July in the Playroom
It’s been a long time coming, but finally after a long cold winter and cool spring, the children have been able to head outside to our side yard. It always takes some organizing and planning to get the children ready. Shoes need to be found, sunscreen applied, if necessary, first aid backpack gathered and safety rules explained. Although once outside, all this preparation is well worth it. Children are always excited to be outside. The Playroom rules of walking feet and inside voices no longer apply. Children are now free to run, jump, shout and play. With summer just around the corner, we hope that there will be many more outside days to come.
Music Circle
On Mondays at 11:30 a music therapist joins us and she leads parents and children in a ½ hour of singing and stories. Children learn songs, do a little dancing and make a lot of wonderful noise. July dates are the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
Cooking Class
Join us as we discover ways of being healthy together! Each session includes fun games, activities, and an opportunity to cook and enjoy wholesome food together. Kids are welcome to participate! July dates are the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th from 1:30-3:30.
Sign-up sheet available at 1:00 in the drop-in
Goodbye to Anisa!
It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that Anisa Baker, our Health Education Coordinator, will be moving on from Wolseley Family Place, to a great new opportunity. Her last day at WFP was June 28th, 2019. We will miss Anisa and wish her all the best in her next endeavor!
Welcome to New Team Members!
We are very pleased to announce some new additions to our team this summer. Welcome aboard…
- Olivia Doucet – Recreation Facilitator/ Childcare Assistant
- Temitope Ojo – Project Assistant
- Jake Tuesday – Community Support Worker
- Alice-Michelle Uwamaliya – Early Childhood Educator Assistant
Come by and say hi and meet our new WFP team members!
Co-occurring disorders
-Thrive
- The term co-occurring disorders (COD) refers to co-occurring substances related and mental disorders. Clients said to have COD have one or more substance-related disorders as well as one or more mental disorders. The definition of a person with COD (individual-level definition) must be distinguished from a person who requires COD services (service definition).
- At the individual level CODs exist “when at least one disorder of each type can be established independent of the other and is not simply a cluster of symptoms resulting from [a single] disorder” (CSAT, 2005)
What can you do if someone you care about is mentally unwell?
- Educate yourself about mental health, recovery, and treatment options
- Tell your loved-one that you love them and are there to support them
- Take care of your own well-being (including asking for support yourself)
- Accept that the mental illness is beyond your immediate control
- Listen to the other person
Don’t
- Blame the person for what they are experiencing
- Blame yourself for the situation
- Tell the person to “snap out of it” or “get over it”
- Try to control the other person or tell them what they “should” do
- Think that you have all the answers
- Place expectations upon the other person and their progress (or lack thereof)
- Belittle them or be condescending
- Assume that they can “figure it out” on their own
- Allow the other person’s issues to consume your own life
- Give up if you’re not getting immediate responses/results – Change can take time