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Hi Alex, there is a lot in this to be hopeful for and thank you for sharing. Lots of potential good news to follow. I hope it all comes to fruition. I am so glad to be part of Connected Families, especially during this time. Hearing other people’s stories and the many discussions happening everywhere makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on this, Alex.
Hi Everyone, I hope you have all stayed safe during this difficult time. I was wondering if anyone could share something about the support circles around the people they support and how they came to be, either through facilitation or in some organic way from meeting people in the community, through volunteer or work, Church etc. I also wanted to ask if anyone knows of homes with divided apartments (at least 2) in York Region.
Hey Rose,
Our support circle goes back quite a ways now. We started when our son was still young enough to work with the Toronto Family Network (TFN). As he aged out of that, P4P helped facilitate meetings and now Lights has bee involved too. But none of these supporters can set up the circle for you.Yes it is hard to ask people to get involved, but you might be surprised how people respond when just asked. Remember, you’re not asking them to your job as a parent, you’re just asking that they know your child and his circumstances.
Our group isn’t extensive, but it includes a former neighbour who helped tutor when he was in university and our kid was in public school; his god-mother and her son; a cousin; another cousin’s husband, another neighbour, younger than our son but who has now grown up to be a teacher; and a former TFN summer student who stayed on as a friend and helper after the summer he was employed to help our son. Not everyone lives in Toronto, but Zoom helps with that. We meet 3 or 4 times a year at our house and have coffee and snacks just to catch up with what everyone is doing. When it’s not COVID we sometimes set up meetings for activities between our son and a circle member. That’s it so far… Hope that helps.
Hi Bruce, that was really helpful, thank you. I do have another question and it relates to why I asked this question in the first place. I am concerned that I already have to send or provide support for my kids wherever they go. Right now it’s paid help although these individuals have certainly had a personal investment, care and interest in my kids through their work. When it comes to housing I am concerned that a support circle of people who consider themselves friends and have a personal interest in the wellbeing and welfare of my kids be in place before they move anywhere. Not to provide direct support but to be part of a social circle. If I am sounding like a rookie it’s because I really am. Perhaps this is why some families start with having their kids live in a basement apartment in the family home first. I am just wondering if this is a prerequisites to really living in a home of their own. I know that they can’t live on their own and I am not sure if the two siblings being a brother and sister should live together either. Would you feel comfortable commenting on this as well?
Well I’m not an expert, and even experts are only good with kids they know…. But not knowing anything has never prevented me from commenting.😊
Judging whether kids should move out or move to your basement is totally your feel for the situation. Same with Brother and sister dynamics. What I can say is that the social “Checking-in” function, if not a service function can be a real benefit of a circle. Unless there is a dedicated, appropriate-generation family member, I think service functions are going to be a professional issue with Passport funding. A circle isn’t going to get you day-to-day care, but it may get you a couple pairs of eyes to see that the day-to-day is appropriate. Hope that made sense.Hi Bruce, yes that made perfect sense! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience! Looking forward to returning to this forum now that we are, hopefully, underway with starting our journey! So encouraging to read the stories of the housing projects and paths that people are working on!
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