Onward Willow Better Beginnings, Better Futures

Family Health and Support

Text Box: Programs take place in homes through regular, flexible home visiting, complemented with activities at Family Gateway, creating a network of support. Links to health and social services will result in collaborative programming, integration of services, and direct referrals. This is enhanced at Shelldale Centre, the co-location of Onward Willow and eight agency partners. Experience has revealed the effectiveness of parents learning from and supporting each other in groups. Activities for parents at Family Gateway include peer support groups, parent and child drop-ins, parenting groups, and increased access to food and clothing. Agency partners also offer ’Spirit of the Wind’ facilitated through Women in Crisis, Canadian Pre-Natal Nutrition Program through Public Health, and a monthly parenting group through Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Advocacy and Training (FASAT). Groups vary depending on needs and interests, are available to all parents in the community, and are offered weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Groups may offer respite for family responsibilities, or be offered for specific cultural groups or languages. Some families continue to feel the effects of poverty. Access to food is addressed through our regular bread shelf, healthy snacks and Baby Day food packages. Emergency food resources are available to community members where required. Family Health and Support Program Goals Develop social support network for parents Reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect Enhance parents’ ability to nurture and care for their children Increase parenting and homemaking skills Provide opportunities for continuing education and employment training Provide opportunities for leadership development Ensure parents’ access to food and clothing Ensure parents’ access to community events Ensure referrals to agency partners are timely Collaborate with agency partners for joint programming and needed resources

Contact Us:

Family Gateway,

20 Shelldale Crescent,

Guelph, ON  N1H 1C8

Tel. 519-824-8498

 

 

 

 

 

Family Gateway,

20 Shelldale Crescent,

Guelph. ON  N1H 1C8

 

Onward Willow Centre,

15 Willow Road Unit K45,

Guelph, ON  N1H 1V7

Onward Willow Centre,

K45-15 Willow Road,

Guelph, On  N1H 1V7

Tel. 519-824-6892

Text Box: The Family Health Support component integrates programs, activities, resources, and expertise to support parents, expectant parents, parents with young children, and parents with older children and teens. The focus is to promote and maintain mental and physical health, provide social supports, offer flexible and accessible children’s programs, and facilitate linkages to formal services. Strong emphasis will be placed on increasing the protective and nurturing qualities both within the family and the community.

Current Program Schedule

Email:  onwardwillow@netscape.net