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Ontario Seeks Input from the Francophone Community - 06-03-2021

Province Launches Online Survey as Part of Consultations on French-Language Services

Ontarians are invited to take part in a province-wide online consultation that will help improve access to services in French in the province.

“Our government wants to engage with Ontarians to identify best approaches and innovative delivery models to promote access to the French-language services that are critical to Francophone communities, including ways to strengthen Ontario’s francophone and bilingual workforce,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs.

This consultation seeks input from the general public and a wide range of stakeholders on how to improve access to French-language services. This solution-focused approach will help identify legislative barriers, best practices and innovative delivery models that can strengthen and expand the provision of these services. As part of a broader approach, the consultation will also help the government gather valuable input on how to improve recruitment and retention of Francophone and bilingual personnel, which is vital to the delivery of high-quality services in French.

The public is invited to take part in the consultation through an online questionnaire available in French and English on the Ontario government’s Consultations directory. Read the full news release.

Remote Learning to Continue Across Ontario for the Remainder of the School Year - 06-03-2021

Ontario Accelerating Vaccinations to Support a Safer Summer and Return to In-Person Learning in September

To best protect Ontario families from the fast growing B.1.617.2 variant, and to allow for higher rates of vaccination of students, staff, and families, the Ontario government has made the difficult decision to continue with remote learning for all elementary and secondary students across the province for the remainder of this school year. This will allow the province to continue its focus on accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations to support a safer summer and return to in-person learning in September for the 2021-22 school year. Read the full news release.

Take Part in the online Ontario Parent Survey from McMaster University's Offord Centre for Child Studies -

05-17-2021

Researchers from McMaster University and Offord Centre for Child Studies have launched a follow-up province-wide survey to measure and understand how families with children are still coping with COVID-19. The new Ontario Parent Survey will launch Monday May 3, one year to the day of the first survey’s launch.

“The follow-up survey is being conducted because we had such an amazing response from
caregivers across the province,” says lead researcher Andrea Gonzalez, Associate Professor and
Tier II Canada Research Chair in Family Health and Preventive Interventions. “The findings were
shared widely with many partners and helped inform some service and program allocation.”

New Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience Training Module Now Available - 05-05-2021

Complete the new Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience training module: Reducing Stress and Promoting Resilience in Young Children: The Role of Early Learning and Care Staff.

The free, self-directed ACEs & Resilience Learning Modules are intended for human service professionals (including but not limited to, Primary Care Providers, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Social Workers, Outreach Workers and Pharmacists) interested in learning more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience. Content is also useful for educators, including early childhood educators, volunteers working with children and families, or anyone wanting to develop a better understanding of the relationship between early life experiences and long-term health.

Modules may be completed in 5-7 hours, and all participants will receive a certificate of recognition upon completion.

Licensed Child Care Workers Across Ontario Eligible to Book Vaccine Appointments - 04-30-2021

TORONTO — The Ontario government is expanding booking for COVID-19 vaccination appointments to individuals 45 and over in designated hot spot communities in 13 public health units, as identified by postal code, through its provincial booking system. Child care workers in licensed child care settings across the province will also be eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Read the full news release from the Province of Ontario

Ontario Provides Emergency Child Care for Critical Frontline Workers - 04-22-2021

Service will be available for school-aged children at no cost to eligible parents

As Ontario schools move to remote learning due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission across communities and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants, frontline workers will have access to emergency child care for their school-aged children, beginning Monday, April 19, 2021.

Read the full announcement from the Province of Ontario.

Ontario Highlights Innovative Child and Youth Mental Health Service - 04-22-2021

Province showcasing tele-mental health service in national podcast series

TORONTO — Today, Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, issued the following statement on Ontario's participation in a 13-part podcast series featuring promising practices and innovative mental health and addictions programs across Canada.

"Across Ontario, many individuals and families continue to struggle with the impacts of COVID-19 on their mental health. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one million Ontarians experienced a mental health or addiction challenge each year. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new and more complex challenges, including the need for more virtual supports as Ontarians have spent more time at home. Finding effective ways to support the mental health needs of Ontarians and sharing innovative and best practices is a top priority for our government.

Read the full news release.

Province Doubles Support for Parents With New Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit - 04-01-2021

TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing parents with $980 million in direct support as part of the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit. Under this new round of funding, payments will be doubled to $400 per child and $500 for a child with special needs to help offset additional learning costs. This investment is part of the 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy.

Details were provided today by Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, and Lindsey Park, MPP for Durham.

"Since day one of this pandemic, our government has invested in safe schools, while also providing direct financial relief to hard working moms and dads," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. "With greater access to vaccines, we will defeat this pandemic. Until we get there, our government will continue to step up to support families with additional financial support and child care relief."

Read the full news release.

Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Study - 03-17-2021

Is your child younger than school-age?

Do you want to talk to a researcher about your experience with getting support for your child?

The Inclusive Early Childhood Services System Project wants to learn from what you know about getting support for your child. The study hopes to learn more about how early childhood services are meeting the needs of children with “atypical development”, “special needs”, “disability”, or “gifts”.

What’s involved: phone interview with research staff (30 min up to 2 hours). Interpreters are available at no cost to families and participants receive a $30 gift card as a thank you. To join the Inclusive Early Childhood Service System Project (IECSS) study or find out more, contact inclusion@ryerson.ca, 1-833-671-8003 or 416-979-5263.

Ontario Increasing Supports for Black Students - 03-17-2021

Student and Family Advocates to help Black children and youth achieve their educational goals

TORONTO —The Ontario government is investing $6 million over the next three years to help Black children and youth achieve their educational and career goals by creating the new Student and Family Advocates initiative in Ottawa, Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area. The advocates will provide community-based and culturally relevant supports to Black students ages 6-25 and act as advocates for Black families within the education system.

"Our government is committed to helping Black children and youth achieve their full potential. That's why we are expanding programming under the Black Youth Action Plan and creating community-based initiatives like the Student and Family Advocates," said Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. "We are working directly with community organizations to ensure these advocates are in the best position to help students achieve their academic, career and life goals by helping them overcome barriers and access more resources within the school system."

As a result of numerous systemic and structural barriers, Black children and youth in Ontario are disproportionately experiencing more negative educational outcomes than their peers. Studies show Black students are more likely to be suspended or expelled and are less likely to complete high school or enter post-secondary education.

Beginning in the spring, Student and Family Advocates will work out of local organizations to provide specific supports tailored to the individual needs of Black students. Supports will include:

Working with students and families to develop a plan for achieving their goals
Attending meetings with teachers, guidance counsellors, and school administrators to discuss student progress
Developing trust-based relationships with participants and helping them build positive relationships with educators, student peers, and community members
Connecting students and families to resources and supports like community programming, learning opportunities, tutoring and mentorships, job placements and scholarship or leadership opportunities.

In addition, student advocates will provide leadership, advice and support to schools on anti-Black racism and work alongside community partners, participants and schools to amplify the voices of Black students and families to activate changes in Ontario's education system.

"Since I started in the role of Advocate for Community Opportunities in December 2019, I've consistently heard from parents, youth, and grassroots community groups that we need to build community capacity to navigate the education system and hold schools accountable," said Jamil Jivani, Ontario's Advocate for Community Opportunities. "The Student and Family Advocates initiative builds on the great work already being done in Black communities for years, by providing needed resources to those who work directly with students and parents."

The Student and Family Advocates initiative is part of Ontario's $60 million expanded Black Youth Action Plan which works toward eliminating systemic, race-based disparities by increasing opportunities for Black children, youth and families across the province.

Read the full news release.

Ontario Offers New Sign Language Courses to Secondary Students 03-17-2021

TORONTO - Ontario is becoming one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to offer high school students in the province second-language courses in American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes quebecoise (LSQ).

Details were provided today by Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility.

"By expanding second-language course options for students, our Government is cementing its role as a leader in providing innovative learning opportunities," said Minister Lecce. "By offering students the chance to learn ASL or LSQ, they can expand their language skills while developing greater understanding of Ontario's ASL and LSQ culture."

Starting in September 2021, high schools may offer American Sign Language as a second language and Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde to provide students with the opportunity to develop new language and conversation skills, gain cultural understandings, and learn about ASL or LSQ literary works and texts.

ASL and LSQ are distinct languages, each with unique histories, cultural references and distinct grammar and syntax. To ensure linguistic accuracy, and to include authentic ASL and LSQ stories, the Ministry of Education consulted with the ASL and LSQ communities on the course content.

"By giving high school students the opportunity to learn ASL and/or LSQ, we are increasing language and cultural skills," said Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility.

Read the full news release.

Ontario Expanding Supports for Families of Children with Autism 02-22-2021

New core services and additional funding will offer greater choice based on need.

TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing additional supports for families of children on the autism spectrum. Starting in March, the province will begin offering core clinical services based on a child's individual needs, a key element of the new Ontario Autism Program. These services include applied behaviour analysis, speech language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health supports.

Recognizing the challenges and uncertainty families are facing as a result of COVID-19, the government will be offering an additional extension of funding to purchase eligible services and supports parents feel are most appropriate for their children as the province continues to implement a needs-based autism program. Further details about eligibility and how to apply for the extension of funding will be shared in the coming weeks.

Read the full news release.

Ontario Increases Mental Health Funding for Postsecondary Students - 02-17-2021

Investment will expand access to mental health and addiction services during COVID-19.

TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing $7 million to help increase access to mental health and addiction services for postsecondary students during COVID-19. The funding will provide more supports for students, both on-campus and virtually and can also be used to address the needs of vulnerable and diverse groups, such as Indigenous students, LGBTQ students and students with disabilities.

Read the full news release.

Ontario's Most Popular Baby Names for 2019 - 11-01-2021

TORONTO — The top baby names in Ontario for 2019 were Olivia and Noah. Ontario registered 933 baby girls named Olivia, closing the decade as one of the most consistently popular names in the province. Charlotte came in as the second-most popular name for girls. There were 841 Noahs registered in Ontario last year making it the top choice for boys, with Liam in second place.

View the full list and information about ServiceOntario's 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle.

Vital Focus Series Details Secondary Impacts of COVID-19

Pandemic on Families with Children - 22-12-2020

Toward Common Ground and their collaborating partners have released the Vital Focus report on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on families with children. It is the fifth in a series of reports providing evidence-based recommendations on how to mitigate and address the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vital Focus report details national and local data and offers recommendations for local community organizations, institutions, and all orders of government on how to mitigate and address the secondary impacts over the longer term.
Increasing awareness of the pandemic’s effects across a range of issues helps identify and make sense of the community’s most urgent needs and how best to serve Guelph residents as service providers and local organizations continue to work together to respond and recover from COVID-19.

Read the Vital Focus: The Impact of COVID-19 on Families with Children in our Community.

Ontario Expanding Mental Health Services for Children and Youth

22-10-2020

The Ontario government is providing $24.3 million in targeted investments to hire additional staff, increase access to counselling and therapy, create new programs to help manage stress, depression and anxiety, and address eating disorders and other challenges facing children and youth. This funding is part of the government's $176 million investment in the Roadmap to Wellness, a comprehensive plan to build a fully connected mental health and addictions system across the province.

Ontario Taking Action to Improve Child Care - 19-10-2020

The Strengthening Early Years and Child Care in Ontario report details how Ontario is helping to provide more child care and before and after school spaces for parents, as well as increasing opportunities for home child care providers. The report was developed with input from families and sector partners. These same groups provided input into the review of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

The government has also posted the Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2020, which provides an annual overview and year-over-year trends of Ontario's early years and child care sector. It is clear that Ontario's child care system continues to grow.

The Honourable Rob Black, Senator's Statement on the Integrated Youth Services Network! 16-09-2020

The Honourable Rob Black, Senator, makes a statement on the Integrated Youth Services Network (IYSN) to the Canadian Senator's Group. View the video.

The Integrated Youth Services Network is a place where youth between the ages of 12-26 can go to seek support for mental health challenges, substance abuse, education, employment, training, housing and much more. It is a collaborative project that involves over 30 organizations under the leadership of the Rotary Club of Guelph. These organizations include:

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Centre Wellington
University of Guelph
YMCA-YWCA of Guelph
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington
Guelph Community Foundation
East Wellington Community Services
Minto Mental Health
Shelldale Family Gateway

This is a partnership of service organizations and volunteers united in the common goal to build a new standard of care, support and services for youth.

IYSN will feature 7 Youth Centres across the City of Guelph and Wellington County, where youth can go for support and guidance or just for a safe place to hang out. Youth will have access to programs and services such as education, career support, counselling and peer to peer programs.

Senator Black highlighted the importance of having Youth Hubs located in rural areas, stating that access and availability to rural youth is important due to unreliable internet connectivity and physical distance from urban centres.

1 in 5 youth 15-26 experience mental health or substance use disorders.

Since 2007, hospitalizations in Guelph and Wellington County increased by 223% for mental health and behavioural disorders and by 211% for self-harm.

This network was created to respond to the lack of adequate and accessible services to respond to these challenges and to ensure that youth and families don't fall through the cracks.

The Senator applauded the initiative and thanked the organizations involved in contributing to the creation of the IYSN.

ACEs & Resilience Training Modules Available - 28-08-2020

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Coalition of Guelph & Wellington is pleased to announce the release of the ACEs & Resilience Learning Modules.

The free, online, self-directed ACEs & Resilience Learning Modules are intended for human service professionals (including but not limited to, Primary Care Providers, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Social Workers, Outreach Workers and Pharmacists) interested in learning more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resilience. Content is also useful for educators, including early childhood educators, volunteers working with children and families, or anyone wanting to develop a better understanding of the relationship between early life experiences and long-term health. All participants will receive a certificate of recognition upon completion.

This online course includes the following five modules, and may be completed in 5-7 hours:

Module 1: An Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences
Module 2: The Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Module 3: Resilience
Module 4: Taking Action to Prevent and Reduce the Effects of ACEs and Build Resilience
Module 5: ACEs and Resilience Practice Case

The ACEs Coalition is working towards a resilient community that prevents and reduces the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Guelph and Wellington County.