Leadership Message

Family Service Toronto’s strong spirit of collaboration, advocacy and perseverance is alive in all our programs and initiatives. The hard work and commitment of FST staff has led to many positive outcomes for the people we have served in 2008/09. This issue of Catalyst gives you a taste of that. FST works hard to engage community partners in new initiatives. For example, 2008/09 saw the successful collaboration of community representatives and service providers on the O’Connor-Teesdale Planning Project to explore innovative, dynamic web-based applications for mapping the assets of the community. Articles about our homework clubs and parenting outreach programs describe how these collaborative projects strengthen communities and empower individuals and families.
We have never been shy about raising issues in the public
sphere and 2008/09 was a banner year for advocacy at FST. Our social reform group, which co-ordinates Campaign 2000, was at the core of a network which built community support and policy directions for the poverty reduction strategy announced by the Ontario government in December 2008. For details, there is an update in this issue.

FST spearheaded a project focused on Family Day, the new Ontario civic holiday, to rally support for our inclusive definition of family. In collaboration with other organizations serving families, we organized outreach and engagement events which populated our on-line photo gallery. Have a look at www.FamilyDayToronto.org for a stunning showcase of real and diverse families.

The Options team at FST submitted comments and recommendations to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 77, the new Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act. We spoke up on issues that matter and our voices were heard.
We persevere in developing and funding new programs.

The Seniors and Caregivers Support Services team secured the Rotary Club of Toronto’s support to open Pat’s Place, a transitional apartment for seniors leaving abusive relationships. With support from the Trillium Foundation and the City of Toronto, we have begun a three-year project to build the capacity of grass roots organizations and agencies serving youth in the Crescent Town community. With funding from the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network’s Aging at Home Strategy, FST and partners are providing individualized support to seniors to help them stay at home longer.

In 2008/09 FST made a real difference in the lives of many thousands in our community. Details are in our Annual Report. With difficult economic times and hardships felt by many in 2009, we know FST will be more important than ever before. We look to the months ahead with sincere hope for the future and the belief that FST will continue to affect positive change for individuals, families and our communities.