Ontario’s Ombudsman has called for significant changes to the province’s “fragmented and overly complicated” developmental services system following an investigation lasting almost four years.

In his long-awaited report released Aug. 24, Paul Dub says Ontario’s failure to help desperate families who are unable to care for loved ones with developmental disabilities has left vulnerable people in dire and often dangerous circumstances.

His report, called Nowhere To Turn, is based on more than 1,400 complaints from families and includes 60 recommendations. Among them is a call for the Ministry of Community and Social Services to intervene in crisis cases and ensure adults with developmental disabilities are not returned to abusive situations or housed in hospitals, nursing homes or other inappropriate places.

Adults with developmental disabilities, their families and those in the field have eagerly awaited the Ombudsman’s findings, in hopes that his report will put public pressure on government to provide the money, training and services that have not kept up with demand.

Family Service Toronto is one of several agencies delivering the province’s Passport Program which helps adults with a developmental disability to participate in their communities and helps caregivers take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.

For the full report, backgrounders and video, go to www.ombudsman.on.ca.

Family Service Toronto’s Scarborough office has moved to the Victoria Park Hub a multi-service centre at 1527 Victoria Park Ave.

The new office, located on the Hub’s 2nd floor, will be open to the public from Tues. Sept. 6 following the August closure of our previous location at 747 Warden Ave.

We look forward to serving our clients and members of the public at our new Scarborough location.

Download info card.

For more information:
Voice: 416.595.9618
Email: [email protected]
Web: familyservicetoronto.org

 

The federal government is inviting the public to take part in a national conversation to discuss what accessibility means to them and to share their vision of an accessible Canada.

The national consultation process will assist in the development of planned accessibility legislation to promote equality of opportunity and increase the inclusion and participation of Canadians who have disabilities or functional limitations.

There are many ways to participate in the discussion, including online through Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada, or by attending public sessions starting this fall across the country.

Check the consultation website for updates, and follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and the hashtag #AccessibleCanada. The consultation process will run until February 2017

Are you receiving service from one of our Developmental Services programs? If yes, please participate in the Ministry of Community and Social Services focus groups with individuals and families who receive ministry-funded services and supports.

We want to better understand what things in life you would like developmental services to help you or your family member achieve.

All individuals, families and caregivers, who receive/take part in developmental services and supports are invited to participate in a series of focus groups coming up in September. Your feedback will have no impact on your services, and will be confidential and voluntary. Your individual responses or information will not be published.

The deadline for registrations is September 2. 

Register now for:

• Developmental Services Focus Groups
• Groupe de discussion sur les services aux personnes ayant une déficience intellectuelle

You will need to re-register if you registered for the original July focus groups.

Recruitment letters:

• Focus group participants needed
• Recherche de participants des groupes de discussion

Questions & Answers:

• About the focus groups
• propos des groupes de discussion

The ministry values feedback from individuals and their families on their experiences and we recognize that ongoing engagement is key to making meaningful improvements to the developmental services system.

Canada’s low-income families will keep the full Canada Child Benefit (CCB).

All provinces and territories responded to Campaign 2000’s call for no clawbacks! They will support full CCB for families receiving income assistance.

See Campaign 2000 infographic.

Read more on CBC news:
New Canada Child Benefit program payments start today
Canada child benefit seen as fighting poverty – as long as provinces co-operate
5 things to know about the new Canada Child Benefit

 

Family Service Toronto held on June 15 its Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation at our Sterling Rd. office. The event was attended by board members, staff, and volunteers. Copies of our annual audited financial statements and 2015-16 Annual Report were distributed and are now available for download or online reading through our website. This year’s annual report highlights the many celebrations, activities, and achievements of our Centennial year.

Toronto is hosting Canada’s first-ever Pride Month and we invite our friends and community members to celebrate with us as we recognize our LGBTQ communities.

Share your dreams and hopes and participate in creating a beautiful art piece this Friday, June 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. at 128A Sterling Road in the city’s west end.

Family Service Toronto’s David Kelley Services also invites you to share your ideas about how our service can better support mental wellness in our diverse LGBTTQQ2SIA+ & HIV/AIDS Communities.

David Kelley Services (DKS) offers counselling to members of our diverse LGBTTQ2SIA communities as well as people living with, affected by, or concerned about HIV/AIDS.

Edith Bustamante, left and Susana Tuccilo are members of an Hispanic seniors group at Family Service Toronto. They both make a difference in their community by meeting with the elderly and speaking about elder abuse prevention.

June is Seniors’ Month in Ontario and Family Service Toronto celebrates the work of our Seniors and Caregivers Service unit and the contributions that all seniors make every day in communities across the province.

Each week this month, we’ll recognize the work of one or more of seniors who actively participate in our programs.

This week we celebrate Oscar Anaya, who participates in our Spanish-speaking seniors group which meets regularly on Wednesdays at our Sterling site.

He joined the group to meet other seniors and is now a peer leader working on issues related to elder abuse. And he puts his former martial arts training to good use at some group sessions when he leads Tai Chi classes in the absence of the regular instructor!

Thank you Oscar!