Programs & Services > Growing Up Healthy Downtown > FAIR
Families Are Important Resources (FAIR)
Project description:
Photos from GUHD events by John Bonnar
Families are Important Resources (FAIR) project is completed.
Both FAIR Project Manual and Video are now available on our website.
FAIR - Just the Beginning – a short movie that captures the experiences of several parent participants and staff in their involvement with the FAIR project.
FAIR Manual
Be the change you want to see in the world!
Social Inclusion Civic Engagement Participation
Download FAIR Manual - Chapters 1-6 (PDF format)
FAIR manual appendixes:
Appendix A – Engaging Parents
Appendix B – Engaging Children
Appendix C – Peer Facilitators
Appendix D – Engaging Staff
Appendix E – Building Partnerships
Appendix F – Lessons learned
Read Deborah Konecny account of FAIR’s final celebration.
About FAIR
FAIR, a three year pilot project funded by Social Development Canada, aimed at finding new ways for families to be more involved in their communities. The project targeted families facing barriers to inclusion and civic participation. FAIR work started from the understanding that single parents or parents with young children, families of newcomers, unemployed or underemployed often times find it difficult to participate in their community or neighbourhood activities.
The FAIR project built upon existing practice related to social inclusion. This means we used what other people have learned about social inclusion to develop new and creative ways to talk with parents about the barriers they face to full or increased civic participation. During community meetings and workshops we explored together ways to overcome those barriers.
We believe the best way to achieve inclusion and participation is to provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to develop, enhance and practice the skills and experience(s) to be more fully involved in their communities and decision making.
Social inclusion means feeling and being included in all the aspects of daily life in our communities.
Civic participation means taking part in things like parent committees in schools, talking with local politicians about concerns or ideas and being in places where decisions are made to change communities, programs or services.
FAIR activities included:
- Conducting an environmental scan (mapping of parent groups and coalitions);
- Carrying our a community Animation (gathered data to identify priority issues for families and to understand barriers to participation among disadvantaged families);
- Conducting a community action survey (to identify relevant community issues and interest in participating in activities);
- Building three parent led networks across Toronto (west, east and central);
- Provide training and skill development for disadvantaged families;
- Including children in meeting, surveys and program activities so they have a chance to say their ideas about what makes their community special
- Organizing annual city wide parent network forums to share information, knowledge and network;
- Sharing information locally, provincially and nationally through various media such as: FAIR website, newsletter, photographs.
