Family & Children’s Services’ First Priority
Family & Children’s Services (FACS) of St. Thomas & Elgin has authority under the law to keep children safe and protect their well-being. Tracy Trainor is a Child Protection Worker and a member of the City Investigations Team. Recently, she has become a trainer in the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies for new CAS workers. She is a passionate advocate for children, and, in outlining the work of FACS, places paramount importance on their safety, though the safety of FACS staff must also be considered. The entire community’s cooperation is essential if safety for children is to be ensured.
Referrals from the community will spur FACS to investigate concerns about children and youth. There is a “duty to report” child abuse and neglect when witnessed by teachers, doctors, dentists, police and fire services personnel, for example. If a problem is identified, FACS will “work with families in a strengths-based way to find solutions to worries.” An emphasis is placed on helping families find their strengths. If the child is part of a First Nations community, a representative from the band is required to assist in finding a solution. If necessary, alternative care for the child may have to be found, hopefully only temporarily, until the family is strong enough to be reunited.
There are various programs. The “Signs of Safety” program is collaborative, involving all family members, and is focused on finding answers to these questions: “What are we worried about?” “What’s working well?” “What has to happen?” Child safety is a priority in the “Family Visitation” program: some visits may have to be supervised. “Alternative Dispute Resolution” is having some success in avoiding court in high-conflict custody cases.
The entire community can lend a hand. Volunteer drivers take children and parents to appointments and child care in agency programs. Donations to the Elgin Children’s Foundation are used to fund post-secondary education for some children in need. “It takes a village” to ensure that children are safe.
NO BLUE MONDAY….In addition to Tracy, and Maggie Horn, wife of Bill, President Nancy was pleased to welcome as a guest, Sharon Springer, who was more fully introduced by Malcolm Rust (seen in photo at left, with Sharon). Sharon was a Rotary Exchange Student from St. Thomas who spent a year in Andradina, Sao Paolo, Brazil in 1984-85. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta, and sessional instructor in the Sociology department there. She has lived in Edmonton since 1996 with her husband and two (almost) teenage sons. Malcolm explained that “Blue Monday” was the name given to the third Monday in January to recognize the “post-holiday blues” experienced by some people. But there were no blues evident in Sharon’s returning to St. Thomas more than thirty years after her year in Brazil to tell us about its long-term effects on her.
As Sharon explained, “My experience continues.” She was fortunate to have as her third host family “mother” a woman who was a teacher and who pushed her to follow the same career; indeed, Sharon has taught for many years. She learned Portuguese “to survive” in her year in Brazil, and some years later was able to travel to Portugal to acquire a master’s degree in psychology. Her Brazilian year brought her many memories of “a warm, beautiful people” that she often shares with her students. Her thanks to the Club and to Rotary endure.
At next week’s regular club meeting (Monday, January 23), the Club will be addressed by District Governor Elect Martin Ward, who is to take as his subject, “The digital world of Rotary.” There will be no meeting on January 30. That’s because on the evening of Friday, January 27, we will be having our annual Tour of Homes Homeowner and Decorator Recognition Night at the Wayside. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a social time, with dinner to follow at 7 p.m. Please let Trudy know if you are attending and if you are bringing guests. The cost will be $25 for each person attending.
As announced last week, the 2017 World Tubing Championships will be held Saturday, February 18 (12 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday, February 19 (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at Sunset Drive and Bush Line, the same site as last year’s event. President Nancy stated that the Club will once again be food vendors, selling hot dogs and hot chocolate….And stay tuned for the Rotary Music Festival slated for Wednesday, February 22 (one day only) at three venues. Elaine Catchpole will have a volunteer sign-up sheet ready for the first week in February…. Dana Vanzanten, our guest speaker from the St. Thomas Public Library a few weeks ago, has spoken to Nancy about the possibility of Club members becoming “Reading Buddies” with children at the St. Thomas Northside Neighbourhood Hub. Nancy will get back to the Club when more details are known….On the third attempt at choosing a winning 50/50 draw ticket, Maggie Horn’s was at last selected….In the absence of the Fine Master, President Nancy recounted a story told by CBS-TV’s Scott Pelley about a man who reads to children.
HAPPY FINS- Donations of $5 to The Rotary Foundation – Annual Programs Fund – credited to the donor in celebration of something good in our lives. This practice was started in this club in 1985 to raise funds for polio eradication at the suggestion of Darwen Lowe, a member of the club.
Pat Baker (2) – For Sharon and her remarkable feat of learning Portuguese so well as to be able to study at the graduate level in Portugal; for Tracy’s presentation.
Maggie Horn (2) – For winning the 50/50; for her 100 ½-year-old mother, “hanging in there” despite some health problems.
Stew Shouldice (2) – For Tracy Trainor, one of our speakers today: it was gratifying to hear someone so connected to her work; he is happy to be heading off to “somewhere sunny.”
Malcolm Rust (4) – Two for each of our speakers today. He was most impressed by Sharon’s returning to thank the Club, and by the FACS staff’s ability to contend with the difficult challenges of their work.
Bill Horn (2) – For our two speakers today; happy for the safe return of his daughter and her husband from California (they came through some severe winter weather en route).
Monday, January 23 – DGE Martin Ward, “The Digital World of Rotary”
At the Wayside, 12:15 p.m.
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ASAA
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Greeter
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Fine Master
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Monday, January 23
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Stew Shouldice
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Pat Baker
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Ken Ferguson
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Friday, January 27
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Ron Somerville
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Trudy Kanellis
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Jennifer Babcock
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Monday, January 30
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No Meeting
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Monday, February 6
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Gerry Janssen
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Bill Horn
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Dave Payler
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Photos: Trudy Kanellis
PEB
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