It’s that time of the year again!  While we appreciate the hard work that Child and Youth Workers (CYWs) and Child and Youth Counsellors (CYCs) do regularly, we can now share that appreciation throughout the province with the 2013 Krista Sepp Memorial Awards, now well underway! Read more »

Today's guest blogger, Scott Bark, is the Lead Manager for the Autism School Support Program and Transition Services at Kinark Child and Family Services. Read more »

In my last post, I talked about building my relationship with you – my online community. Today, I want to continue talking about the idea of relationships because they’re fundamental to our happiness and our success. Connection, bond, kinship, rapport, alliance, nearness – these are just some of the concepts that come to mind when we start to think of the value of connectivity in our lives. Read more »

We all feel stressed or overwhelmed at times; we may be worrying about paying bills, succeeding at work or raising our kids well. But, many adults have someone they trust to talk to about things that might be causing them stress. We might meet a friend for coffee and talk things through; maybe we visit with a doctor or counsellor on a regular basis. Unfortunately, a recent study shows that many youth are not only feeling stressed out, but also don’t feel they have an adult they can confide in. Read more »

How many homeless people have you experienced in your life? How many times have you seen someone sleeping on the street or asking for money? How many times have you  walked past, shrugged them off, or made a judgement about their situation? How many of you have given a few dollars, a sandwich or even considered their mental health? Read more »

We all have a notion of teamwork and what it means. Maybe you play on a sports team and your coach encourages you to pass the ball, give others a turn and root for one another. Maybe you practice it in the work place by sharing responsibilities and offering advice. But how often do we think of taking a team approach when it comes to our own families? Read more »

We all deal with some level of stress on a daily basis. Whether we need to finish a presentation for an upcoming meeting, meet a deadline or try to lose those (at least) 10 pounds, there’s usually something that keeps our nerves from settling. But for the teenagers in our communities the sources of stress and anxiety are coming at them from every angle. Read more »

For many students, the school day is not complete without an after-school soccer practice, band rehearsal or meeting of the debating club. Unfortunately, with Bill 115 still looming, many students don’t have these things to look forward to. Read more »

Visiting with family and friends, giving gifts and indulging in treats – these are some of the things that many of us look forward to when the Holiday season comes around. And while reconnecting with friends and loved ones can be relaxing and fun, for some, these activities can result in unintended consequences like stress and anxiety. Read more »