Services

English

905-451-4115

Children’s Services
Children residing with their mothers at FLRC receive specialized support through group support and other Centre programming. FLRC staff can also offer further help by referring you to children’s services and other community services and agencies. The Children’s Counsellor provides individual counselling and support services to children and their mothers.

The Children’s Counsellor…

Provides practical support upon admission.
Discusses with clients any concerns regarding children’s behaviors and adjustments into the shelter
Conducts school registration and discharge procedures or gives clients directions to the school to register children
Provides information and role modeling on parenting skills
Meets one-on-one with parent to discuss their concerns with children, parenting issues, discipline problems or the effects the abuse have on children
Provides one-on one or group counseling for children
Completes referrals and applications for subsidized daycare
Conducts referral services to other professional agencies
Is involved in organizing recreational activities for children
Participates in organizing special events for clients

Children’s Referrals in the Community:

Children’s Aid Society
H.M.C.S.A.T (Helping Mothers and Children Survive Abuse Together)
PATHWAYS (Counseling group for domestic violence)
Peel Children’s Centre & Peel Collaborative Treatment And Sexual Abuse Program
Early years Centre
Catholic Family Services
William Osler Health Centre (Mental Health Issues)
Rapport Youth Counseling

November 10 2022

Outreach

English

905-451-4115

Outreach
The Outreach Counsellor provides follow-up support to women after they are discharged from the shelter. This includes emotional and practical support, referrals, and advocacy. The Outreach Counsellor reaches out to the community by doing presentations at various organizations (counselling agencies, settlement agencies, multicultural agencies, schools, churches, health clinics, employment centres, shelters, etc.) to discuss the programs and services offered at the shelter as well as providing information about domestic violence.
The Outreach Counsellor also meets with women who walk into the shelter looking for help, or who need to ask someone for more information.

Life Skills Group
The Outreach Counsellor coordinates Life Skills groups by bringing in presenters from the community to teach the women who reside in the shelter about different topics. A few of the topics covered are: how to budget your money, effects of abuse on children, going back to school, various legal issues, and stress management.

Support Group
Along with the other violence against women counsellors in the shelter, the Outreach Counsellor also co-facilitates the “Healing” Support Group, which runs on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Please see ‘support groups’ for further information.

Discharge Preparation
Prior to leaving the shelter, residents will meet with the Outreach Counsellor who will provide them with a personalized discharge package of useful resources in the community where they are going to live.

November 10 2022

Legal

English

905-451-4115

Legal Support
Staff and volunteers of the Legal Support Program provide clients with information, advocacy, support and referrals to meet their legal needs and concerns as well as information about the family and criminal court systems is available. The FLRC also offers support and advocacy for court dates, meetings with lawyers, police, legal aid and the Crown Attorney.

The Legal Support Worker is not a lawyer.
She is able, however, to assist the families in the shelter by:

Providing legal information and support
Advocating on client’s behalf
Referring clients to lawyers, legal aid, and/or other agencies as needed
Explaining how the court systems work: Family, Criminal, Immigration
Helping with filling out court guidelines/paperwork
Assisting clients with police escorts, going to lawyer’s appointments, applying for legal aid

She will also continue to work with clients up to six months after they leave the shelter. The client will receive information and assistance about:

Custody of children
Child support
Spousal support
Access to children
Restraining orders
Non-removal orders
Separation agreements
Exparte/Emergency Motions
Consent to travel
Property

November 10 2022

Housing

English

905-451-4115

Housing
So that residents of FLRC will have a smooth transition back into the community, we provide a Housing Worker to assist them with their housing needs.
The Housing Worker informs women of the different types of housing resources available (subsidized, second stage, etc.), and provides direction in the application processes. The Housing Worker will also review the client’s current income and help create a rental budget. With this budget, the Housing Worker will assist the client in searching for accommodation.
The Housing Worker also acts as an advocate for the client against barriers and discriminations that may be faced while searching for accommodation.

November 10 2022

Intake

English

905-451-4115

Intake
The role of the Intake Worker is to answer the phone and provide the caller with support and answers to any questions they may have. If a woman in distress calls needing help, the Intake Worker will speak with the woman about her safety and make sure she is able to continue the phone call. Once safety is established, some questions may be asked of her in order to gather some more information about what is going on and why the woman is calling.
If the woman needs a safe place to go, the Intake Worker will assist her in finding one, whether it is a shelter or another safe place for her.
If this shelter has space and she meets the criteria to come here, the Intake Worker will inform the woman of her next steps and what she needs to do. If this shelter is full, the Intake Worker will provide information and assistance to get her to a place that is safe. Any other distress calls will be handled appropriately with support and confidentiality.

November 10 2022

Groups

English

help@flrc.ca

905-451-4115

Counselling
All clients are assigned a primary counsellor to provide them with abuse and crisis counselling, support, practical assistance, advocacy, and referrals to relevant community services.

The Role of the Counsellor
When women are admitted into FLRC each is assigned a primary counsellor who will be the go-to person while they are here. The counsellors provide therapeutic and supportive care to moms by discussing with them what their needs are and how FLRC can help them.

All staff provide a non-judgmental, confidential and supportive environment to women and their children.

Counsellors assist women by doing the following:

Assessing risk and planning for their safety
Providing resources, referrals and information as requested
Advocating on their behalf
Completing a plan of care
Conducting case conferences with other workers to help support family
Teaching life skills
Offering after-care support for up to six months
Providing listening ears so women can share their stories
Accompanying women to appointments as necessary

November 10 2022

Activities for Children and Youth

English

905-451-4115

Activities for Children and Youth
The FLRC Child and Youth Activity Coordinator coordinates programs and activities and special events, working together with the Children’s Counsellors. He also works with the Volunteer Coordinator to attract volunteer support and helps coordinate program activities within the community.

The Activity Coordinator will:

Create and develop quality programs and activities for children
Plan and implement appropriate age-based activities
Provide themed activities throughout the year for a diverse population
Create an events calendar to inform the children and youth of activities
Assist with all special events
Role model appropriate behaviour and attitude, supporting growth and promoting positive behaviour
Interact with parent in a supportive, non-judgmental manner
Build and maintain networks with other community centres and social services agencies for the benefit of the child and youth programming

November 10 2022

Counselling

English