The last few months have been very challenging for all of us in many different ways. As we are able to enjoy the warmer summer weather, we encourage you to pause and find time for self-care to re-energize your mind and body.
Throughout the summer we are remaining committed to helping children and youth manage adversity throughout this unprecedented time. In addition, we are continuing to review and evolve our programs and delivery methods to ensure we are meeting the needs of children, parents and child caring professionals in this ever changing world. Thank you again for your support, flexibility and commitment to nurturing resilience in children and youth.
In this issue we will provide you with updates on key programs and initiatives in our effort to ensure every child in Canada has the opportunity to thrive. Please take the time to read what we are up to and how you can help support and advance the mental health of children and youth in your care.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer.
Join us at our 16th Annual VIRTUAL Breakfast for Champions:
Resiliency During Difficult Times
Our children are living through unprecedented times and are asking questions like “If I go back to school will I die from coronavirus?”. And that’s not all. Our children are impacted by anti-black racism and are asking questions like “Why am I treated differently just because of my skin colour?"
Breakfast for Champions is our single biggest campaign to ensure children and youth across Canada benefit from our much needed proven programs. This year, we are breaking with tradition and taking our Breakfast online. Please join us on November 5th where Amanda Lang, BNN Bloomberg Anchor, will host the event.READ MORE
Upcoming eLearning and Digital Training in August
We are excited to continue to offer our psychology and evidence-based programs digitally in August. Our attachment based Make the Connection program is offered as an eLearning course. Make the Connection focuses on the crucial first three years of a baby’s life and helps inform and guide parents on the importance of forming a secure attachment with their baby covering seven attachment topics.
OurKids Have Stress Too!and Stress Lessonworkshops are offered in a live digital format. The programs are designed to help the important people in children’s’ lives learn to promote resiliency by buffering the impacts of stress, and building positive coping strategies to deal with life’s stressors. SIGN UP FOR MAKE THE CONNECTION OR OUR STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.
We hosted our first parent workshop in June:
Stress and the School-Aged Child:
What Parents Can Do to Promote Lifelong Resilience
Two hundred and thirty six parents joined our first digital parent workshop last month. During this one-hour workshop parents learned about stress, the signs and symptoms, and strategies and tactics to help their children manage their stress.
Here are what some parents had to say :
"Hearing that I am not alone. Getting useful strategies. Learning more about how stress affects me, and my child".
"It gave a lot of strategies to help kids manage stress and it reassured me in the ways I try to help mine".
To focus on me, self-care, in order to care for my child.
Kids DO have stress and we should always make an effort to stop....and to listen.
Getting to know Dr. David Danto, psychologist and member of
The PFC Board of Trustees
Dr. David Danto is a clinical psychologist and Head of Psychology at the University of Guelph-Humber. He completed his B.A. in Psychology at York University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical psychology at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, where he pursued training as a qualitative researcher and existential-phenomenologically oriented clinician. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and is a Trustee for the Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC). He recently chaired the CPA and PFC Task Force on Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, and he currently Chairs the CPA Standing Committee on Reconciliation.
Dr. Danto has certainly has had an impressive career but did you know that his favourite music group is Rush, he loves Peruvian food and highly recommends The Ecolodge in Moose Factory as a place to visit? READ MORE
It is important that to find time for self-care
One very important, and often overlooked, aspect of being a good parent is looking after yourself. Here are some great articles and podcasts to help you take care of yourself so you can take care of your children:
We want to hear from you: How can we best support you in nurturing resilience in the kids in your life? Please contact us with your feedback and suggestions
When you invest in The Psychology Foundation of Canada, you invest in a brighter future for our children ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive.