conducting a routine background check. This guideline will prevent police from releasing non-criminal mental health information.
Check out the media release provided by the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office in the following link, http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mohltc/ppao/en/default.aspx.

This demonstrates that with determination, persistence and colloboration, advocacy can lead to change which protects peoples' rights.

Mary