Lasting Initiative for Everyone (LIFE): Teaches life skills for at risk, low-income families.
Gathering Resources and Services Program (GRASP): This program is in partnership with Salvation Army Honey Church Family Life Resource Centre focusing on building stronger families by teaching family life skills.
Community Action for Family Environment (CAFE): Provides information with an educational and health component for high-risk families.
Families First
About Families First Families First is a program for sole support parents who receive Ontario Works Assistance. It offers employment, health, and childcare services to parents as well as recreation for their children.
Support Support is provided through a focused and coordinated approach to helping sole support parents become independent. This is achieved through the collaboration of Ontario Works in Peel, Peel Children's Services, and Peel Health, and community agencies.
Benefits Studies show that sole support parents on social assistance experience permanent benefits when they receive additional health, employment, and childcare services and recreational opportunities for their children.
Short-Term Goals To improve the financial position of sole support parents To improve the mental and physical health of sole support families in Peel To promote healthy lifestyle activities, physical fitness, cognitive functioning, and self-esteem for children and youth of sole support families To reduce sole support parents' reliance on fragmented health care and social assistance services
Long-Term Goals To reduce child poverty To help sole support parents reduce dependency on social assistance in the Region of Peel
What have we learned from the Families First Program?
Families First participants experience many barriers to employment Families First participants are very limited in their level of participation in the social fabric due to the degree of challenges experienced such as, poor emotional and psychological health.
What are the benefits of the Families First Program? As well as the physical benefits, children involved in Recreation have the opportunity to develop social skills
Overall, Families First interventions result in greater self-reliance and a reduced level of reliance on income supports
Families First participants experience improved social, physical and mental health and a reduced reliance on social and health services
There is less reliance on public and social supports as participants gain in the areas of family health, functionality and independence
Both parents and children experience gains in social, physical and mental health as a result of recreation interventions
How many Peel residents have benefited from Families First? Over 3,070 sole support parents in receipt of Ontario Works financial support, have been referred to Families First
On average over one-third of Families First participants are actively involved in the programs health supports
On July 31, 2007, over 3,000 children were involved in Families First.
Teen Moms Program
An opportunity for moms and moms-to-be ages 13 - 21 years to share their experiences with a staff person. Topics such as pregnancy, parenting, child development, budgeting, family adjustment and employment opportunities can be discussed in a supportive environment.
Peel Manor Intergenerational Drop-In
The Peel Manor Intergenerational Program brings seniors, parents and children (0-6 yrs) together to share and grow through fun and interactive programming.
South Asian Seniors Social
A recreational and social program for older adults that include discussion and activities relating to health, safety, fitness, etc. Monthly guest speakers. Games such as Carom board, playing cards, Ludo and BINGO, tea and snacks. No registration required.
Employment Services
A complete resource centre with internet access, word processing, reference material, fax, and photocopier. Job seekers can use the room on their own or make an appointment with the employment counsellor for suggestions and ideas regarding their cover letter, resume, job search avenues, internet sites, and interview process. Please call for appointments. Workshops are provided throughout the year.
