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Issue #5, February 2009In this issue:
WelcomeThis is the fifth issue of the electronic newsletter afsa news - a publication of the Association of Family Serving Agencies. Please forward this newsletter and encourage anyone interested to subscribe. Send a message to info@communitycouncil.ca to promote events or suggest articles for the next newsletter.
Running Just to Catch Up: Canadian Family Finances and Work-Family BalanceWritten by Theresa Aspol At a recent AFSA event, Clarence Lochhead, Executive Director of the Ottawa-based Vanier Institute of the Family, confirmed what many people already suspect: more work has not translated into more money for Canadian families. Between 1980 and 2005, productivity in the labour market rose by 37.4 percent while the median real earnings of Canadians barely increased. The consequences for families are profound. Broadly speaking, people have fewer resources to effectively meet unexpected challenges, be they financial or personal. Although labour force participation rates are at an all time high, Canadian families are saving next to nothing so they do not have a financial safety net to sustain them in difficult times. Meanwhile, over the last ten years, 18 to 23 percent more workers are working overtime, half of which is unpaid. |
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LinksAFSA information AFSA Steering Committee BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society AFSA UpdatesHave you seen the new and improved AFSA webpage? Visit www.communitycouncil.ca AFSA News |
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Mr. Lochhead stressed, however, that these circumstances are not inevitable. In other countries, productivity gains are passed along to workers in increased wages. Not so in Canada. He said that "until recently, our governments have congratulated themselves for having eliminated deficit spending but deficit spending is alive and well with the risk increasingly born by individual Canadians." Stimulus packages, he suggests, should not be limited to fixing bridges and roads but instead should invest in people. A more inclusive unemployment insurance program and increased social welfare rates are two strategies that would directly support Canadian families most in need. For more information, please visit: www.vifamily.ca. To read the Times Colonist's February 13, 2009 article about this event, visit AFSA's webpage. AFSA thanks the United Way of Greater Victoria for their generous support of this event.
Military deployments impact greater communityWritten by Sarah Daviau and Daryl Barnhart, Military Family Resource Centre When you see a news report about a Canadian ship departing on a 6-month deployment from CFB Esquimalt – or a family waving goodbye at the airport as their loved one heads off to Afghanistan – what do you think of? People often think of missed events, the worry families must feel when the evening news reports a casualty, or the months that will pass before loved ones will be reunited again. But for the greater community, a deployment can also have repercussions. "The impact of a deployment goes far beyond what the average civilian family may think of," says Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Executive Director Gaynor Jackson. "Educators, co-workers, employers and neighbours down the street often see the impact of military deployments – sometimes without even realizing it." The Esquimalt MFRC is a non-profit agency dedicated to serving military families and helping them cope with the unique challenges of the military lifestyle. The MFRC is the only non-profit agency in Greater Victoria that has the mandate to provide support and resources to serve Canadian Forces members and their families. In the 2007/2008 fiscal year, the MFRC served over 12,400 clients - many of whom were dealing with issues related to deployment. "For children, dealing with a parent being away for six to seven months at a time can be stressful," says Jackson. "The centre offers a number of support systems in place to assist families during a deployment. Hundreds of workshops and briefs were given to family members in the last year who were dealing with a deployment." For children who are affected by a deployment, Jackson says the MFRC provides a variety of workshops specially designed for children as well as counseling and child care. But for those in the community, the effects a deployment has on a child can also be seen. "Often, the school system may notice children from military families acting out as a result of the stress associated with a lengthy deployment," she says. "The centre provides support and resources for educators about what they can do to support children from military families during a deployment." The MFRC, says Jackson, has been progressively networking with school officials in Greater Victoria to boost the system's awareness of what the centre does and how it can help. But children are not the only ones who are affected by length deployments. "Co-workers and employers who work with a military spouse may notice that person as being unusually burdened while trying to manage the demands of a family life singlehandedly," says Jackson. "That, coupled with the worry of having a loved one serving in a dangerous part of the world, can make for a stressed employee who would benefit from the understanding of co-workers and an employer." The MFRC supports families with counseling, peer support and a vast network of other resources that can be called upon in an emergency. Jackson was quick to point out that the impact upon the community may be subtle and go unnoticed. "Perhaps the community impact is as simple as a reduction in traffic on the major routes to the base or a shorter line-up at your local coffee shop," she says. "Or maybe it is your neighbour who never seems to be home, now that they have to take the kids everywhere as if they were a single parent." Recently, 240 sailors departed on HMCS Winnipeg for a 6-month deployment in addition to the dozens of Canadian Forces members from CFB Esquimalt who are currently serving in Afghanistan. Several other deployments are planned for this year which will see hundreds of CF members and their families experiencing the stress of a deployment. "The MFRC acknowledges the military lifestyle brings with it numerous unique and often stressful situations, that make families resilient," says Jackson. "We believe that military families are the strength behind the uniform and they play a valuable part of the success of the Canadian Forces." The MFRC can be found online at www.esquimaltmfrc.com or by phone at 250-363-2640.
Agency AnnouncementsCitizens' Counselling Centre Group Sessions – Spring 2009Exploring Anger - This group is for people who have difficulty either expressing or controlling their anger. Through experiential and educational exercises, handouts and discussions we will explore how we experience, respond to, feel about and are aware of our anger, and how it manifests itself. Group members will look at associated emotions that underlie, affect and suppress our anger. We will examine our beliefs about what anger is and isn’t. Communication skills will be practised as a means of expressing anger respectfully, and practical tools will be offered as an aid to exploring and dealing with our anger. Building Self Esteem - This group focuses on education/information and is experiential in style rather than “therapy.” Some of the topics explored are communication, boundaries, family of origin, thoughts, inner critic and self-image. Group members learn tools to increase confidence for achieving personal goals. Moving Beyond Stress, Anxiety and Depression - Are you living the life you want? Do you feel stressed, anxious, depressed? If you believe you are too stressed to think clearly, too depressed to attempt changes, are going through a big life transition or have some lifestyle habits you would like to alter, this group will guide you to create positive changes. Learn skills and techniques that have been found to be helpful with a wide variety of concerns and will help you apply these ideas in your own life. Pre-group interviews are required for all groups. The next set of group sessions begins April/May 2009. Visit www.citizenscounselling.com, email info@citizenscounselling.com or call 250-384-9934 to find out more. Two new Support Groups at BC Schizophrenia SocietyFamilies with Hope - 7pm - 8:30pm, 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. Co-facilitated by trained peer mom and daughter duo for family members and their loved ones. Location: 941 Kings Road, Recovery and Hope Support Group - 3pm - 4:30pm, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Facilitated by trained peers for people with Schizophrenia and related mental health conditions. Both groups take place at BCSS Victoria, 941 Kings Road. Also available from BCSS: professional short-term family counselling, courses for family members or kids, one-on-one peer support and other support services. Call 250-384-4225 for more information or visit www.bcssvictoria.ca Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group for adults living with epilepsyhe Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre offers an 8 week program for people living with epilepsy who would like to feel more in control of their epilepsy and their mood. The next group begins April 1st, 2009, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. To arrange for a screening interview, contact Dr. Kate Goodall, Registered Psychologist, at 250-382-2005 or kmg@drkgoodall.com. More info: Isa Milman, Epilepsy Program Coordinator, 250-475-6677 or imilman@vepc.bc.ca. On March 26 2009, wear purple and spread the word about epilepsy. Capital Families Fundraiser and ProgramsFundraising Auction Coming soon! Capital Families Association (CFA - a non-profit organization that focuses on providing support and services to children and families in the Westshore) will be holding a fundraising auction through GoBid.com. The auction will run from May 1-31 and will include packages, items and services from Westshore companies and organizations. There’s sure to be something for everyone. For more information contact Luba at 250-391-4324 or info@capfamilies.org. Best Babies II - For new mothers & fathers and their babies & toddlers (up to 30 months). Fridays, 10:30am – 12pm. Coffee/ tea and a small snack are provided. Free bus tickets for those who need them, and free second-hand infant clothes & supplies. Location: 345 Wale Rd. Drop-in Playtime - For children 0-5 years & their parents or caregivers, a fun, enriching indoor play space with toys, activities & crafts, circle time, snack (bring a fruit or veggie to share), outdoor playground, safe, child-centred social atmosphere, parent support resources and clothing exchange. Mondays & Wednesdays, 9am – 11:30am. Drop-in Gym time For children 0-5 years & their parents or caregivers. Come and play in a fun and energetic environment: climbing apparatus, ride-on toys, big fluffy mats and other gym activities. Have fun and get some exercise.Suggested donation:$1 per child or $2 per family. Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am – 11am. Playtime and Gym time location: 345 Wale Road. Visit www.capfamilies.org for details. Seeds for Change Conference - Liveable Solutions for Sustainable Communities,June 19-21, 2009: The Seeds for Change Conference 2009 is being hosted by the Cowichan Green Community (CGC). After many years of community involvement CGC saw a need to inform people, not only about the food they eat, but other environmental impacts which affect all of us in the Cowichan region. The vision of the conference is to increase awareness through education creating a more sustainable future. By providing people with action based solutions, transformational changes will take place on a personal, community, business, and government level. The conference looks to encompass social, economic and ecological issues by delivering action-orientated speakers who provide the participants with practical solutions they can take away and implement. Contact Cowichan Green Community for details. Pacific Centre Family Services Association AGMPacific Centre's AGM will be held on June 18, 2009 at 5:30pm. Visit www.pacificcentrefamilyservices.org for details. Upcoming workshops at South Island Dispute Resolution CentreSouth Island Dispute Resolution Centre cordially invites you to participate in 3 workshops: MASK MAKING: Overcoming Fear and Flight from Conflict; THE CREATIVE PROCESS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION: An innovative and effective workshop for Individuals, Teams, Organizations, & Community Groups; and PATH TRAINING FOR FACILITATORS. Click here for detalis.
Contact AFSA:
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