 Self-Advocacy and Family Groups |
| Toronto Family Network c/o 3300 Yonge Street, #200 Toronto, ON M4N 2L6 | ||
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| Mandate The Toronto Family Network is a volunteer and parent-led regional family network affiliated with Family Alliance Ontario (www.family-alliance.com). The Toronto Family Network was formed in 1998 to promote the inclusion and well-being of all family members. Families share information and their experiences, offering moral and practical support around common issues. It is mainly through word-of-mouth that the Toronto Family Network receives referrals. The goals of the Toronto Family Network are to: To this end, the Toronto Family Network is committed to providing mutual support and networking, information sharing and learning, and a collective voice on important issues. Change happens when we work together. | ||
| Events Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Reflecting on Our History, Celebrating Our Success, Buidling Our Hope. May 14 - 15 2010 Holiday Inn Oshawa, Whitby Conference Centre, 1011 Bloor Street East Oshawa Ontario. For more information, please visit http://www.family-alliance.com/ or phone 416 489-2384. The families served by the volunteers of the Toronto Family Network receive support and information via e-mail, telephone and sometimes face-to-face when possible. Forums are held when volunteer leadership is enlisted and as time, energy and space is available. In addition to helping individual families, the Toronto Family Network has given workshops, seminars and presentations to a wide variety of audiences and regularly participates in public policy consultation processes and focus groups held by the government, school boards, associations and other bodies. The Toronto Family Network has been invited to conferences to speak on matters involving families. Many families contact the Toronto Family Network to ask in particular for help navigating the educational system, using collaborative approaches to develop positive and effective partnerships. Other areas supported have included community/social services, children and youth services, health, long-term care, human rights, and more. Toronto Family Network representatives are often members of advisory groups or committees working at the local or provincial level sharing the perspectives of families and giving a strong voice for positive change. The Toronto Family Network is often sought for interviews by the media to comment on the experiences of parents of children and adults with additional needs. The Toronto Family Network is a participating group each year in the Developmental Services Toronto Information Fair. | ||