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THE GEORGE
Issue #26: June 29, 2023
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | |
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On May 31 the staff and Board of Directors of the George Hull Centre and Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) came together at The Revue to celebrate our upcoming amalgamation and learn about the legacies that each organization is bringing to the new entity. With more than 200 people in attendance, the room was energized and optimistic about the future.
I’m currently working closely with the CTYS Executive Director, Heather Sproule, to manage all of the necessary pre-amalgamation deliverables which include liaising with legal counsel, Ministries (our funders), and external advisors. At the same time, a stewardship team made up of staff from both organizations has been formed as well as a Joint Alliance Committee made up of board members from both organizations.
There is still a lot of work to be done as we get closer to the fall, and Heather and I are committed to creating a new entity comprised of a happy staff team, a healthy and inclusive workplace culture and most importantly, satisfied clients.
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As donors and supporters of the George Hull Centre, I hope you are just as excited about the future as we are; a new organization that will support children, youth and their families from birth to age 25 from all over the City of Toronto.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer!
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Susan Chamberlain, MSW, RSW
Executive Director
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The purpose of a land acknowledgement is to recognize, respect and affirm the ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the land they called/call home before the arrival of the settlers. A statement at the beginning of a meeting or printed on a brochure is one way to acknowledge the Indigenous people’s connection to their traditional territories and its histories.
The George Hull Centre staff thought that it was important to have a unified land acknowledgement with an agency wide "call to action". A land acknowledgement is a single act of reconciliation, we recognize there is much more work that the George Hull Centre has to do to collaborate, support and serve the Indigenous community.
In May, the George Hull Centre’s land acknowledgement was shared centre-wide and posted throughout our offices. Please join with me in taking a moment of reflection:
We begin today by acknowledging that the George Hull Centre for Children and Families is located on the traditional territory and land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, including: Anishinaabe, Seneca and Mohawk Haudenosaunee, Iroquois, and Huron-Wendat and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
We express immense gratitude to operate among lands that thrive from their traditional knowledge and ongoing contributions and remind all settlers and newcomers that we are occupants who benefit from Indigenous stewardship. We acknowledge and implore settlers and newcomers to reflect and imagine the detriments of Canada's colonialism, and to embrace Indigenous people’s resistance and resilience for sovereignty.
At the George Hull Centre we recognize the need to learn more about Indigenous communities. We will engage in training opportunities to learn and reflect so that we do not further oppress Indigenous peoples.
We will seek to understand the needs of the Indigenous communities by collaborating and advocating for inclusion and equity. We will promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
- Karen Mighty, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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Intensive In-Home Services
Intensive In-Home Services are home-based mental health services designed to meet each child and family’s unique needs through case management, crisis management, counseling, family therapy, and skills training. It is a time limited, normally up to one year of service, with the goal of providing children, youth and their families with assistance addressing more immediate challenges, improving coping skills, and strengthening relationships. For example, we help with parent/child conflict, exposures to situations that the child has anxiety towards i.e. school refusal, gaming addictions, social skills, peer conflict, sibling conflict etc.
We help families solve problems within their families' context rather than through placement in a residential program outside of the home. Our belief that the family is the most powerful social institution, and families should be supported in the home, when possible, guides our daily interactions as we seek to develop, support, and empower the family unit. Child and Youth Workers teach problem-solving skills, assist parents in becoming advocates for themselves, and assist with coordination of available community resources.
15-year-old ‘Vicky’, who had barely left her mother’s apartment for close to two years began participating in the Intensive In-Home Services program.
Vicky had become so anxious and fearful of going out and especially of talking to people, that she could not even engage in online conversations or in virtual school, and she barely left her room. Vicky’s In-Home Worker, Dara, engaged Vicky and her mom in a gradual exploration process. First, Dara started baking cakes with mother and daughter to have Vicky leave her room and become used to communicating with her mom again. Then, Dara and Vicky took strolls down to the local Tim Hortons, where Dara did all the talking. Soon, Vicky started ordering for herself, and after a few weeks, the conversation turned to ‘visiting’ a school building, just to see how it might feel. The first drive-by at a potential school placement did not go well, with Vicky becoming visibly upset and noticeably quiet. Over the ensuing weeks, however, she was able to ‘lean’ on Dara while finding her own strength, and eventually she entered the building and talked to the Child and Youth Worker there. Soon after, for the first time in two and a half years, Vicky talked about returning to school in September, and we are quite certain that she will.
We are so proud of Vicky’s accomplishments. Intensive In-Home Services require complete family involvement and cooperation by all family members and the family’s dedication to the service for the most favorable outcome. Families must be willing to commit to the length and intensity of the service. We are so pleased that Vicky has started on the path to mental wellness, one we will continue to support her along the way.
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STAFF PROFILE - Amanda Chan, Social Worker, Community Clinic | |
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Amanda Chan is a social worker with the George Hull Centre, joining the team in September 2021. She grew up in Venezuela and moved to Toronto with her family at the age of 19.
Amanda first worked in marketing, then went back to school to obtain her ECE (Early Childhood Education) degree. Later she returned to school to complete a MSW, as she felt it would give her more opportunities to support children and families.
After working with another agency that supported children 12-18 years of age, Amanda wanted to go back to her original love of working with younger children up to six years old, which brought her to the George Hull Centre. She appreciates the diversity of staff, their lived experiences, the knowledge, and warmth they bring to their roles, as well as the organization's efforts to make everyone feel heard, welcomed, and appreciated.
Amanda also spent a year teaching English to kids in China and feels a special connection to immigrant families and the needs of their children. As a child of immigrants herself, Amanda understands some of the challenges a bicultural child might experience, and she enjoys supporting them.
In Amanda’s spare time she likes walks, yoga, and Latin dancing. She is known around the centre as the plant whisperer and can be found saving many needy plants around the office.
Amanda says the best and most time-tested advice she received was “be ready for discomfort. As you face different experiences and challenges within yourself and with clients, you will be uncomfortable. Sit with the discomfort, that sense of vulnerability, it will help you grow as a person and a social worker.”
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We are so thankful to our community for their ongoing support! On May 16, 2023 one of our staff members, Irfan Rehmutulla held an online gaming event that was available to the public for viewing. He streamed "Stars Wars: Jedi Survivor" in support of the George Hull Centre for Children and Families. We are so appreciative of Irfan's efforts to raise awareness and support for children's mental health.
On June 7, 2023, We Are George held a Bar Trivia night at the Duke of York in support of mental health! Members of the group dressed in outfits they wore during their childhood and organized a wonderful event. All attendees had a fun time, while also learning about and supporting the work at the Centre.
We Are George will also be holding a live music event on November 16, 2023 at the Rivoli! Follow our social media platforms to stay tuned for more details.
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Summer vacation can be a large adjustment for children, youth and their parents.
Anxiety issues can also present due in part to the lack of structure that summer brings. Though most young people claim this is the time of year they most look forward to, many become listless and irritable because of a lack of structured activity. Volunteering, setting up activities and participating in physical activity are just a few ways to help.
Here is a list of fun things to do in Toronto over the summer.
8 ways to foster hope in your daily life - a printable mental health tip sheet.
Happy Pride Month! When entering a new community or subject area, sometimes the array of terminology can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a handy list for the LGBTQ2S+ world, because so much is changing quickly, including the terms that are considered appropriate to use.
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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. | | |
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Through clinical excellence and a continuum of mental health
services, our mission is to reduce suffering, provide hope and enhance the quality of life of infants, children, youth and families.
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