MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With the dawning of Spring, comes the exciting news that the George Hull Centre intends to amalgamate with Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) in the fall of 2023.

CTYS is a community-based, accredited Children’s

Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth.

With the new entity, we envision increased access to a broader spectrum of services for clients, from infancy to early adulthood. More families from across Toronto will have access to and benefit from the combined clinical expertise of staff and the innovative and award-winning programs of both CTYS and the George Hull Centre.

We are also excited about the opportunity to highlight the great work of both organizations to a whole new audience of donors and supporters.

We are confident that our existing donors will be pleased to support even more children, youth, young adults and their families as they work to achieve mental wellness.

As more details of the amalgamation unfold, we will make sure to keep our supporters informed.

Thank you for your support!

Susan Chamberlain, MSW, RSW

Executive Director

MAY IS LEAVE A LEGACY MONTH

May is LEAVE A LEGACY™ month, a national, community-based public awareness campaign that encourages people to leave a gift through their will or another planned giving vehicle to a charity that is meaningful to them.

The program encourages prospective donors to work with fundraising staff at the charities they already support, and/or professional advisors with whom they already have a relationship, to establish a charitable bequest or other planned gift that best suits their situation.

Having an up-to-date will and leaving a legacy gift allows you to

support children's mental health for years to come.

We are excited to announce we have a FREE and EASY way for our supporters to leave a gift to the George Hull Centre in their will. We are partnering with the user friendly platform, Willfora. Everyone needs a legal will to ensure their assets benefit the people and causes they value the most.

Willfora is Canada’s first online service that allows individuals and couples to create or update their wills for FREE. Use a guided step-by-step process to create a legal will in as little as 20 minutes from the comfort of your home.

Leaving a gift to the George Hull Centre in your will has never been easier.

For more information on this and other legacy giving options,

please contact Kara Spedding at [email protected],

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Partnership Study with McMaster University

comes to a close this month

The McMaster Promoting Healthy Families study is a Canadian evaluation of two evidence-based Parenting Programs aiming to rigorously implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) and Circle of Security Parenting Program (COSP), in promoting healthy family relationships, positive child outcomes and preventing child maltreatment.

The Community Clinic and the Early Intervention team at the George Hull Centre have worked with McMaster University to implement groups which are part of McMaster’s research to assess whether Triple P and COSP:

Reduce child maltreatment-related outcomes including educational difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, and trouble forming and maintaining relationships
Improve parenting practices and functioning
Improve child developmental outcomes

The GHC has run six waves of groups since the study started in 2020. Six groups of caregivers of children aged 2 through 7 were screened and agreed to participate in the study. Participants were randomly placed for study in either the COSP parenting group, the Triple P parenting group, or the control group, which received up to 8 sessions of Brief Therapy (short term intervention).

Thanks to this partnership many GHC staff have been trained in these evidence-based groups and have been able to provide timely, much needed support to parents during the pandemic and up to the present day. Therapy providers have significantly expanded their knowledge through training and service delivery to these children and families.

This study has helped the George Hull Centre continue to increase our treatment effectiveness – intervening earlier and providing parents with the tools and resources they need to help ensure their children achieve the best mental health outcomes possible.

The study groups are finishing this month. Watch your George Newsletter for more updates.

STAFF PROFILE - Jackie Grandy, Manager, Community Clinic

After completing a degree in English and Art History, Jackie began to crave an increased sense of purpose, so she began volunteering in the charity sector. Inspired by her experiences, she moved on to graduate with a Master's in Social Work. Jackie’s interest and passion for helping others lead her to work in community mental health. As Jackie was affected by suicide in her family, she found herself drawn to suicide prevention and the positive effect that early intervention can provide.

Over the next few years, Jackie worked in hospitals and agencies, then moved to the George Hull Centre where she started as a clinician and in 2021 was promoted to Manager in the Community Clinic. In this position she conducts weekly meetings, and clinical supervision. Jackie says she is humbled by the wisdom, creativity, and knowledge her team possesses and appreciates and holds her team in extremely high regard.

Jackie is deeply invested in helping people be mentally well, especially helping people in marginalized communities. When asked about what she would say to those coming into the profession or considering a job in the field, she said she feels that it is a calling for her, but to take time to connect with social work and understand what it will mean to you, and the work life balance - it can be challenging, but absolutely rewarding.

In her free time Jackie enjoys drawing comics and portraits, back country canoeing, as well as spending time with her wife and three-year old lab mix, out in nature.

EXTRAORDINARY CARING

We would like to express sincere gratitude to the Aqueduct Foundation for their generous $125,000 donation to the George Hull

Institute of Childhood Trauma and Attachment!

Thank you so much to the Gordon and Donna Feeney Family Foundation for their $25,000 donation. We are tremendously appreciative of your commitment to children and families.

We are also thankful to the TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund for their $17,500 donation, your ongoing generosity continues to help so many.

Warm thanks to Deirdre Baker for her annual donation of books to the Centre! Our clients find such joy and knowledge through this gesture.

To Bailey Metal Products Limited, we are very grateful for your $7500 donation!

Finally, special thanks to MFS Canada, Torys LLP, and the Abby Fedosoff Memorial Fund for each of their $5000 donations!

All of your combined support will impact so many individuals.

TIPS AND RESOURCES

Pride and Prejudice for Youth - Program offerings for 2SLGBTG+ Youth and their parents/caregivers.

ADHD Manual - Created by CHADD, this manual for caregivers includes strategies to help with school success.

ADHD Resources - Visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada's website for webinars, courses, workshops, and other resources.

Do you have a child or know a youth struggling with a mental health issue? The George Hull Centre is here to help. Call to speak to our intake coordinator Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm at 416-622-8833 ext 258. If your matter is urgent, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.