Past Events

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(In)Fertility Journeys

The Family Care Office will be hosting a series of events and workshops related to fertility in the spring. The series is an opportunity for members of the U of T community who are on journeys, or considering journeys, that involve assisted reproductive technology and/or third-party reproduction to come together to learn and create connections.

All genders and sexual orientations are welcome!

The (In)Fertility Journeys series consists of:

Sharing (In)Fertility Journeys: A panel discussion on March 1 12 – 1:30 pm (in person with a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person)
Parenthood through Third-Party Reproduction on March 3 at 12 – 1 pm (online)
Parenthood Through Surrogacy on March 31 at 12 – 1 pm (online)
(In)Fertility Walk and Talk on April 12 12 – 1 pm
(In)Fertility Walk and Talk on May 10 12 – 1 pm

(In)Fertility Walk and Talk

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: In-person location(s) TBA

Part of the FCO’s (In)Fertility Journeys series, (In)Fertility Walk and Talk events are lunch-hour walks that will be an opportunity to connect with others with intersecting journeys. Please email Natasja VanderBerg to indicate your interest in participating. If there is sufficient interest, walks will take place on each campus. All genders and sexual orientations are welcome!

(In)Fertility Walk and Talk

Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: In-person location(s) TBA

A Conference for Students with Family Responsibilities

Join us on Friday, May 14th for a conference created to help students navigate the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with education. We hope that the conference will help students explore resources and supports available to them, and give them an opportunity to get together and network.

Agenda

8:45 a.m. — 9:15 a.m.	Refreshments & Registration
9:15 a.m. — 9:45 a.m.	Welcome & Keynote Address: Karlene Nation (CTV)
9:45 a.m. — 10:45 a.m.	1. Presenting Yourself and Your Case Effectively to University Staff and Faculty
10:45 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.	2. Time and Stress Management for Students with Family Responsibilities
12:30 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.	Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.	3A. Optimal Brain Nutrition for Busy Parents and Caregivers	3B. Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
2:30 p.m. — 2:45 p.m.	Afternoon Break
2:45 p.m. — 4:15 p.m.	4A. Finding “Family Friendly” Work	4B. Parenting Without Anger

Conference Details

Keynote Speaker: Karlene Nation, Diversity Producer/ Reporter, CTV News Toronto.
Karlene Nation is a well-known reporter and producer for CTV News Toronto and an African Canadian Achievement Award winner. Karlene is a political science graduate from the University of Toronto and has also completed a two-year journalism program at Humber College. While at school, she juggled the demands of work and parenthood, something that many of U of T students with family responsibilities are very familiar with. In her current position as CTV’S Diversity Producer – Karlene is responsible for helping to increase the presence of diverse groups in mainstream stories in CTV’s local and national news programs. A popular motivational speaker – Karlene encourages young people to dream big dreams and to pursue their goals with a passion.

1. Presenting Yourself and Your Case Effectively to University Staff and Faculty
Students with family responsibilities have a lot on their plate! When a problem arises — be it academic, family related, or professional — advocating for oneself and one’s family can feel like a daunting task, particularly if the stakes are high! Traditionally defined as the “art of persuasion”, rhetoric is a powerful tool that students with family responsibilities can utilize to better communicate with University Staff and Faculty through the written word. What is the best way to present one’s case? How can emotions be conveyed strategically and diplomatically? When writing a letter, what should come first – the presentation of the problem or the suggested solution? This workshop will touch upon these questions by focusing on the strategic use of rhetoric in writing.

Facilitator: Dr. Viktoria Jovanovic-Krstic, Writing & Rhetoric, Innis College. Dr. Jovanovic-Krstic brings with her years of experience in English stylistics and grammar, as well as business and technical communications from various academic institutions across Canada and Europe. Her main areas of research and interest are the rhetoric of war, spinning and framing tactics in the press, grammar, persuasive writing and business communication. Perhaps more importantly, Viktoria is also a mom of two young children who is no stranger to the life of a student with family responsibilities!

Co-Facilitator: Karolina Szymanski, Assistant Programming Officer, School of Graduate Studies.

2. Time and Stress Management for Students with Family Responsibilities
Is time and time management making you stressed? And stress messing with your time management? In this workshop, designed for students with family responsibilities, we will examine the relationship between time and stress, identify strategies to improve time and stress management and practice some basic skills.

Facilitator: Andrea Graham, Learning Skills Counsellor, Academic Success Centre, U of T.

3A. Optimal Brain Nutrition for Busy Parents and Caregivers
In this session, we will discuss key nutrients needed to support brain function and mood enhancement, where to get these nutrients from food and how to incorporate them into your diet.

Facilitator: Jane Sloan, a Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner and a Registered Holistic Allergist, Healing Rituals.

3B. Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
A lot of stress comes from either worrying about the past or planning for the future, and we forget to be where we are — doing the best we can in this moment. In this workshop you will learn how to bring Mindfulness into your daily activities and foster qualities of awareness in mind and body to decrease stress.

Facilitator: Cheryl Champagne, Health and Wellness at St. George campus, U of T.

4A. Finding “Family Friendly” Work
Learn and plan how to find work that will fit into your life and your family responsibilities. This hands-on session will provide an exchange of career information, ideas and strategies that will help you with all aspects of the career development process such as resume writing and identifying family-friendly employers.

Facilitator: Elena Pizzamiglio, Career Counsellor, Career Centre, University of Toronto.

4B. Parenting Without Anger
All parents get angry, but if you feel that anger is having a negative impact on your family, this workshop is for you. In it you will learn: How to recognize and cope with anger triggers, the positive and negative aspects of anger, why you get angry, the impact of anger on your children, and how to change the cycle of anger through the learning and development of essential parenting skills.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis, co-author of three books for parents and teachers, a Certified Montessori Director, Parent Talk.

ABC’s and 123’s of Baby Massage (6 months and up)

Massaging babies and toddlers helps release stress and tension, ease muscle aches associated with growth spurts and provides a great opportunity for communication and bonding. This class is appropriate for babies who are rolling and crawling away as well as toddlers and preschoolers too!

In this session you will learn how to adapt massage strokes to nursery rhymes, songs and stories so that your child will be an active participant in the massage. You will receive handouts with the massage routines and nursery rhymes, stories and songs that you’ve learned. Demonstration dolls are available, if your little one is not!

Facilitator: Petrina Fava is a Pediatric Nurse, Certified Infant Massage Teacher and Level II Reiki Practitioner

Adjusting to Parenthood

When a child enters your life everything changes and for most new parents it takes quite the effort to adjust to their new lives. In this session, parents will explore the emotional and physical challenges of adapting to parenthood and how to better manage them.

Facilitator: Debra Williams-Conliffe, R.N., MN, Child Health & Development-Early Years, Department of Public Health, City of Toronto

All students, staff, faculty and their partner/spouse are welcome. Registration required.

Alzheimer Disease: Caregiver Support Group

Do you know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer Disease? Would you like to meet other individuals and caregivers who are dealing with the same issues as you? Join Kaye Francis, Acting Coordinator at the Family Care Office and member of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto’s support group leader network, to discuss the issues surrounding Alzheimer Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding the Connection between the Brain and Behaviour

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease of the brain which is affecting increasing numbers of Canadian families. In this information session, Mercedes Hughes of the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto will highlight statistics about Alzheimer’s disease and will explain how changes in the brain, lead to memory loss and other cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s disease and how these changes affect an individual’s abilities and behaviour. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Facilitator: Mercedes Hughe, Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto

Anger Management for Parents

Understand what triggers your anger. Begin to master strategies that effectively deal with conflict and anger. Explore expectations, communication styles as well as learn how to deal with power struggles. Your anger can be dealt with in a manner that leaves everyone’s dignity intact.

Answering Frequently Asked Questions about Wills and Powers of Attorney

Date: Monday, December 5, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

More than 50% of adult Canadians don’t have a will. Most adults know that they should have a will. For a variety of reasons, many people put this off. Often, the process seems overwhelming. During his almost 30 years of wills and estate practice, Steve has encountered many repeated questions, and his seminar will provide some of those answers, to help demystify the process. He will be available at the end of the session to answer questions as well.

Facilitator: Steve Offenheim has been practicing law since 1994, and services wills and estates clients across Ontario.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Appointments with a Counsellor from the Alzheimer Society

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Are you coping with a loved one who may have dementia, such as Alzheimer’s Disease? A highly trained counsellor will be available for free 45-minute confidential phone appointments on Thursday, November 3, 2022.  The counsellor will be able to discuss any questions or personal concerns you may have about dementia, such as getting a diagnosis, immediate and future care, family matters, ethical issues, stress and coping techniques.

To make an appointment, please call the Family Care Office at 416-978-0951 or email family.care@utoronto.ca

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Ask Your Career Question for Student Parents (Drop-in)

A career counsellor from the Career Centre will be available to answer some of your career questions such as:

What can I do with my degree?
Where can I get experience?
How do I look for work?
What do employers look for in a resume and cover letter?
How do I prepare for my interview?

Assessing and Supporting Children with Learning Disabilities

This workshop will provide insight into the world of children with learning disabilities by addressing early identification, therapeutic supports, and educational options. Participants are invited to send their questions to the presenter ahead of time and/or bring them to the workshop for discussion. By the end of the session you will be able to:

Recognize some early signs of a learning disability
Find out how to get your child assessed
Access information and resources on programs which support children with learning disabilities

Facilitators:
Laura Cheng, M.A., UT Family Resource Centre Co-ordinator, has over ten years of experience working with children with a range of special needs in a variety of settings.
Tracy Whitfield-Sochan, MSW., Disabilities Counsellor and Educator, works at the Learning Disabilities Program Counselling and Development Centre at the York University.

At Home Alone (P.A. Day)

Date: Friday, June 7, 2019 (P.A. Day)
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

A fun workshop to help families prepare their 9 – 14 year old to be home alone safely. This interactive workshop for parents and their 9 – 14 year olds will help:

Communicate together
Find out if their 9 – 14 year old is ready to be home alone
Increase safety knowledge
Develop an At Home Alone plan together

Facilitator: Stephanie Forestell, City of Toronto Public Health Nurse

University of Toronto current students, staff, faculty and their families are welcome. Registration required at family.care@utoronto.ca or 416-978-0951 with your child’s name and age

Athletic Centre Orientation and Class (Students Only)

Tour the Athletic Centre, learn about opportunities for you and your families to be physically active! The tour will end with a 30 minute session led by a personal trainer. You’ll learn a quick strength building circuit that can be done anywhere with minimal equipment to energize your studies!

What to wear and bring: T-Card, running shoes (closed toe), clothing you can move in, no jeans please. Bring a lock if you’d like to use the change rooms.

Please arrive for the tour dressed for activity.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Join us for an educational session to find out about:

Autism Spectrum Disorders and their common signs
How to get your child assessed

Facilitator: Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director of Autism Ontario: A special education teacher by training, she has worked for 35 years with individuals with a variety of exceptional learning needs, but particularly with individuals on the Autism Spectrum. A parent of a child with autism will also speak about the experience of finding supports in the GTA.

Avoiding Parental/ Caregiver Burnout

Learn and practise resilience based coping strategies that can help you and your family regain balance and joy in your daily life!

Caring for a child or a loved one is rewarding, but it also involves many changes and stressors: household and routine disruption, financial pressures as well as, long-term responsibilities.

Caregivers are often vulnerable to a wide range of physical and emotional challenges. Avoiding burnout is ensuring that you have a good balance in all areas of your busy life. In this session, you will:

Learn how to regulate your schedule and refuel your spirit!
Find out how to actively prevent burnout, address conflicts, uncover your coping style and reassess your attitude.
Discover where you invest most of your physical and emotional energy and whether it’s productive.

Facilitator: Anna Wesolinska, M.Ed., is a Gestalt trained psychotherapist with nine years of experience in private practice. Anna works from a model of health, balance and empathy by bringing into awareness the places where we get stuck and our unique ways of getting there. Anna is a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP).

Baby & Toddler Talks: Baby Food — Introducing Solids

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable, and best of all you know exactly what’s in it!

Learn to:

Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Use simple equipment to make baby food
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo, FoodShare Facilitator

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their families are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Sleep Issues (Infants)

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In this workshop, you will learn about your infant’s (0-12 months old) sleep patterns. Healthy sleep habits will be discussed including
• The importance of sleep for infants and parents
• Expected changes in sleep across the first year of life
• How to cope with frequent night waking

Facilitator: Dr. Robyn Stremler, RN, PhD, Professor at Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are welcome. Partners and family members (including chosen family members) who are co-caregivers with U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are also welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Sleep Issues (Toddlers)

Date: Monday, January 30, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In this workshop, you will learn about your toddler’s (1-3 years old) sleep patterns. Healthy sleep habits will be discussed including:
• The importance of bedtime routine
• How to deal with frequent night waking
• How to cope with early morning risers
• How to encourage your toddler to sleep in their own bed.

Facilitator: Dr. Robyn Stremler, RN, PhD, Professor at Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Baby & Toddler Talks: Babyfood — Introducing Solids

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable, and best of all you know exactly what’s in it! Learn to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo, FoodShare

Baby & Toddler Talks: Behavioural Guidance

A monthly lunch & learn designed to help parents of infants and toddlers develop their parenting skills.

This session will cover behavioural guidance strategies that focus on non-violent communication with your child. Learn helpful tips and ideas, including:

How to use natural and logical consequences
How to win children’s cooperation
The skill of providing respectful motivation

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis is a Certified Montessori Director and has worked extensively as a teacher and a parent educator. She is a co-author of two parenting books and one teacher’s book on classroom management.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Building Healthy Eating Habits (15 to 36 months)

Learn about how to help your child develop healthy eating habits, how to deal with picky eating and to create a stress-free mealtime environment, as well as the roles and responsibilities of both parent and child in the feeding relationship.

Facilitator: Aviva Allen is one of Toronto’s leading Kids’ Nutritionists specializing in helping parents deal with their picky eaters. Aviva helps children and their families establish healthy eating habits through her nutritional counselling practice and is also the founder of Healthy Moms Toronto, helping connect moms throughout the GTA.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Developing Healthy Eating Habits with Picky Eaters

Learn about the roles and responsibilities of the parent and the child in the feeding relationship, how to help your child develop healthy eating habits, how to deal with picky eating and how to create a stress-free mealtime environment. An important topic for parents of infants and toddlers as well as older children!

Facilitator: Aviva Allen is one of Toronto’s leading Kids’ Nutritionists specializing in helping parents deal with their picky eaters. Aviva helps children and their families establish healthy eating habits through her nutritional counselling practice located in Midtown Toronto. Aviva is also the founder of Healthy Moms Toronto, helping connect like-minded moms throughout the GTA.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Developing Parental Resilience Webinar

Lunch & learn designed to help parents of young children develop their parenting skills.

This webinar will focus on developing resilience as a parent of young children. Resilience has been defined as the ability to use one’s resources and knowledge to deal with problems or setbacks in parenting in an adaptive way, according to Gavida-Payne et al1. Through participating in this workshop, learners will have the opportunity to:

Understand the importance of developing coping skills, and its connection to resiliency. This seminar will also delve into the relationship between and effect of parental resiliency on health outcomes of the parent and of the child.
Learn about how your family can become more resilient as a whole. In addition to building coping mechanisms as an individual, the workshop will address strategies that can be adopted by the whole family. Learn to cope with stressors together, and to build stronger relationships.
Learn about resiliency skills that are specific to a widely experienced parental challenge: fatigue. Learn about the effects of parental fatigue on the parent-child relationship, and about strategies you can develop to manage fatigue in a positive way.

Facilitators: Nadine Nejati and Vishalini Sivarajah. Nadine is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, and is completing a community placement with the Family Care Office. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours degree at McMaster University, with a minor in Psychology. Vishalini is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, and is completing a community placement with the Family Care Office. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours degree at McMaster University, with a specialization in Global Health.

References:
1. Gavida-Payne S, Denny B, Davis K, Francis A, Jackson M. Parental resilience: A neglected construct in resilience research. Clinical Psychologist. 2015;19(3):111-121
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cp.12053/pdf

Baby & Toddler Talks: Developing Resilience to Deal with Challenges of Parenting Young Children

Lunch & learn designed to help parents of young children develop their parenting skills.

This workshop will focus on developing resilience as a parent of young children. Resilience has been defined as the ability to use one’s resources and knowledge to deal with problems or setbacks in parenting in an adaptive way, according to Gavida-Payne et al1. Through participating in this workshop, learners will have the opportunity to:

Understand the importance of developing coping skills, and its connection to resiliency. This seminar will also delve into the relationship between and effect of parental resiliency on health outcomes of the parent and of the child.
Learn about how your family can become more resilient as a whole. In addition to building coping mechanisms as an individual, the workshop will address strategies that can be adopted by the whole family. Learn to cope with stressors together, and to build stronger relationships.
Learn about resiliency skills that are specific to a widely experienced parental challenge: fatigue. Learn about the effects of parental fatigue on the parent-child relationship, and about strategies you can develop to manage fatigue in a positive way.

There will also be an opportunity for an open-forum discussion amongst workshop participants at the end of the session.

Facilitators: Prof. Jennifer M. Jenkins (OISE/ U of T), Nadine Nejati and Vishalini Sivarajah

Nadine is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, and is completing a community placement with the Family Care Office. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours degree at McMaster University, with a minor in Psychology.

Vishalini is a second year medical student at the University of Toronto, and is completing a community placement with the Family Care Office. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours degree at McMaster University, with a specialization in Global Health.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Developmental Milestones – The First Three Years

Emotional development follows a basic pattern but differs for each individual. As children develop physically and cognitively, their increased interaction with the world exposes them to new emotional challenges. Despite these individual challenges, the basic theme remains the same- we all have a built in drive toward emotional independence while maintaining a connection with other humans. Thus, the developmental task of the child is to find a way to become independent while still feeling securely connected to his/her caregivers. Although this emotional project continues throughout life, it is particularly profound during early childhood. In this workshop, we will discuss developmental milestones and activities to support your child’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development from an attachment perspective.

Facilitator: Julaine Brent completed her graduate work at OISE/UT in the Human Development and Education program within the department of Applied Psychology and Human Development. Her interest in attachment began as the parent of 3 children and continued throughout her research. She is currently a research officer and project coordinator for the Assessing Language Through Play partnership project at OISE.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Fathering Right from the Start

Dads leave an indelible mark on their children and it starts right from the moment you find out that you are going to become a dad. Fatherhood Right from the Start is for those who have a baby on the way and for those whose babies have arrived recently. We will look at the roles a dad can take with his children, the adjustments that keep us on our toes as new dads, and the keys to maintaining a strong relationship with your partner/spouse. When you father right from the start you will set a foundation for a strong, vibrant relationship with your family.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a Parent Educator with the LAMP Early Years Services in Toronto and the Provincial Coordinator of Dad Central Ontario.

Find out how to help your child become more open to trying new foods.
Learn how to avoid stress and conflict at the table.
Discuss simple ways to include more nutrients into your child’s diet.

Facilitator: Aviva Allen, RHN, is a Toronto Nutritionist specializing in Pregnancy, infant and child nutrition.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Feeding your Picky Eater

Are you concerned that your child is not getting enough nutrients from their diet? Does your child have a very limited amount of foods they are willing to eat or refusing to eat foods from an important food group such as protein or vegetables?

Picky eating is something that many children will go through. Most will grow out of this stage, while others may turn into choosy adults. There are so many reasons why a child might eat the way that they do. The key is knowing when there is a problem, when it is appropriate to take action and how. It is important to find the right approach for each individual child and their family.

Find out how to help your child become more open to trying new foods.
Learn how to avoid stress and conflict at the table.
Discuss simple ways to include more nutrients into your child’s diet.

Facilitator: Aviva Allen, RHN, is a Toronto Nutritionist specializing in Pregnancy, infant and child nutrition.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Foundations of Positive Parenting (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room AA160

This practical and informative presentation helps parents develop a strong foundation of parenting that will help their children (baby to school age) develop skills for social development and well-being. Participants will also learn effective strategies to facilitate positive behaviour, prevent misbehaviour and to deal effectively with inappropriate behaviour.

During this 1 hour wellness session participants will:

Discuss how to develop a strong foundation of parenting
Use this foundation as a springboard to parenting practices that help your child develop skills of social development and well-being
Learn effective strategies to facilitate positive behaviour, prevent misbehaviour and to deal effectively with inappropriate behaviour

Facilitator: Homewood Health

Baby & Toddler Talks: Making Your Own Babyfood

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable, and best of all you know exactly what’s in it! Learn to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Shirley Ng, FoodShare

Baby & Toddler Talks: Ready for Reading

Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and best teachers, and home is where your child begins to learn. Through fun, easy, everyday activities that you do with your preschool child (from birth to five years) “ talking, playing, singing, reading, writing –you help them build important early literacy skills. Learn about Toronto Public Library’s research-based programs, services, resources, spaces and expert staff to support you and to help you get your child Ready for Reading.

Facilitator: Tara Stadius, B.A. (U of Toronto), B.A.Sc. (Ryerson University), M.I.St. (U of Toronto)

Baby & Toddler Talks: The Natural Pharmacy for your Baby and Toddler

Are you looking for natural solutions to some of your child’s ailments? From colic to teething, diaper rash to cradle cap and eczema to constipation, what is a parent to do? This workshop will cover natural alternatives to common problems, and it will support your child’s natural development. We will discuss: Colic, Constipation and Gassiness; Cradle cap; Diaper rash; Teething; and Eczema.

Facilitator: Lianne Phillipson-Webb (Dip. ION and RNCP) is the founder of Sprout Right, a unique health and nutrition service specializing in pre-conception, pre-natal and post-natal care. Lianne graduated with Honours from The Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London, England in 1999. She is a Registered Nutrition Consultant Practitioner and a member of the Nutritional Consultants Organization of Canada. Lianne has been featured on many TV shows including City TV’s Breakfast Television and CityLine and Canada AM. Lianne is also a contributor to the following online magazines SweetMama.com, WeeWelcome.ca, iVillage.ca, and SleepDoula.com.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Toddler Nutrition for Feeding Children aged 18 months – 3 years (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room AA160

Will your child only eat one food and refuse all others? Learn about the roles and responsibilities of the parent and the child in the feeding relationship, how to help your child develop healthy eating habits, how to deal with picky eating and create a stress-free mealtime environment. An important topic for parents of infants and toddlers as well as older children.

Facilitator: FoodShare

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Toddler Nutrition for Feeding Children aged 18 months – 3 years)

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Facilitator: FoodShare

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Toddler Nutrition for Feeding Children aged 18 months — 3 years (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Thursday, December 6, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Mississauga Campus, Davis Building Room 3130

Facilitator: FoodShare

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Toilet Training

Learning to respond to elimination needs is as simple as learning to respond to your baby’s need for food, sleep, warmth, play, and holding. This workshop will educate parents on an alternate, gentle and non-coercive way to respond to a baby’s elimination needs. We cover the background and philosophy of Elimination Communication (EC), as well as conventional toilet training, and working through any misconceptions or misinterpretations of the practice and, of course, how to get started.

This class will include a Q&A portion and resources will be provided for you to explore as you take steps further into the world of toilet training, by starting simply and easily.

Facilitator: Marjorie Wong is a diaper-free enthusiast and educator. She works with clients pre and postnatally, educating and bringing insight to families looking for a natural alternative to full-time diapering. She is a birth and postpartum doula working with families before, during and after pregnancy and has been teaching yoga (prenatal and hot yoga) since 2008. It is her personal experience as mother of two that most inspires; to live holistically, as nature intended.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Toileting

Helping children move from diapers or pull-ups into underwear is a big step for both parents and children. This workshop will provide parents with the facts about toilet training young children as well as the pros and cons of different toilet training methods. In addition, parents will learn how to identify signs of readiness in their children as well as how to select an appropriate toilet training method.

Facilitator: Mary Elizabeth, or M.E. for short, is Co-Founder and Educational Director of Wholeplay. She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and is completing the Ph.D program in Developmental Psychology and Education with a focus on Early Learning at The University of Toronto. She has worked extensively in the field of Children’s Mental Health, specializing in the areas of early childhood development, positive parenting and healthy attachment. M.E., the primary facilitator of all Wholeplay’s classes, has provided individual and group support to thousands of parents and young children in their journeys towards optimal development and wellbeing. In addition M.E. provides Parent Consultation and Support Services to individual families and customized parenting workshops to playgroups in the community.

Baby & Toddler Talks: Your Child’s Mind: From Infancy to Preschool

Lunch & learn series designed to help parents of young children develop or enhance their parenting skills.

From birth, your baby is the recipient of much sensory information from the world. There are new sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and touches. Your child’s brain absorbs much of this information, creating new mind maps that will help with future interactions and learning environments. But what exactly is happening in that fast-developing brain? And how do the changes in your child’s brain affect his/her overall course of development?

Your child’s mind takes you into the inner workings of your child’s psychological development from infancy to toddlerhood. With a focus on cerebral (neuroanatomical), cognitive, social and emotional development, this workshop will help you understand the trajectory of changes that your child will go through during his or her first 5 years of life. You will walk away from this workshop with a broadened capacity to take your child’s perspective, and with a new set of techniques you can use during play to actively facilitate your child’s rapid development.

3 Learning Goals:

Understand the ways that your child’s brain changes from infancy to toddlerhood
Understand how your child’s cognitive and social capacities develop with these cerebral changes
Learn techniques of play to assist your child’s natural course of cognitive and social development

Facilitator: Hali Kil is a PhD Student in the Department of Psychology. She is studying various aspects of developmental psychology, including parent-child relationships, emotion regulation and coping, and mindful parenting.

Baby and Toddler Talks: Cooking Your Own Baby Food

Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable and, best of all, you know exactly what’s in it! At the end of this workshop the participants will be able to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo has been working for FoodShare for many years as a facilitator for the Cooking Your Own Babyfood workshops.

Registration required. Students, staff, post-doctoral fellows, faculty and their partner are welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Baby Equipment & Gadgets You Will Really Need

An interactive session facilitated by former participants of our Expectant Parents Group. They will talk from their experience and answer questions about baby equipment and gadgets and will also touch on their birthing experience and the first months as they talk about what equipment was useful to their family.

All students, staff, faculty and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend. Registration required.

Baby Sign Language

This introductory, hands-on, workshop will teach parents and caregivers how to communicate with their baby using basic signs. Learn what baby sign is all about and how you and your baby can benefit from this amazing form of early communication. In this session we will discuss:

Recent research on the benefits in language and cognition.
Effective ways to teach signs at home.
Basic signs you can start using right away!
What to expect as your baby transitions from signs to speech.
Where to find resources such as sign language classes (fun for the whole family!)

Facilitator: Sharmeen Abeysinghe, Early Childhood Educator, University of Toronto ELC

Babyfood Making

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable, and best of all you know exactly what’s in it! Learn to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Balancing Home and Work and Studies: A Parent’s Guide

Are you having difficulty coping with the demands of work/study and family? Is balancing your priorities a constant struggle? Discover practical strategies and time management tips for effectively coping with the multiple demands being placed on you.

Balancing Parenting and Studies (FYI)

Are you having difficulty coping with the demands of work, study, and your family? Is balancing your priorities a constant struggle? Discover practical strategies and tips for effectively coping with the multiple demands being placed on you.

Balancing Work, Study and Family

A free one and a half hour workshop for the University of Toronto community featuring Career Consultant Mark Franklin on an important issue of relevance to students, staff and faculty.

Becoming a Grandparent

Are you or your partner expecting a baby? Or are you a grandparent? This is a workshop for your parents and in-laws – or for you, if you are or will be a grandparent soon – to update knowledge about evidence-based, safe infant care practices in areas such feeding, sleeping, and babysitting. Active discussions will be encouraged.

Facilitator: Jody MacDonald RN EdD

Expectant grandparents/grandparents of infants of University of Toronto students, staff and faculty are welcome, as well as expectant grandparents/grandparents of infants who are themselves University of Toronto staff, student and faculty. Grandparents and expectant grandparents only, please!

Becoming a Parent in Grad School

Date: Monday, May 1, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Online (MS Teams)

Many students debate whether to have a baby during graduate school or wait until their lives and careers are more established. This session will help you make an informed decision about what it means to start a family during grad school, including:

A panel discussion featuring current and former graduate students who are raising children; you will hear firsthand about their experiences for integrating studies and careers while raising children
Hear about programs and resources available for students who are starting a family: University and Government leave policies; funding options for pregnancy/parental leave; and resources for new parents

Presented by the Family Care Office and the School of Graduate Studies.

Registration required. University of Toronto students and their partners are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will make appropriate arrangements.

Becoming a Parent While Pursuing A Graduate Degree: Panel and Workshop

Many students debate whether they should have a baby in graduate school or wait until their lives and careers are more established. This session will help you make a more informed decision about what it means to start a family, including:

A panel discussion featuring a faculty member and graduate students who are raising children. You will be able to hear firsthand about their experiences for integrating studies and careers with raising children.
Hear about programs and resources available for students who are starting a family: University and Government leave policies; Funding options for pregnancy/parental leave; and resources for new parents.
Self-assessment; you will have an opportunity to explore your own readiness to start a family.

Presented by the Family Care Office, the School of Graduate Studies, and the Gradlife Program.

Behavioural Guidance for Preschoolers

This session will cover proven discipline strategies that go beyond punishments and rewards and focus on non-violent communication with your children. Learn helpful tips and ideas to make disciplining more effective and your children more cooperative including:

How to use natural and logical consequences
How to win children’s cooperation
The skill of providing respectful motivation

Bereavement Group

If you have recently suffered the loss of your partner/spouse, come and join other students, staff and faculty at the University of Toronto who are also grieving the loss of a loved one. In this 6-week group, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences, offer and receive support, and continue, through experiential activities, in your personal healing.

Better Understanding the Experiences of Queer and Trans Parents and Caregivers – A Brief Introduction

Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you prior to the session start time.

This session will briefly describe what sexual and gender diversity means and the various ways these diversities are expressed in parents and caregivers that make up queer and trans families. This session will explore the beauty and necessity of chosen family and the ways that queer and trans parents and caregivers navigate family life and push back against cisnormative and heteronormative expectations of parenting and family. Folks attending this talk will gain insight into the barriers that queer and trans parents and caregivers face and become better equipped to speak to other human beings (younger and older) about 2SLGBTQIA families.

Facilitator: The 519

Birthing Alternatives: The Role of the Midwife

A growing number of women in Canada are choosing midwives for a more personal childbirth experience. A midwife is a registered health care professional who provides care to women during pregnancy, labour, birth, including providing care to mothers and babies during the first 6 weeks of postpartum.

Join us for this informative and practical session to find out about:

The role of a midwife
What makes midwifery care unique
What midwifery care encompasses and its benefits

Facilitator: Lisa M Weston, Vice-President of The Association of Ontario Midwives.

Lisa is as a registered midwife and one of the founding members of Sages-Femmes Rouge Valley Midwives. She has been practicing for six years in the GTA and was the first Division Head of Midwifery at Rouge Valley Health System.

Black Like Us: Parenting from a Black Father’s Lens

Date: Monday, November 9th, 2020
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This webinar will look at parenting from the lens of Black fathers and what it means to parent Black children during a time of Covid-19 and Anti- Black racism. What does it mean to teach our Black children about self-love during a time of discrimination and hate?

Find out about strategies, tools, resources available to support Black children around education, policing and mentorship.

This webinar will also touch on allyship and what can non-Black folks do for their part to challenge anti-Black racism in Toronto.

Facilitator: Brandon Hay (MES), founder of the Black Daddies Club, www.theblackdaddiesclub.com.

Boost your Refund! Tax Preparation Strategies for Families

Think that the taxes that you paid in 2011 are gone forever? Think again.

Filing your tax return is your opportunity to describe your personal circumstances to CRA and to reclaim some of the taxes that were withheld at source.

In many situations, you can claim tax credits and deductions to boost your refund. These personal situations can include: raising or educating your children, donating to charity, paying for unreimbursed medical treatments and many others.

If any of these personal situations sound familiar to you then be sure to attend this 90-minute seminar that will de-mystify the tax preparation process and present ways in which you can optimize tax credits and tax deductions for the upcoming tax deadline. Topics to be discussed will include:

a relatively-painless short course on the Canadian income-tax system
“it is better to pay than to receive”
taking best advantage of your family’s tax credits; child care expense deductions; and RESP options
optimizing RRSP and TFSA strategies

Facilitator: Monique Madan has been working in the financial services industry since 1998; earning two well-respected and nationally-recognized accreditations: the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2003 and the Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designation in 2007.

Breastfeeding 101

Date: Monday, February 14, 2022
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Improve your chances of a better start in your breastfeeding journey! This workshop will
provide practical tools and valuable information on breastfeeding in the early days. You will learn:

How human bodies prepare to lactate
How our babies prepare to nurse
What to expect in the early days
What to look for in an efficient latch
What comfortable breastfeeding positioning looks like
How to tell breastfeeding is going well in the early days
When to ask for skilled help

Facilitator: Camila Valente is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding Counsellor, Internationally Educated Nurse and mother of two children.

University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Breastfeeding 101

Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The Webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Get off to a good start in your breastfeeding journey! This workshop taught by a board-certified lactation consultant will provide practical information about breastfeeding for pregnant people to help them avoid common challenges during the early days postpartum. You will learn about:

What to expect from your milk supply
How to position and latch baby comfortably to feed at the breast
How to tell breastfeeding is going well

Facilitator:
Camila Valente is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding Counsellor, and Registered Nurse, with 15 years combined experience in integrative lactation care & infant feeding rehabilitation (in-patient and outpatient), research, teaching, perinatal care, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care

Breastfeeding 101

Date: Monday, October 24, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

- What to expect from your milk supply
- How to position and latch baby comfortably to feed at the breast
- How to tell breastfeeding is going well

Facilitator: Camila Valente is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding Counsellor, and Registered Nurse, with 15 years combined experience in integrative lactation care & infant feeding rehabilitation (in-patient and outpatient), research, teaching, perinatal care, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Bringing Baby Home

The fourth trimester – a term describing the first few months following the birth of a baby is an exciting time, but also a period of adjustment. It is associated with significant challenges such as sleep interruption, learning new skills, and increased demands on time. This workshop for
expecting parents will encourage discussion of expectations of self, support person(s), and baby, and introduce resources and strategies which new parents can use to facilitate improved coping and adjustment during this life stage.

In this workshop:

Participants will be guided towards realistic expectations of the emotional and practical experience of bringing baby home
Participants will be encouraged to identify important community and personal resources for support during postpartum period
Participants’ confidence to handle fourth trimester challenges will be fostered

Facilitator: Katrina Robinson, 2nd year BScN student, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Brown Bag Lunch Series for Dads

Nobody gives you training to be a father and kids certainly don’t come with a user’s guide or an owner’s manual. Meet other fathers at U of T to discuss parenting issues, find support, share experiences and ideas.

What Do I Do When My Child Misbehaves? (Dads only)

At one time or another, every father has asked the question: “Why are my kids doing this?” Learn how to recognize the Four Goals of Misbehaviour, and acquire effective, positive strategies for dealing with them. Find out how to replace ineffective punishment and rewards with encouragement and logical consequences.

Facilitator: Richard Skinulis, an award-winning professional writer for the past 25 years and the author of six books, including three on parenting/classroom management issues.

Dads Talking: Parenting, Relationships and Everything In Between

Being a father is a challenging role and often it’s made even more difficult by the lack of support systems in place; most Dads weren’t trained to be Daddies! Still, through processes of trial and error, lessons are learned and triumphs gained.

This workshop will be a loosely structured discussion time for Dads to come, share and learn with and from other Dads. This is a great chance to connect with other Dads on campus who might also be learning to balance the work/academic/family load and a chance to hear what other Dads have learned and to share your own challenges, triumphs and joys. Come out, relax, talk and meet other Dads on campus. Bring lunch and any topics you want to share!

Facilitator: Eric Ritskes is a graduate student in Education, writer on spirituality in education, a father of one rambunctious 2-year old girl, blogger and story teller. He lives in Toronto and enjoys the simple pleasures in life such as good espresso and the daily crossword puzzle.

Positive father involvement: Co-Constructing parenting relationships with partners

This presentation and discussion will focus on the way in which a father’s parenting identity and role develop within the context of the parenting relationship with the spouse or partner. Research examining these processes will be shared and the notion of positive father involvement will be explored within this context. The diversity within co-parenting models will be examined and participants will have an opportunity to consider their own parenting configuration.

Facilitator: Ted McNeill PhD., RSW. Director of Social Work and Child Life, The Hospital for Sick Children, Associate Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto; Father Involvement Research Alliance

The New Dad

In this workshop for new and ‘expectant’ dads, we will discuss:

Relationship changes
Meeting mom’s needs
Connecting with your baby from the start
Life changes new dads go through

Facilitator: Brian Russell is currently a Parent Education Worker with the LAMP Ontario Early Years Services in Toronto. His main focus is on working with fathers, encouraging them to be responsibly involved with their children. Brian also supports other organizations and agencies working with fathers through coordinating Strategies for Working with Fathers conferences and providing training in Father Involvement best practices directly to staff and organizations. Brian is the Provincial Coordinator for the Father Involvement Initiative “ Ontario Network (FII-ON). Having a background in Marriage and Family Therapy, Brian brings an important perspective to the couple relationship in families, where trust and respect are key elements to building strong families.

Fathering Sons, Fathering Daughters

Is a dad’s relationship meant to be different for his sons and for his daughters? Do girls and boys need different things from their dads? This is a very important thing to think about. Join us as we talk about the role dads have in their sons’ and daughters’ lives.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is the Provincial Coordinator at the Father Involvement Initiative – Ontario Network and a Parent Educator at LAMP Community Health Centre.

The Key to Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids

Kids need to understand and regulate their emotional world so they can enjoy increased health and well being, increased self confidence, better scholastic performance, healthier social relationships and more meaningful personal relationships. Come and join our discussion concerning the role dads can play in the development of their own and their children’s emotional development. This workshop will focus on key “take home” strategies that will enhance this important life skill in you and your kids.

Facilitator: Patrick Mahoney RN BScN, has a background in Relationship Counselling, as well as, nine years experience as a postnatal educator for Toronto Public Health and a Prenatal educator for Peel Public Health. Patrick’s expertise and main focus is facilitating evidence based parenting programs for parents with children from birth to six years. Recently, Patrick has been certified as a “Gottman Educator” for the program “Bringing Baby Home” an evidenced based project that improves the quality of life for babies and children while strengthening the family and assisting with individuals and couples transition to parenthood. Patrick has his own consulting firm for parents called “The Language of Parenting”.

Configuring Your “RPS”

Having kids can bring chaos. Parenting can often put strain on a couple’s relationship and it is important for men to figure this out. By configuring their “Relationship Positioning System”, dads can be a catalyst for harmony. What is it that our partners need from us? How can we keep the intimacy alive in the midst of family? Join us as we talk about key elements of strong relationships.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is the Provincial Coordinator at the Father Involvement Initiative – Ontario Network and a Parent Educator at LAMP Community Health Centre.

Budgeting for Student Parents

Tired of being told to stick to your budget? Not sure if you even have a budget? Come and join the discussion on why budgeting is important to your family’s well being and how it can be painless.

Building Male Allyship Within Families

Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

During this session, participants will be unpacking traditional expectations of masculinity and their impact on the everyday lives of male identified individuals. Tips to build allyship within the family dynamic and develop healthy relationships will be shared and discussed with participants.

Facilitator: David Garzon is the Team Lead, Community Engagement at White Ribbon. He is responsible for the management and delivery of several key initiatives across White Ribbon.

Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Join Karen Skinulis of the Parenting Education Centre of Ontario to focus on parenting skills and strategies for building self-esteem in your child.

Building Your Child’s Self Esteem

Date: Thursday, February 18th, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Encouragement is more than saying “You’re a great kid”. This workshop will give you the strategies you need to help your child feel self-confident and happy with her or himself —just as she or he is. Research has shown that children with high self-esteem have an advantage in dealing with life’s challenges. Perfectionism, praise, and handling mistakes positively are all examined in this enlightening workshop.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis is a Registered Psychotherapist who specializes in parenting and family issues. She is also the co-author of three parenting books and a teacher’s book on classroom management.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Bullying Among Girls: A Workshop for Parents

Many parents are concerned about the high rates of bullying occurring among school-aged girls. In this session parents will hear from bullying expert, Dr. Faye Mishna. Parents will gain information on the following topics:

The different forms that bullying may take among girls, including cyber-bullying, physical bullying and relational bullying
What to do if their child is being bullied or is bullying
What resources are available and how to access them

Facilitator:

Dr. Faye Mishna is Dean and Professor at the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto and is cross-appointed to the Department of Psychiatry. Faye holds the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Chair in Child and Family. Faye’s program of research is focused on bullying; cyber abuse/cyber bullying and cyber counselling; and school-based interventions for students with learning disabilities. An integral component of her research entails collaboration with community agencies and organizations. Her scholarly publications have focused on bullying, social work education and clinical practice. Prior to joining the Faculty, she was Clinical Director of a children’s mental health centre serving children and youth with learning disabilities. She is a graduate and faculty member of the Toronto Child Psychoanalytic Program. She maintains a small private practice in psychotherapy and consultation.

Bullying and Peer Abuse

This workshop addresses the issue of bullying and peer abuse by children and youth. Proactive anti-bullying intervention strategies for children, parents and staff are explored. This workshop will strengthen participants’ capacity to respond effectively to the problem of bullying.

Buying A Home Workshop

Have you been dreaming about owning your own home? Find out how to make your dream come true faster and easier. Know if home ownership is right for you and feel confident and prepared to make key decisions about buying a home. Assess your housing needs, what you can afford to buy, your financial preparedness, and learn about the ongoing cost of home ownership.

Presented by CMHC, Student Housing & Family Care Office. If you have questions about buying a home, this workshop will educate and guide you in the direction that best suits your needs

Can I Have Both? Deciding to Become a Parent While Pursuing Academia: A Panel Discussion

Many graduate students wonder if they can have both — a career in academia and children. Join us for a panel discussion featuring a faculty member and graduate students who are currently integrating their studies/career with raising children. Staff from the Family Care Office and the School of Graduate Studies will also be present to address concerns and questions.

Presented by the Family Care Office, the School of Graduate Studies, and the Gradlife Program.

Career Counselling at the Family Care Office

Are you a student with family responsibilities and have some questions about career planning and job searching?

Take this opportunity to meet for 30 minutes with a U of T Career Centre Career Counsellor.

They will be able to help you with questions like:

What do I want to do with my life?
What about when I graduate?
What can I do with my degree?
Where are the jobs?
What am I good at?
How do I get the work I want?

Career Planning for Students with Family Responsibilities

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Making career decisions can be tough. In this session, we will explore holistic approaches to career development and planning that can you take your next steps.

Learn how to:

Navigate caregiving responsibilities when making career decisions
Develop a flexible career strategy that works for you and your family
Explore and access career related resources offered by Career Exploration and Education (resume building, job shadowing, mock interviews and appointments)

Facilitator: Kelci Archibald (she/her) – Kelci is a Career Educator at Career Exploration and Education, St. George Campus, U of T. In her role, Kelci designs and delivers career education curriculum for undergraduate, professional and graduate students. Kelci’s work involves supporting students, individually and in groups, in building their future career stories. Kelci has an Honours B.A. in Theatre from Dalhousie University, a B.Ed. from OISE and a M.Ed. in Adult Education from OISE. Kelci lives in Hamilton with her husband, 4 year old son, and dog.

This session is only open to current U of T students.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Caregiver Discussion Group

This discussion group is for students, staff or faculty who are caring for an elderly parent, relative or friend to exchange ideas, offer support, and share experiences.

Caregiving: Understanding its impact on yourself and your loved one

The purpose of this session will be to examine the phase of life that our elderly family members find themselves in and to explore our role in that context.

Specifically, the session will explore the impact of eldercare on:

Our personal lives
Our relationships and families
Our work life

Bring your issues and challenges in this area and look forward to an interactive session.

Facilitator:

Lynne Mitchell M.E.S., M.Ed., RSW Lynne is a registered social worker with 25 years of experience. She conducts a private practice for individuals, couples and families and facilitates workshops both in the community and the private sector.

Caring For Aging Relatives: The Legal Issues

Are you the caregiver of an aging relative? Do you have legal concerns?

Join Saara L. Chetner, LL. B, LL.M., Counsel with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee for a workshop that will provide an overview of legal issues including powers of attorney, personal care, living wills, guardianship, and advance directives.

Caring for Children with Disabilities while Social Distancing (Webinar)

Date: Friday, April 3, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Webinar (link will be provided prior to the session)

Are you a parent who has a child with a disability? We recognize that it may not be an easy transition for you and your child to self isolate.

This webinar will help provide you with resources and tips to help you and your child adapt to the new routine as a result of social distancing.

Facilitator: Sukaina Dada is an Occupational Therapist currently pursuing her PhD in Critical Disabilities Studies and the Founder and Executive Director of SMILE, a not-for-profit organization on a mission to provide support to children and youth with disabilities and their families.

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

Children and Bullying

Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This presentation talks about different types of bullying, why it happens and what to do once it happens. First, we will make distinctions between bullying and peer disagreements. Next, we discuss behaviours, underlying emotions, common student responses, and practical suggestions for supporting our children as parents and caring adults. We will finish with when and how caregivers can approach school staff or community services to seek support. We will keep the discussion grounded in examples from real-life situations that took place over the presenter’s 17-year experience with children and youth. Audience participation is encouraged.

Recommended for parents whose children are 7 to 14 years of age.

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 17 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 10-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Children and Bullying: How to respond to a bully?

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This is the second and final session in the Children and Bullying series. In the first session, parents learned about different types of bullying, as well as roles, signs and consequences of bullying for bullies, victims and witnesses. During this session, we turn our focus on supporting victims and witnesses of bullying. Parents will learn how to help their child respond to bullying, whether as a witness or a victim. First, we will address strategies parents can utilize before the child experiences bullying. Here, we will focus on resiliency and examine key protective factors that help build it. Next, we will explore specific skills and techniques parents can teach their children in order to help them respond to bullying with confidence. We will end the session by identifying situations that need a higher level of parental intervention such as meeting with school staff/officials or searching for professional support for their children. Attendance at the first session is not a pre-requisite.

The presentation will occur from 12-1:00pm and the facilitator will be available for questions for the last 30 minutes.

Recommended for parents whose children are 7 to 14 years of age.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Children and Stress

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Growing up can be stressful particularly during the pre-teen and teen ages. A certain degree of healthy stress can be good for our lives. However, too much stress can cause many physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural problems. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us are affected negatively by stress. This workshop will talk about stress in general, but also the effects on children’s mental health. We will explore different ways children react to stress and how different protective factors can help them build resillience. We will conclude the workshop with strategies that adults can use to help children cope with stress and come out of the COVID-19 crisis even stronger.

Recommended for parents whose children are tweens and teens (11+ years and older).

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 16 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 9-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Children with Special Needs

This workshop will review sensory systems and how sensory processing challenges can impact children with special needs, with an emphasis on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Strategies and recommendations will be reviewed using case studies to demonstrate how parents can assist their children in participating more fully in activities at home and school.

Children’s Nutrition: Encouraging your Preschool Child to Try New Foods

In this session participants will:

Build an understanding of the developmental issues of the preschool child and how they relate to healthy eating habits.
Learn about the role parents and caregivers play in influencing preschooler eating patterns.
Learn fun and creative ways to support children in trying new foods that also encourages positive self-esteem and healthy eating experiences.

Facilitator: SinÃ©ad Rafferty, Early Childhood Educator working with preschool children and their families at the U of T Early Learning Centre

Choosing an Elementary School

Through this workshop, parents will be given useful information on the process of choosing an elementary school for their child.

Learn about French programs and how to tell if these programs are right for their child
Gain a better understanding of alternative schools and what they have to offer
Learn about the process of enrolling their child in a school or program outside of their local area

Facilitators: Michel Leblanc, Principal of Avondale Alternative Elementary School, and Alison Pearce, Toronto District School Board Program Co-coordinator for French as a Second Language.

Choosing Childcare that Works for your Family

Date: Friday, August 26, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

A practical session to help you choose the child care option that will best meet the needs of your family. At this session you will:

Find out what are the childcare options available
Learn what factors to consider when looking at options, choices, and caregivers
Learn how to find a childcare centre and individual caregivers
Learn about the latest changes in the system
Find out about the financial assistance available and waiting lists

Co-parenting in a Pandemic: Protecting Your Children Post Separation and Divorce

Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This introductory webinar will explore how parents can effectively cope with the separation and divorce process during COVID-19 while buffering their children from conflict. The webinar will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

Facilitator: Michael Saini is an Associate Professor, holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is the Co-Director of the Combined J.D. and M.S.W. Program with the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He conducts custody evaluations, he is a parent coach for separated families and he provides parent education workshops on issues related to separation and divorce.

Co-Parenting: Making it Work

Child wellbeing is supported when parents establish a co-parenting relationship with clear roles and boundaries. This provides an important way to meet the needs of children while managing parenting responsibilities. In this session discussion will focus on:

Types of co-parenting relationships
What co-parents must do but may not want to
What co-parents should avoid.

Facilitator: David Abel, MSW/RSW, Counsellor, Families in Transition (FST).

Cohabitation, Marriage, and Divorce: What everyone should know about family law

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop will address the questions:

What is the difference between common law spouses and married spouses?
What rights and obligations arise upon cohabitation? When?
What rights and obligations arise upon marriage?
What is a cohabitation agreement? What is a marriage contract? Should I have one?

Facilitator: Emma Katz – Associate lawyer with Kelly D. Jordan Family Law Firm, in Toronto, Ontario. Called to the Bar in 2013. Practising in all aspects of family law and fertility law. After practising civil litigation at a boutique firm for four years, transitioned into practising family law and joined Kelly Jordan in 2018. Completed Juris Doctor at Osgoode Hall Law School, during which time spent one semester working at Parkdale Community Legal Services. Contributed to family law chapter in new edition of Death of a Taxpayer. Contributed to writing resources regarding decision-making responsibility and parenting time for Family Law Education for Women. Current Member At Large on OBA Family Law Executive and CPD liaison for upcoming year. Involved with the OBA Young Lawyer’s Division as past member of executive. Member of Board of Directors of the legal aid clinic, Justice for Children and Youth.

Communicating with Teens (U of T Mississauga)

Learn the ins and outs of communicating effectively with your teen. In this workshop, we will discuss the following themes:

What is Communication and why is it so important to have it with your teen
How is communicating with a teen different from a younger child
How to really listen to your teen
Common Communication Blocks
Specific communication strategies to enhance the parent/teen relationship
Keeping the lines of communication open when you’re teen is off to university/college

This workshop is designed for parents of teens ages 12 and up.

Facilitator: Ferne is a long standing Family Life Educator with Jewish Family & Child. Ferne has facilitated numerous groups and workshops for children, teens and adults, these include: Living with Teens Parenting, One Family, Two Homes for families experiencing separation and divorce, Social Skills for both the parents and children, Family Life for grade 6, 7 & 8 students in the public and day schools, Tobacco Education, Teen Programs. Ferne is a certified facilitator in the Triple P Parenting Program which focuses on Positive Parenting strategies and has a background in Adlerian philosophies. In Ferne’s non-professional life she is the mother of 2 adult boys and a grandmother who enjoys numerous hobbies. Ferne brings a wonderful sense of humour and knowledge to everything she does.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Communicating with Teens (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Friday, October 19, 2018
Time: 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Location: UTSC, Room IC 318

Learn the ins and outs of communicating effectively with your teen. In this workshop, we will discuss the following themes:

What is Communication and why is it so important to have it with your teen
How is communicating with a teen different from a younger child
How to really listen to your teen
Common Communication Blocks
Specific communication strategies to enhance the parent/teen relationship
Keeping the lines of communication open when you’re teen is off to university/college

This workshop is designed for parents of teens ages 12 and up.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Communicating With Your Parents: What Works?

For many students, coming to university is an important marker in their journey of becoming an independent person – separate from their parents.

Whether you live away from home or continue to reside with them, the journey nevertheless begins. Transitioning to this new stage in your relationship with your parents can bring many challenges. What are your expectations of this newly developing relationship? What are theirs? When these expectations are very divergent, emotional friction often occurs.

Attending this session will help you to understand what is happening between yourself and your parents and how best to respond in ways that encourage accommodation rather than divisiveness. There will be opportunities to explore what topics you may choose to or not discuss with your parents and how to do this without rupturing communications between you.

Facilitator: Dr. Sam Minsky, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Communication for Partners: Managing Conflict & Staying Connected

Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

“Happy ever after is not by chance. It’s by choice.” – Dr. John Gottman, PhD

Do you find yourself arguing with your partner about the same things and not getting anywhere?

Do you feel something’s missing from what could be a great partnership?

Sometimes, couples want to make changes to improve their relationship, but don’t necessarily feel that they need therapy. Add the stress and uncertainty of the current pandemic, and our relationships can’t help but be affected in some way. Pre-existing difficulties may be amplified or new stresses may arise. Either way, bringing intentionality to our interactions, particularly when we are vulnerable and stressed, can only be of benefit.

In this seminar, Sara will present a brief overview of key principles from the research of Dr. John Gottman that will not only help couples survive, but thrive in the pandemic and beyond. The strategies offered in this seminar are useful to all romantic partners, whatever the status or configuration of their relationships.

Participants will learn:

The four key behaviours that can spell disaster in relationships – and what to do instead.
Strategies for ‘repair,’ that help turn an interaction around before it goes completely off-track
Concrete tips for daily activities that can strengthen your connection

Participants are welcome to attend individually or with a partner.

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups in both private practice and the Mindfulness Clinic. She has trained as a facilitator in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and is a certified teacher in Mindful Self-compassion (MSC). She facilitates mindfulness & compassion workshops and groups for all ages. She is the author of several mindfulness related children’s books including My New Best Friend, which introduces self-compassion to children and No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully. She has been a regular instructor at Ryerson University in the School of Early Childhood Studies for over 13 years. She is the parent of two children and can be found online at www.mindfulfamilies.ca

Communication in Family Life

This session describes some fundamental aspects of communication that apply to interactions within families. Participants will review communication strategies and skills that allow for healthy and open communication to enhance the quality of their relationships.

U of T St.George Campus Facilitator: Marla Kaye, Homewood Health
U of T Scarborough campus Facilitator: Chris Brown, Homewood Health
U of T Mississauga campus Facilitator: Homewood Health

Community Kitchen

Inspiration for lunch recipe ideas that are easy to prepare at home and bring to work. Part of the class will be hands-on cooking combined with a demo. All participants will be able to sample the food made as well as take home a dish for another day.

Menu:

Hungarian Goulash with Quinoa
Smoked Salmon Wraps
Cold Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Red Pepper, Feta, Parsley, Lemon & Pine Nuts
Cold Lemon & Thyme Chicken

Consent for Families

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm (The facilitator will be available for 30 minutes after the 1 hour presentation to answer questions)
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Consent For Families is a dynamic, engaging virtual workshop +Q+A with Sexuality Educator, Dr. Nadine Thornhill. Nadine will take you through the concepts introduced in the Teaching About Consent, webinar series to help you discover real-world ways of creating consent culture in your home!

During this 60 minute session, attendees will have the opportunity to:

Explore consent concepts more deeply
Learn practical ways to implement consent practices in their relationship with youth

Following the workshop, there will be a 30 minute Q+A segment with Nadine.

Facilitator: Dr. Nadine Thornhill, Ed.D is a sexuality educator, speaker, and content creator based in Toronto, Ontario. For over a decade, she has been helping folks have honest, open conversations with their kids and teens about bodies, relationships, and more!

This workshop is a collaboration between the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre and the Family Care Office.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Please note: It will be beneficial before this session, if you can watch the Teaching About Consent (scroll to the bottom of this page) webinar series.

Cooking on a Budget

So, you fancy being a gourmet, but still stay within your budget? Are you interested in learning “big on taste and yet easy on the wallet” recipes that you can whip up in your kitchen? Do you want to learn how to stretch your food budget and still enjoy a delicious and nutritious diet? Then come and enjoy a presentation on practical tips and tricks and a cooking demonstration on how to prepare an assortment of entrees. Learn the tricks of the trade, pick up practical recipes and sample some great food to boot!

Cooking Quick Vegetarian Meals on a Budget

Do you want to learn how to stretch your food budget and still enjoy delicious and nutritious vegetarian dishes that are quick to make? Then come and enjoy our cooking presentation of amazing recipes from different parts of the world: Rasta Pasta, Split Pea Soup and a special salad. We will be also giving you practical cooking tips. Learn the tricks of the trade, pick up practical recipes and sample some great food to boot!

Facilitator: Carla Rodney, undergraduate student

Cooking Your Own Baby food

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable and, best of all, you know exactly what’s in it! At the end of this workshop the participants will be able to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo has been working for FoodShare for many years as a facilitator for the Cooking Your Own Babyfood workshops.

Coping after a Recent Separation & Divorce Discussion Group

An educational discussion group designed to help people deal positively with separation and divorce. Topics are driven by the need of its participants. They might include:

Grief and letting go (being realistic of self and others)
Coping with children and co-parenting
Anger and resentment
Resources for surviving the separation and moving on
Strengthening support systems (loneliness)
Exploring what is ahead

This group will be open to both parents with children and individuals without children.

Facilitator: Michael Saini is an Associate Professor, holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is the Co-Director of the Combined J.D. and M.S.W. Program with the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He conducts custody evaluations, he is a parent coach for separated families and he provides parent education workshops on issues related to separation and divorce.

Coping after a Recent Separation & Divorce Support Group

Have you recently separated or divorced from your partner? Come meet and join other students, staff or faculty at U of T to offer and share support in this difficult time. Topics to be explored will include:

the grieving and separation process and the difficult emotions that may arise”
regaining and developing your self-esteem
relationships with family, friends, and your former partner
setting new goals for your future as a single person

Coping with a loved one who may have Alzheimer’s Disease?

A highly trained counsellor from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto will be available for a free 45 minute confidential appointment. The counsellor will be able to discuss with you any questions or personal concerns you may have about dementia, such as getting a diagnosis, immediate and future care, family matters, ethical issues, stress and coping techniques.

COVID-19 Grief & Loss

Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Grief is a natural response to loss. During the current global pandemic many people are experiencing a comprehensive spectrum of loss: the loss of loved ones, going to the office, social connections, a sense of normalcy, physical and financial security etc. This session will help participants understand grief and loss and equip them with strategies to respond to and cope with the particular losses brought about by the pandemic.

Objectives

Understand what grief is within the context of COVID-19
Recognize how grief and loss manifest themselves
Learn about healthy ways of coping with grief
Recognize barriers to grieving
Learn how to support a grieving person

Facilitator: Rensia Melles has over 20 years of experience in the EAP field. Early in her career she worked as a counsellor and has held progressive positions as a clinical supervisor, director of operations and senior consultant for global EAPs. Rensia is passionate about fostering workplace mental health. She also has a specialized interest in the impact of culture on mental health and relationships, as well as cross cultural adaptation and relocation. Currently she works as a workplace psychological health and safety advisor and facilitator. Rensia has a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Amsterdam and is a Canadian Mental Health Association certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

COVID-19: Communication in Family Life

Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The challenges and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming: social isolation, worry over family and friends, concern for our own well-being, and changes to work and home routines. These added levels of stress are likely to put a strain on family relationships. This session describes some fundamental aspects of communication that apply to interactions within families. Participants will review communication strategies and skills that allow for healthy and open communication to enhance the quality of their relationships during these challenging times.

During this one-hour wellness session participants will:

Discuss common issues related to family communication that may be heightened during the COVID-19 crisis
Gain an overview of some effective strategies for improving communication in the family during this challenging time
Develop self-expression and listening skills

Facilitator: Marla Warner is a speaker, consultant and coach who focuses on resilience, well-being, and supporting organizations and individuals to flourish.

Marla previously held the position of Stress Management Therapist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto for over 13 years and she is currently a program leader at Toronto’s Wellspring Cancer Support Centres.

Marla’s professional qualifications include a B.SC. in Kinesiology, she is a Certified Positive Psychology Coach, a Certified Wellness Coach, a practitioner in Applied Positive Psychology, and she and brings extensive background and experience in Applied Mindfulness practices. Marla has produced two Relaxation/Meditation CD’s available on iTunes.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Dealing with Misbehavior

The motivation behind the behavior of each child is unique. Learn how to understand the root of your child’s misbehavior & come up with effective strategies that will work. Find out how to replace ineffective punishment & rewards with encouragement and logical consequences. The workshop will be suitable for the parents of children of ALL ages including teenagers.

Dealing with Siblings with Alyson Schafer

Siblings are key players in each other’s personality development. Our parenting tactics can influence whether they become close friends, or establish a hurtful life long rivalry.

Join Alyson for a discussion on family constellation, birth order, sibling competition, jealousy, and tactics for responding to siblings when they hit, tattle, bicker, act meanly, refuse to share and more. Alyson will teach you parenting techniques and tactical suggestions that are suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, school age children.

Alyson Schafer is a psychotherapist and one of Canada’s leading parenting experts. She’s the author of the best-selling “Breaking the Good Mom Myth” (Wiley, 2006) and the new “Honey I Wrecked The Kids” (Wiley, 2009). Her popular TV call-in show The Parenting Show is now in its fourth season.

Debt Management 101 for Students

In this session you will learn:

To identify specific debt management strategies and tips, including creating a realistic budget that incorporates saving for debt payment
An overview of ten rules of money management, and how to deal with creditors and collectors
How to navigate the credit rating system
Consumer rights

Facilitator: Elena Jara, Credit Canada

Dementia 101 for Caregivers

Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

An Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias workshop for Family Caregivers

In this workshop, the agenda is as such:
• Differentiate between Alzheimer Disease and Dementia
• Understand characteristic brain changes in Alzheimer’s Disease, associated symptoms and remaining strengths
• Recognize the importance of self care
• Understand support services available in the community

Facilitator: Laura Smith-Baldi is a Public Education Coordinator at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
With over 25 years of experience in working with persons living with dementia and their care partners, she brings empathy and knowledge to her workshops and presentations. She is passionate about the topic and enjoys sharing her experiences in long term care, adult day programs, lived experience and other settings. Her background is unique in that she studied Recreation Therapy as well as Social Work and she taught at the College level and did many years of volunteer work in the community.

Dementia Care: Communication and Behaviour Strategies

This workshop is for family caregivers of individuals in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Topics include an overview of the middle stages of the disease, communication, understanding and managing behaviour and available support.

Facilitator: Amanda Schmukler, Social Work Manager, Alzheimer Society of Toronto.

Dementia Care: Finding Joy & Humour in Caregiving (UTSC)

This educational workshop is for caregivers of individuals living with dementia with a focus on looking at the lighter side of caregiving.

Topics:

Explore looking and living beyond the diagnosis
Create opportunities for joy and look at the lighter side of caregiving
Evaluate the benefits of humour and having a positive outlook
Assess the strategies and approaches for incorporating joy and humour into caregiving

Facilitator: Sudha Vavilla BA,MSW,M.Phil,RSW, Social Worker, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Democratic Discipline: Behavioural Guidance for Preschoolers

How to use natural and logical consequences
How to win children’s cooperation
The skill of providing respectful motivation

Suitable for parents and caregivers of children 2-6 years of age.

Developing Your Career While Raising a Family (Staff only)

While the challenges of balancing a career while raising a family are many, the satisfaction can be great! Attend this workshop and you will:

Understand the options from a big picture perspective that are available in managing your career while raising a family
Learn from a panel of colleagues about their pathway to successfully merging career and family and the lessons learned
Discover simple strategies on how to manage your career at UofT, make progress on your career goals, while still spending time and energy on family
Create a Simple Action Plan to keep yourself accountable as your attention is pulled between family and career

This session is jointly offered by the Family Care Office and the Organizational Development and Learning Centre.

Facilitator: Beverly Kahn, Coordinator, Career Services, ODLC

UTM Campus – Facilitator: Teresa Scannell, Career & Work/Life Consultant, ODLC

UTSC Campus – Facilitator: Beverly Kahn, Coordinator, Career Services, ODLC
UTSC Panellists:

Christine Arsenault, Managing Director, Management and Management Co-op
Dallas Boyer, Manager – Operations, Arts & Science Co-op
Amorell Saunders N’Daw, Director of Governance at UTSC and Assistant Secretary of the Governing Council
Shelby Verboven, Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Student Recruitment

Discovering your Parenting Style: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Knowing your parenting style is useful for helping you understand the parent you are and helping you become the parent you want to be. Your parenting style not only influences your interactions with your child and the type of discipline that you use, but can also impact your relationship with your parenting partner if you have opposing styles.

In this session you will:

identify your parenting style.
learn about the impact of your parenting style on your children
discuss strategies to deal with conflict if your parenting partner has an opposing style.

The Facilitator is a parent and educator focusing on healthy relationships in families. She has worked with individuals in abusive relationships and has developed and delivered ‘healthy relationships’ education programs for various populations in the not-for-profit and public sectors.

Division of Property – Married and Common Law Spouses

Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The workshop covers the following topics:

How property is divided when a marriage or common law relationship ends
What is “property”?
What does change in “value of property” mean?
How property is divided for married couples
How property is divided for common-law couples
What happens when there is abuse

Participants will have an opportunity to ask the presenter questions about the topic as well as to get information about available community support and resources.

Facilitator: Angela is the Program Lawyer at METRAC’s Community Justice Program (CJP). CJP provides accessible public legal information and education, particularly to women, youth, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, from diverse backgrounds, especially those experiencing violence or abuse. Angela presents legal information workshops on various topics on family law, criminal law, and immigration law

Angela is a lawyer and a notary public and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, She volunteers at another non-profit organization that makes personal growth accessible to all.

Angela is a UofT alum where she gained her Global Professional Master of Laws degree. She also holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees, from the Philippines.

Angela identifies as lesbian and uses she/her pronouns.

METRAC: Action on Violence is a not-for-profit, community-based organization that works to end gender-based violence against women, youth, trans, and non-binary people. Through METRAC’s Community Justice Program, we facilitate workshops on Plain Language Legal Information. In this workshop we will provide legal information on getting legal support, in the forms of advice, guide, or representation.

Dreamcatcher Workshop

Join the Family Care Office and the Centre for International Experience for a children’s dreamcatcher workshop.

Space is limited to fifteen participants, aged 4-12, so please register early! Children must be accompanied by an adult and families are encouraged to assist their children with making the dreamcatchers.

Easy & Inexpensive Hors D’Oeuvres for Holiday Entertainment

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from Hart House Catering staff these easy recipes that will transform your holiday party without breaking your wallet!.

Education Options for Your Child

Choosing the right school and program is an important first step in ensuring that your child gets the most out of their educational experience. Come and hear from experts in the field of education. Through this panel you will learn about the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB):

Alternative Schools
Elementary Schools
French Immersion Programs

Guest Speakers: Beth Mills, TDSB Principal at Lord Landsdowne Jr & Sr. Public School and da Vinci Alternative Public School and Miriam Zachariah who is the Principal from Alpha Alternative Junior School.

Important dates to keep in mind:

November 30, 2017 is the deadline to apply for Early French Immersion (Senior Kindergarten Entry)
January-February 2018 is the application period for most alternative elementary schools
Open Houses take place between October 2017 and February 2018.

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Education Options for Your Child: Panel and Workshop

This session is designed to educate parents on the various options available for elementary public school education in Toronto. Choosing the right school and program is an important first step in ensuring that your child gets the most out of their educational experience. Through this session you will:

Learn about Toronto District School Board, elementary, alternative and specialized schools, including French Immersion programs and Alternative Schools.
Learn about the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s education programs.
Be invited to ask questions and hear questions from other parents facing the same decisions.
Find out how to work with the school if your child has special needs, needs extra resource help, or is interested in extracurricular activities.

Elder Care – Family Caregiving: A Plan For Action

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Nobody thinks they will become a family caregiver. One day you are a daughter, son or spouse occasionally helping parents or a spouse. Seemingly overnight you become a case manager, disease specialist, chauffeur, researcher, care advocate – all in support of an ageing parent(s)/spouse.

How does it happen? How can you prepare?

This session provides an overview of families and caregiving and provides an action plan to give caregivers more confidence and control. Developing a plan for the care of your loved one is vitally important to your success and longevity. Your plan can serve as a guide as you care for both you and your loved one.

The session will cover:

A 10- Step Action Plan
Caregiver Challenges Including:
Family Members Unwilling To Help
Parents/Spouse Unwilling To Accept Help
Abuse Of Caregivers
I Can’t Be The Primary Caregiver Anymore
How To Gain/Keep Control
Resources

Facilitator: Karen Henderson, Founder/CEO Long Term Care Planning Network, Speaker, Educator, Writer, Consultant

Specialists in helping Canadians and their families understand the implications of long term care and eldercare on financial, personal and family well-being.

Elder Care – Long Term Care Planning: What Is It And Why We Should Care

Date: Thursday, March 25, 2021
Time: 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. (The facilitator will be available for 15 minutes after the 1 hour and 15 minute presentation to answer questions)
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Every year 225,000 Canadians turn 65; approximately 50% of these will need some form of long term care after age 75.* The problem is, however, that too few of us can answer the following care questions: If something were to suddenly happen, who would take care of my loved one? How would I or my loved one pay for that care? The vast majority of us want to age with dignity and control. But that takes long term care planning, and this planning— which involves more than just money—needs to be a part of every financial and/or retirement plan written today.

This session will include information on:

The Care Continuum – Long Term Care Options, Costs, Services
The Role of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)
LTC Facility Admission Process
The Role of Governments
Long Term Care Funding Options/Government Subsidy
For Profit Vs. Not-For-Profit Care Facilities
Summary—Your Action Plan
Long Term Care And COVID-19

Ample resources will also be provided. After the 1 hour and 15 minute presentation, the facilitator will be available for 15 minutes to answer questions.

*Statistics Canada: Health Expectancy in Canada

Facilitator: Karen Henderson, Founder/CEO of the Long Term Care Planning Network

Elder Care : Navigating the System

This interactive workshop will focus on helping you find the resources you need to care for your aging relative. It will assist you to find help in your community from healthcare to home care and from recreation to respite care. Community supports and long-term care are available but you need to know how to access and how to apply.

By the end of this session you will:

Understand the terminology used to describe the resources available when caring for an aging relative
You will know how to access and how to apply for community supports
Be familiar with some of the gaps and limitations in the system

Facilitator: Lynne Gallagher B.A., B.S.W., M.S.W., R.S.W. is a social worker and the Coordinator of Caregiver Education Programs for Family Service Toronto. She provides workshops on caregiving, aging, work and family issues, as well as individual and group counselling to seniors and caregivers.

Elder Care Appointments

Are you caring for an aging relative and need some help?

A highly trained counsellor from Family Services Employee Assistance Programs will be available for a free 30 minute confidential appointment. She will be able to discuss with you any general elder care questions or personal concerns you may have on topics such as dealing with caregiver stress, understanding home care supports, how to decide on care facility options and more.

Elder Care Fair

The Family Care Office will be hosting an Elder Care Fair for all students, staff and faculty. You will be able to obtain information on services and resources, related to elder care, by visiting the display tables of the following organizations:

*45 minute confidential counselling appointments
In addition to the displays, a counsellor from the Alzheimer Society will be on-site to provide 45 minute confidential counselling appointments from 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This counsellor will be able to discuss with you any questions or personal concerns you may have about dementia, such as getting a diagnosis, immediate and future care, family matters, ethical issues, stress and coping techniques. Pre-registration is required for an appointment, please call 416-978-0951.

Elder Care Information Day

Dealing with caregiver stress?
Lynne Gallagher, MSW, from Family Service Toronto will be available from 12noon-2pm in the Family Care Office and will be able to provide information and guidance if you are dealing with caregiver stress. She will also be able to provide an overview of the Seniors and Caregivers Support Services offered by FST.

Seniors and Safety in the Home

Occupational therapists from VHA Rehab Solutions, a community based organization providing rehabilitation services to adults in their home, will provide an introduction to:

signs a caregiver should be looking for to determine a senior’s safety
assessing the need for assistive devices, home renovations, and the services of a professional
resources that are available to help a senior in their home

The facilitators of this session will be available after their session until 2pm in the Family Care Office and will have assistive devices for display.

Facilitators: Morgan Gadsby MSc OT Reg. (Ont.) and Andrea Cook OT Reg (Ont) are the Clinical Leads for Physical Medicine in the Toronto Central area, for which they orient new hires, act as mentors, and provide team support. They are also both active supporters of the student program and have taken on numerous University of Toronto OT students.

Please register early, space is limited! All students, staff, faculty and post-doctoral fellows are welcome.

Exploring Senior Housing Options

This information session is for family caregivers who are coming to the difficult realization that their elderly loved one may no longer be able to live in their current home and may have to relocate to a care facility. Join, Esther Goldstein, social worker and author of Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living, as she reviews the different choices in senior housing and their key features.

The facilitator of this session will be available in the Family Care Office from 12 noon to 1pm and then after her session until 2pm. She will provide free copies of her book.

Facilitator: Esther Goldstein is a social worker and author of Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living™. She worked as a hospital social worker in the GTA for 12 years primarily with the geriatric population and now currently works full-time on her publication.

Please register early, space is limited! All students, staff, faculty and post-doctoral fellows are welcome.

Coping with a loved one who may have Alzheimer’s Disease?
Appointments will be scheduled between 9am-4pm

A highly trained counsellor from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto will be available for a free 45 minute confidential appointment on November 19th. She will be able to discuss with you any questions or personal concerns you may have about dementia, such as getting a diagnosis, immediate and future care, family matters, ethical issues, stress and coping techniques.

Elder Care Workshop: Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

In this session facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto for family caregivers, the following topics will be discussed:

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and the connection between brain and behaviour
Recognizing signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s
General communication guidelines

Elder Care: Understanding Caregiver Stress & Burnout

Date: Thursday, November 24, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In the presentation, you will learn about:
• the landscape of caregiving in Ontario.
• the difference between stress and burnout and common signs and symptoms of each.
• strategies to support you as a caregiver in identifying when you are feeling stressed or burned out.
• resources to support you at any step of your caregiving experience
• a brief overview of the resources and services you can receive from the Ontario Caregiver Organization

Facilitator: Shrid Dhungel works with The Ontario Caregiver Organization as the Regional Lead for Community Engagement, for the Central Ontario region, including the GTA. He has over 7 years’ experience in Canada in stakeholder and community engagement and in co-design work. He holds a Master in Public Health degree and has worked in global health initiatives in developing countries as well, all prior to him immigrating to Canada.

Elder Care: Adjusting to Long-term Care for a Person Living with Dementia

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop aims to give care partners an overview of issues related to long-term care (LTC). The goal is for care partners to learn about how to successfully prepare, transition a person living with dementia and how to support the person after the move to a LTC Home. We will discuss important things to consider when making application, settling the resident into their new home and how caregivers can take care of themselves in the process.

Facilitator: Laura Petta MSW RSW works as a Social Worker for the Behaviour Support Ontario Caregiver Specialist Program and is an employee of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. In this role she assists family/friend caregivers who support a person living with dementia in one of the Toronto Central long-term care homes. Much of her long-term care experience was acquired while working for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in both Santa Clara County California and New York City. More recently, at Dixon Hall here in Toronto, she worked as a Client Intervention Worker providing case management services to seniors and adults with disabilities living in the community.

Elder Care: Aging and Memory Loss

This is an introductory workshop on aging and memory loss geared for the caregiver. What is normal and what is not in memory loss? What are the danger signals to be aware of. Discussion will come from the participants as to particular concerns they may have regarding the person they are caring for.

Case examples will be cited.

Facilitator: Lynne Gallagher, Family Service Association of Toronto

Elder Care: Alzheimer Counselling Appointments

A highly trained counsellor from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto will be available for a free 45 minute confidential appointment. She will be able to discuss with you any questions or personal concerns you may have about dementia, such as getting a diagnosis, immediate and future care, family matters, ethical issues, stress and coping techniques.

Elder Care: Anger and Guilt

This workshop for family caregivers of aging relatives will cover:

Recognizing the positive aspects of anger
Learning to understand and deal with guilt
Introduce negotiating skills

Elder Care: Be With – Letters to a Caregiver

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

In this session, Mike Barnes, author of Be With: Letters to a Caregiver will present some of the main themes of his book. The focus will be on dementia caregiving, but also touch on issues relevant to any caring relationship. These issues include: being alertly present (Be); sharing presence with another (With); how and how far to respect autonomy; learning from inevitable mistakes; balancing information and compassion; recovering simple fundamentals: music, touch, shared silence, nature; dementia as a process of continual change (including, at times, change for the better); adjusting on the fly, under pressure.

The presentation will thus consist of half a dozen segments, each with a topic briefly discussed and illustrated by a passage from the book. Mike will then open it up to questions and discussion, in the hopes of exchanging ideas and experiences about dementia and caregiving, along with any other topics that might have arisen of interest.

Facilitator: Mike Barnes is the author of ten books of poetry, short fiction, novels, and memoir. He has won the Danuta Gleed Award and a National Magazine Award Silver Medal for his short fiction, and the Edna Staebler Award for non-fiction. He lives in Toronto.

For more information on Mike Barnes, please see this CBC article.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Brain Games

Date:  Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Time:  12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location:  Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

This workshop discusses myths and facts of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It is an interactive workshop that provides the opportunity for open discussion and questions regarding dementia.

Learning Objectives:

Understand what are myths and facts about dementia
Understand signs and symptoms of dementia
Understand some of the research findings on reducing the risk of developing dementia
Recognize that lifestyle plays a role in reducing a person’s risk of developing dementia

Facilitator:  Nouchine Davarpanah, Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs

Elder Care: Building Caregiver Resilience

Strengthen Your “Change” Muscles!

This workshop will help caregivers tap into existing sources of resilience and learn new resilience-building strategies.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the concept of resilience and why it is important for family caregivers
Recognize existing sources of resilience
Explore ways to build caregiver resilience
Develop an understanding of supportive services in the community

Facilitator: Peter Marczyk, Social Worker & Team Lead, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Building on Family Dynamics in Coping with Dementia

Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

This workshop will explore the major challenges and concerns that can arise for families caring for a person with dementia.

Learning Objectives:

Identify family dynamics and their affects on families
Explore strategies for assisting families, building on strengths and resilience
Develop an understanding of supportive services in the community

Facilitator: Susan Price, Social Worker, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Caregiver Discussion Group

This discussion group is for students, staff or faculty who are caring for an elderly parent, relative or friend to exchange ideas, offer support, and share experiences.

Facilitator: Lynne Gallagher, M.S.W., R.S.W. of the Family Service Association of Toronto

Elder Care: Caring for an Aging Relative with Dementia Discussion Group

This is an education support group for caregivers of seniors with dementia. It is a 6 week program for non-spousal, adult family caregivers.

Each session provides education on relevant topics and facilitated support for participants.

Participants will:

Increase understanding of dementia and behaviour
Feel a greater sense of control
Experience reduced isolation
Learn tools and strategies for coping
Achieve greater understanding of the healthcare system
Learn about resources and how to access them
Explore ways to care for yourself

Group facilitated by Elaine Kohn, MSW, RSW and Lesley Patterson, MSW, RSW experienced Social Workers from Baycrest Health Sciences Centre.

This discussion group is a partnership between Baycrest Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto Family Care Office.

Elder Care: Coping with Change and Loss

As seniors age, they experience a number of losses. Concerned family and friends simultaneously experience loss, and both seniors and caregivers have to find ways to cope with these changes.

This interactive workshop will address these losses, and examine their impact on the family. Coping strategies for adapting to change will be offered.

Elder Care: Creating a Sense of Purpose with Meaningful Tasks — How can Technology Improve Quality of Life in People with Dementia?

Currently, in long-term care environments almost all activities are organized and initiated by caregivers and workers. There is simply not enough time and money to implement a full regimen of meaningful activities for everyone living with dementia. How can appropriately designed technology improve the quality of life of people living with dementia? How can they be provided with meaningful activities and engaging interactions?

In this talk we will describe the development and evaluation of two new families of products for people with dementia. 1) Ambient Activities are being developed by our industrial partner (Ambient Activity Technologies) based on Montessori principles where sensori-motor interactions are emphasized, and are being evaluated by our research team in long-term care settings. 2) Reinforcement-learning based tools (Centivizers) are being developed in the Interactive Media Laboratory at the University of Toronto using an iterative design approach.

In this workshop I will discuss some of the science behind the use of Ambient Activities and Centivizers, and will describe some of the design challenges we face and some of the methods we are using to evaluate and improve the systems being developed. Live demonstrations of some of the developed products will be given. Discussions on the design requirements and design options based on participants’ experiences with, or knowledge of, dementia will also take place. Our goal is to make this session a joint learning experience where we can exchange ideas on how to improve quality of life and sense of purpose for people with dementia living at home or in a long term care setting.

Facilitators:

Mark Chignell, is a Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. He has a Ph.D. in Psychology (University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1981), and an M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering (Ohio State, 1984). In addition to being the Director of the Interactive Media Lab, he is President of Vocalage Inc., a University of Toronto spinoff company, and a visiting scientist at both the IBM Centre for Advanced Studies and Keio University in Japan.

Dr. Andrea Wilkinson has a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Cognitive Aging. She is currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Mark Chignell’s Interactive Media Lab, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. Andrea’s research seeks to evaluate the impact of Ambient Activity Technologies on well-being related outcomes in residents with dementia, their loved ones, and long-term care staff. Her work is being funded through the AGE-WELL NCE: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Award in Technology and Aging (2015-2017).

Elder Care: Day-to-Day Life in Long-term Care

This workshop will help caregivers prepare and adjust to their family member entering a long-term care facility. Topics include advocacy, adjustment strategies and caregiver coping.

Facilitator: Amanda Schmukler, Senior Counsellor, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Elder Care: Dementia 101

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop will provide family caregivers with an overview of Alzheimer’s disease focusing on the importance of early diagnosis and illustrates the progression of the disease.

For family caregivers related to a person living with dementia.

Topics:

Differentiate between Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Recognize the warning signs of dementia versus changes related to normal aging
Learn how to get a diagnosis
Identify ways to help reduce the stigma around dementia

Workshop will be presented using Zoom.

Facilitator: Nouchine Davarpanah, Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Elder Care: Dementia 101

This workshop will provide family caregivers with an overview of Alzheimer’s disease focusing on the importance of early diagnosis and illustrates the progression of the disease.

Gain a greater understanding of the process of diagnosis and medications available
Develop a better, over-all understanding of dementia
Increase your knowledge of the stages and progression of Alzheimer’s disease
Better the caregiver’s insight into the person with dementia (PWD)
Learn about community services and supports

Facilitator: Amanda Schmukler, Social Work Manager, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Elder Care: Dementia 101 (U of T Scarborough)

This workshop will provide family caregivers with an overview of Alzheimer’s disease focusing on the importance of early diagnosis and illustrates the progression of the disease.

Objectives:

Gain a greater understanding of the process of diagnosis and medications available
Develop a better, over-all understanding of dementia
Increase your knowledge of the stages and progression of Alzheimer’s disease
Better the caregiver’s insight into the person with dementia (PWD)
Learn about community services and supports

Facilitator: Risa Kim, Social Worker, Alzheimer Society Toronto

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Emotional Aspects of Relocation

This is a workshop for family caregivers who are coming to the difficult realization that their elderly loved one may no longer be able to live in their current home and may have to relocate to a care facility. This can be a very difficult and emotional time for both the caregiver and the senior. In this workshop, the facilitator, Esther Goldstein, will discuss:

signs to look for in your loved one that may indicate that they need extra care
possible emotional reactions of both the senior and caregiver to the issue of relocation and/or increased care requirements
tips on introducing/discussing the topic of extra care/relocation
coping strategies for the caregiver

Facilitator:

Esther Goldstein is a social worker and author of Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living®. She worked as a hospital social worker in the GTA for 12 years primarily with the geriatric population and now currently works full-time on her publication and the affiliated website www.senioropolis.com

Elder Care: Estate Planning as a Caregiver of an Aging Relative

This workshop will address your legal concerns as you care for your aging relative. Questions that will be addressed include:

How important is a Will and what happens if there is not a Will in place?
Do I need to have a Power of Attorney? Are there different types?
Should I set up joint bank accounts?
When my parent dies what taxes will I be responsible for?
What about property and property deed transfers?

Facilitator: Harvey S. Goldstein has been practicing law since 1984. His experience is varied and he has extensive experience in the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney.

Elder Care: Exploring Senior Care Options (Webinar)

This webinar is for family caregivers who are coming to the difficult realization that their elderly loved one may no longer be able to live in their current home and may have to relocate to a care facility.

Esther Goldstein, social worker and author of the Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living and Long-Term Care®, will address:

When you should consider different housing options
How you might discuss relocating with your loved one
What are your care choices in home and housing options

Free copies of the facilitator’s book or CD will be available in the Family Care Office after the session.
Facilitator: Esther Goldstein is a social worker and author of the Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living and Long-Term Care®. She worked as a hospital social worker in the GTA for 12 years primarily with the geriatric population and now currently works full-time on her publication and the affiliated website www.senioropolis.com

Elder Care: Exploring Senior Housing Options

Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Join, Esther Goldstein, social worker and author of Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living®, as she explores:

How you discuss relocating with your loved one
The emotional aspects for both the caregiver and the loved one
The options for lifestyle choices from in-home supports to a facility
Retirement homes and long-term care homes

Facilitator: Esther Goldstein is a social worker and author of the Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living®. She worked as a hospital social worker in the GTA primarily with the geriatric population, and now currently works full-time on her publication and the affiliated website www.senioropolis.com

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Family Dynamics and Dementia

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop is for family caregivers of individuals living with dementia. The focus of the session will be on exploring significant sources of conflict for families dealing with dementia and strategies for assisting families, building on strengths and resilience.

Learning Objectives:

Identify family dynamics and their effects on families
Explore significant sources of conflict for families dealing with dementia
Explore strategies for assisting families, building on strength and resilience
Develop an understanding of supportive services in the community

Workshop will be presented using Zoom.

Facilitator: Kimberly Dilmohamed, Caregiver Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Elder Care: Financial and Estate Planning

This workshop will address your financial planning concerns as you care for your aging relative. Questions that will be addressed include:

How important is a will and what happens if there isn’t a will in place?
Do I need to have a power of attorney? Are there different types? What if we have a joint bank account?
When my parent dies what taxes will I be responsible for?
What about property and property deed transfers?

Ed Esposto, Consultant will present a summary of estate planning basics from a legal and tax standpoint. He is a lawyer with Connor Clark Private Trust in Toronto.

Elder Care: Geriatrics 100

Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm (presentation for 45 minutes followed by a question and answer period)
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

An introduction to some of the cognitive and emotional changes your older relative may experience and the resources available to you. In this session we will discuss the following:

Dementia, depression and delirium: All of these illnesses can share very similar symptoms yet the treatment for each is vastly different. What are these illnesses? What are their symptoms? How can I be sure my older relative is properly diagnosed?
Learn about the vast array of community services and health professionals that can both assess and treat your relative. For example, how do I find a geriatrician or a memory clinic
Bring your individual questions/concerns and ask the facilitator for her advice

Facilitator: Zoe Levitt is an Elder Care Consultant with a Masters’ Degree in Social Work. She has been working with the elderly in their homes and in hospitals for more than 25 years.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Heads up for Healthier Brains

This workshop looks at the changes we can make in our lives in order to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

There are some risk factors beyond our control such as age, but many of the risk factors are associated with lifestyle choices such as: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress, smoking, lack of physical exercise, and lack of mental/intellectual challenge. When we make changes in these areas we can dramatically reduce our risk and improve or at least maintain the health of our brains.

Facilitator:

George Torys is a Public Education Coordinator with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. In this position he works with both the general public and healthcare professionals, providing education workshops on various topics relating to Alzheimer’s disease and caring for those with dementia.

Elder Care: Health Care Consent and Advance Care Planning and What You Should Know

Before health providers provide care or treatment they must get an informed consent from you. Health Care Consent also involves planning your care needs based on your present health condition. Advance care planning is a process of planning for a time when you may not have the mental capacity to make decisions about your health care. It usually involves choosing someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are not able to do so. This person is known as a substitute decision-maker. Join Graham Webb, Executive Director at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly as he discusses the issues around health care consent, advance care planning, powers of attorney and substitute decision-making.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is a community legal clinic for low income senior citizens. ACE provides direct legal services to low-income seniors, public legal education, and engages in law reform activities.

Facilitator:

Graham Webb is a lawyer and the Executive Director at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly since October 2016. Previously he had been a Staff Litigation Lawyer with the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly since May 1995. ACE gives direct client representation to older adults on age-related legal issues. He gives frequent legal education presentations on elder law issues to older adults and service providers, including police, health-care professionals and other lawyers.

He is a contributing author of Long-Term Care Facilities in Ontario: The Advocate’s Manual, which is published by ACE, and is the author of journal and newsletter articles. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Social Policy.

He has been a part-time evening instructor in Gerontology at Ryerson University, and has won an award from the Continuing Education Students’ Association at Ryerson for excellence in teaching.

He is an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association, National Elder Law Section Executive Committee. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies.

Elder Care: Healthy Caregiving

Date: Monday, February 24, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Caregiving is very special. Watching someone you love become ill and gradually lose his/her memory and abilities can be very hard on you as well as your family. You need to take care of yourself and make sure that you stay healthy.

This workshop will focus on:

What are some of the risks of caregiving?
What are some of the rewards and joys of caregiving?
We will also address resources and navigating the system.

Facilitator: Elaine Kohn, MSW, RSW, Social Worker, and Susana Braslavski, MSW, RSW, Social Worker in Seniors Counselling and Referral Services at Baycrest Geriatric Health Care System

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

Elder Care: Help for the Caregiver

This workshop presented by the Toronto Community Care Access Centre will:

focus on community services available to assist you in providing care to an elderly person
provide you with information on the application process for admission into a long term care home and other community housing options
address caregiver stress and burnout with a focus on proving specific coping strategies

Facilitator:

Jennifer Thomas MSW, RSW: Care Coordinator with the Toronto Central CCAC for the past 9 years with over 12 years of experience working with seniors and their caregivers at home and in the community.

Elder Care: Helping Seniors Stay at Home

Join Lisa Manuel from the Family Service Association of Toronto for information on services and resources to assist your family member in staying at home.
This is the final session of the Caring for Aging Family Members Series.

Elder Care: Meaningful Activities (for Care Partners)

Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Learn the importance of meaningful activities for people with dementia or their family members. Demonstrate importance of sensory stimulation for people with dementia. Employ additional strategies and resources for creating meaningful activities for people with dementia.

For care partners or family member of a person living with dementia

Facilitator: Kimberly Panditharatne, Caregiver Education Coordinator with the Alzheimer Society Toronto
Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Elder Care: New Approaches to Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention and Early Treatment

In this presentation Dr. Ian Cohen will discuss the current symptomatic treatments and the new medication approaches in clinical trials at Toronto Memory Program to prevent or slow down Alzheimer’s disease.

The Toronto Memory Program is a multidisciplinary, community based, medical facility specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Dr. Ian Cohen works along-side his wife, Dr. Sharon Cohen, a behavioural & cognitive neurologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases and the Medical Director of Toronto Memory Program.

Facilitator: Dr. Ian Cohen is a physician and research investigator at Toronto Memory Program. He has been involved in over 100 studies evaluating new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Parenting Your Parents

Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

As our parents age, we often find ourselves nagging them to stay safe and healthy. When your elders live with you, this presents additional gifts and challenges.

In this session we will explore how roles and expectations may change as caregivers, and how our default stress mechanisms both protect and challenge us. For many of us (especially this facilitator), the more stressed we get, the more controlling we get, and this can become complicated for the people we live with. We will consider strategies for balancing love and responsibility with respecting the autonomy of those we live with, no easy feat in such challenging times.

Facilitator: Rebecca Higgins has worked in community and social services for over 17 years, specializing in mental health education since 2010. Rebecca has been facilitating workshops on behalf of CMHA Toronto since 2015, and has produced and delivered curricula and resources for the CMHA Ottawa Branch and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Elder Care: Parkinson’s Disease 101

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

In this workshop presented by Parkinson Canada, the facilitator will:

Provide a brief overview of Parkinson’s disease
Review the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s
Explain the importance of taking medications on time
Provide tips for caregivers as they support their loved ones with day to day living and with medications
Discuss the supports provided by Parkinson Canada.

Facilitator: Maria Marano is the Community Development Coordinator for the Greater Toronto Area at Parkinson Canada. She is responsible for overseeing the support groups within the region as well as conducting Parkinson’s disease education and advocacy. She completed her M.Sc. at the University of Toronto where she studied the biological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Elder Care: Residents’ Rights for a Person Living with Dementia

Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The move to a long-term care home can be one of the most challenging and overwhelming times for caregivers throughout the dementia journey. During this presentation, we will examine the definition of a long-term care home and the legislated residents’ rights as they are currently outlined in the Long-Term Care Act of 2007. Also, we will review each right so the caregiver and/or the resident has a clearer understanding of how care is regulated throughout the long-term care homes, in Ontario.

Elder Care: Safety at Home

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This webinar is for family caregivers of individuals living with dementia.

The webinar will focus on helping care partners identify possible risks and make the necessary modifications at different stages of the disease.

The webinar will be presented using Zoom.

Facilitator: Kimberly Dilmohamed, Caregiver Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Elder Care: Seniors and Safety in the Home

Occupational therapists from VHA Rehab Solutions, a community based organization providing rehabilitation services to adults in their home will provide a presentation that will include the following:

Signs a caregiver should be looking for to determine a senior’s safety
Assessing the need for assistive devices, mobility devices, home renovations and the services of a professional
Helpful commercial products versus prescribed devices and funding sources
Where to get advice and practical assistance and what help is out there and how to get the right help

Facilitators: Leslie Simpson MSc OT Reg. (Ont.) and Andrea Cook OT Reg. (Ont.) are experienced occupational therapists in the community, and together they have more than 16 years of experience.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Seniors and Safety in the Home (U of T Mississauga)

An occupational therapist from VHA Rehab Solutions, a community based organization providing rehabilitation services to adults in their home will provide a presentation that will include the following:

Signs a caregiver should be looking for to determine a senior’s safety
Assessing the need for assistive devices, mobility devices, home renovations and the services of a professional
Helpful commercial products versus prescribed devices and funding sources
Where to get advice and practical assistance and what help is out there and how to get the right help

Facilitator: Andrea Cook OT Reg. (Ont.) is an experienced occupational therapist in the community, and she has more than 16 years of experience.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Elder Care: Stress Management for Caregivers

This interactive elder care workshop will focus on the following areas:

Sources of stress in caregiving
Strategies for managing stress
Steps to reduce excess stress
Self-care techniques

Facilitator: Lynne Gallagher is a social worker and the Coordinator of Caregiver Education Programs for Family Service Toronto.

Elder Care: Taking the ‘Mystery’ out of Retirement Living

Join Esther K.H. Goldstein of Retirement Residential Placement Service Inc. for an informative and practical session on the search for a retirement home. The following topics will be discussed:

What is a retirement home and who needs one?
How to look for a retirement home, including visiting tips
The emotional aspects of relocation and how to make the transition easier.

Elder Care: The Resilient Caregiver

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Learn and practice resilience based coping strategies that can help you and your family retain balance in your daily life!

Caring for a loved one is rewarding, but it also involves many changes and demands. Aging adults, especially those suffering from illness, disability or dementia, need special care that respects their well-being needs as well as our own. Building resilience is ensuring that you are prepared in times of high stress.

In this session, you will:

Learn self-care strategies.
Discover where you invest most of your physical and emotional energy and whether it’s productive.
Uncover your coping style and learn practical tools that will help you and your family be more resilient in times of stress.

Facilitator: Anna Wesolinska is a Registered Gestalt Psychotherapist with a Masters degree in Adult Education and Community Development. She has a private practice and has been running workshops at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto, the North York Women’s Centre, and the Family Care Office at the University of Toronto.  She uses a variety of therapeutic techniques including Psychodrama, Drawing, Playback Theatre, and Mindfulness based interventions. Her therapy practice includes adults, couples and adolescents working through a broad range of relationship issues such as loss, conflict, trauma, life transitions, chronic health problems, body and identity concerns, post-partum challenges as well as working through blocks in creativity.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Elder Care: The Role of the CCAC for the Caregiver

This workshop presented by the Toronto Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) will:

focus on in-home and community services available to assist you in providing care to an elderly person
provide you with information on the application process for admission into a long term care home and other community housing options
address caregiver stress and burnout with a focus on proving specific coping strategies

Facilitator: Jennifer Thomas MSW, RSW: Care Coordinator with the Toronto Central CCAC for the past 13 years with over 16 years of experience working with seniors and their caregivers at home and in the community.

Elder Care: The Role of the HCCSS (Home and Community Care Support Services) for the Caregiver

Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: *New* In person – OISE, 252 Bloor St. W., Room 2214

This in-person workshop presented by the Toronto Central Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) will:

focus on in-home and community services available to assist you in providing care to an elderly person
provide you with information on the application process for admission into a long term care home and other community housing options
address caregiver stress and burnout with a focus on providing specific coping strategies

Facilitators:
Jennifer Thomas MSW, RSW is a Care Coordinator with Home and Community Care Support Services, Toronto Central. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience working with frail seniors and their caregivers at home and in the community including as part of the home visiting primary care program with the Mt Sinai Family Health Team

Tanya Poon is an occupational therapist by background, and a care coordinator with Home and Community Care Support Services, Toronto Central. She has a total of 13 years working in the community. For the past 10 years, Tanya has been embedded with the St Joseph’s Health Centre homebound family medicine team, together supporting frail and homebound seniors and their caregivers in the community

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are welcome. Partners and family members (including chosen family members) who are co-caregivers with U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are also welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this in-person event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Elder Care: The Role of the LHIN for the Caregiver (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Friday, November 22, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough, Environmental Sciences and Chemistry Building, EV152, Catalyst Centre, 1st Floor

 This workshop presented by the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) will:

Discuss in-home and community services available to assist you in providing care to an elderly person
Provide you with information on the application process for admission into a long term care home and other community housing options
Address caregiver stress and burnout with a focus on proving specific coping strategies

Facilitator:  Sheri McKeen, Community Education and Outreach Representative with the Central East Local Health Integration Network

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.  If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Elder Care: Toronto CCAC

Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre: How we can help care for the caregiver

Are you providing care to an elderly person at home? Let us tell you how we, the Community Care Access Centre, and our community partners can help prevent your burnout and optimize your quality of life.

This 1 ½ hour workshop will focus on the community services available to assist you in providing care to an elderly person living in the community. We will also provide you with information on the application process for admission into a long term care home and other community housing options for consideration prior to making this application. Lastly, we will address caregiver stress and burnout with a focus on proving specific coping strategies.

By the end of this session you will:

Be aware of publicly and privately funded community services and how to access them.
Be familiar with the various housing options available across the continuum of care and have information on how to access them.
Know the signs of caregiver stress and burnout.

Jennifer Thomas MSW RSW: Care Coordinator with the Toronto Central CCAC for the past 7 years with over 10 years of experience working with seniors and their caregivers at home and in the community.

Robin Baker, MSW, RSW: Care Coordinator with Toronto Central CCAC since May 2008 with previous experience working with seniors and their caregivers at home and in hospital rehab settings. Graduate of the U of T Faculty of Social Work.

Elder Care: Understanding Canada’s Retirement Income System – Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security

In this session, a representative from Service Canada will provide an overview of Canada’s Pension Plan and Old Age Security. She will review eligibility requirements, the application process, and what your entitlements are. This session would be of benefit to those who may be retiring shortly or for individuals who may be caring for an aging relative who is entitled to these benefits.

By the end of this session you will understand how Canada’s retirement income system is structured, what an individual is entitled to through CPP and OAS and what you need to do to receive these benefits.

The facilitator will also be available for questions after the session.

Facilitator: Sarita Censoni is a Public Liaison Officer with Service Canada

Elder Care: Understanding Care in a Long-Term Care Home

Are you concerned about an elderly family member in a long-term care home? Do you have questions regarding quality of care? Are you in need of guidance and support?

Join Phyllis Hymmen of Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities for an informative and interactive workshop. The following topics will be discussed:

Recent changes affecting the quality of care in Ontario’s long-term care homes
Rights and responsibilities within the long-term care system
Strategies and suggestions to help family members advocate for improved quality of care
Resources within the system to help

Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities is a non-profit corporation and registered charity dedicated to reform of the long-term care system and improvement of quality of life for residents.

Elder Care: Understanding the Physical Aspects of Aging and Exercise

In this session, you will learn about the physiological consequences of aging, and their impact on functional mobility and carrying out the activities of daily living. The facilitators will also discuss the benefits of exercise in attenuating the loss of muscle mass and muscle quality with aging. General recommendations regarding exercise and some current research on the benefits of power training will be provided. The session will conclude with a brief description of some available facilities on campus for exercise participation and some practical tips and examples of exercises for getting started.

Facilitators: Catherine Amara is a professor at U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Her expertise includes aging and exercise, muscle health, mitochondrial function, cardiorespiratory physiology, and exercise tolerance. Dina Katsoulis is a senior doctoral student, and she is currently investigating how a lower-body, low intensity (40% of maximum) resistance training programme focusing on speed of movement, affects strength, power and overall function. As part of her investigation, she is interested in examining the effects of frequency of training (1, 2 and 3 times/week) on these outcome measures. Douglas Rosa is the coordinator for personal training & nutrition at U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. He has worked with different clientele to improve fitness and health, improve performance and prevent injury. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS).

Elder Care: Understanding the Rights of Family Caregivers for Seniors in LTC Homes

Date: Monday, November 30, 2020
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

During this pandemic, the rights of caregivers to visit family and friends in long-term care (LTC) have been increasingly unclear.

This webinar will explore the rights of caregivers during COVID19, particularly about visiting loved ones in LTC both when an outbreak is occurring and when it is not. Participants will learn the governing legislation and regulations, how to navigate blockages with LTC administration and what your rights really are.

Facilitator: Laura Tamblyn Watts, president and CEO of CanAge, Canada’s Seniors Advocacy Organization, is a highly sought after expert regarding matters involving older adults in Canada and around the world. She also teaches at the University of Toronto, where she is also a Fellow of the Institute for Lifecourse and Aging.

Elder Care: Understanding the System

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Trying to find the government, community and private resources to assist you to care for your aging relative in the home can be overwhelming. Who do you start with and what is available?

In this session, Zoe Levitt, M.S.W., R.S.W will guide you through:

The types of services and resources that are available for your elder relatives who are still living in their own homes
Finding and selecting available home care supports
How to access these supports and the costs that might be involved
Bring your individual questions/concerns and ask the facilitator for her advice

Facilitator: Zoe Levitt is an Elder Care Consultant with a Masters’ Degree in Social Work. She has been working with the elderly in their homes and in hospitals for more than 25 years.

Elder Care: Understanding the System

Date: Monday, October 17, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Trying to find the government, community and private resources to assist you to care for your aging relative in the home can be overwhelming. Who do you start with and what is available?

In this session, Zoe Levitt, M.S.W., R.S.W will guide you through:
• The types of services and resources that are available for your elder relatives who are still living in their own homes
• Finding and selecting available home care supports
• How to access these supports and the costs that might be involved
• Bring your individual questions/concerns and ask the facilitator for her advice

Facilitator: Zoe Levitt is an Elder Care Consultant with a Masters’ Degree in Social Work. She has been working with the elderly in their homes and in hospitals for more than 30 years.

Elder Care: Understanding the System (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Friday, April 12, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm (presentation for 45 minutes followed by a question and answer period)
Location: Davis Building, UTM Room (formerly named Faculty Club), Room 3140

Trying to find the government, community and private resources to assist you to care for your aging relative in the home can be overwhelming. Who do you start with and what is available?

In this session, Zoe Levitt, M.S.W., R.S.W will guide you through:

The types of services and resources that are available for your elder relatives who are still living in their own homes
Finding and selecting available home care supports
How to access these supports and the costs that might be involved
Bring your individual questions/concerns and ask the facilitator for her advice

Facilitator: Zoe Levitt is an Elder Care Consultant with a Masters’ Degree in Social Work. She has been working with the elderly in their homes and in hospitals for more than 25 years.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Eliminating Power Struggles

Many families struggle for years with ongoing battles with their children. Join Karen Skinulis of the Parenting Education Centre of Ontario and learn how these power struggles can damage family relationships and what we can do to stop them. This workshop will focus on the problems of trying to use external control with children and alternatives to this discouraging and ineffective approach.

Emotional Aspects of Separation and Divorce

If you’ve experienced a separation or divorce and are looking to understand and explore the emotional aspects of this difficult life transition, come join us for a lunch hour workshop on Friday October the 8th from 12:00 — 1:30pm.

In this workshop, you will learn and share tips for dealing with stress and the strong emotions associated with the separation/divorce process. We will also look at ways in which you can take a more active role in letting go of the relationship and begin to define your future.

Facilitator: Teresa Neves (M.S.W., R.S.W.) is a clinical social worker who provides child and adult counselling services in the public and private sector. In addition to her counselling experience with individuals and families who’ve experienced separation or divorce, Teresa has facilitated adult separation/divorce education and support groups.

Equipment & Gadgets you will really need & networking

A bi-monthly drop-in for U of T expecting and postnatal parents to:

Gain insight into various aspects of pregnancy including nutrition, emotional and physical changes, labour and delivery, and post-partum issues such as feeding your baby and adjusting to new life.
Find support and access resources.
Meet guest speakers, exchange ideas and experiences with other women regarding various aspects of pregnancy and life with baby.

Expectant parents who are U of T students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners/spouses both are welcome to attend. Pre-registration required.
This program is a collaborative initiative of the Family Care Office and the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

Expectant & New Moms’ Group

Are you pregnant or have recently given birth? Do you feel like there are many things you would like to learn about your body, your baby, and what comes next? Learn more about pregnancy and life with a new baby with guest speakers, other moms-to-be and new moms. Ask questions, relax and chat about what is important for you now.

Come to:

Gain insight into various aspects of pregnancy including nutrition, emotional and physical changes, labour and delivery, and post-partum issues such as feeding your baby and taking care of yourself.
Find support and access resources.
Meet guest speakers, exchange ideas and experiences with other women regarding various aspects of pregnancy and life with baby.

Pregnant & postnatal students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their babies are welcome to attend. Pre-registration required. Expectant and New Moms’ Group is a collaborative initiative of the Family Care Office and the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

Fall 2011

Topic	Facilitator
Pregnancy Changes & Concerns	Maria Jardim, Information and Outreach Coordinator for the Family Care Office
Pregnancy & Relationships: Keeping Them Healthy
Stages of Labours: Birthing Hopes & Fears
Feeding Your Baby
Sharing Experiences & Stories on Pregnancy, Birthing, Babies and the Changes in Your Life (non-facilitated session)

Winter 2012

Topic	Facilitator
Caring for Yourself and Your Baby (Networking for last half hour)	Debra Williams-Conliffe, PHN
Strollers, Slings, Breast Pumps, and other gadgets
Oral and Dental Health of Infants and Young Children (Networking for last half hour)	Dr. Gajanan (Kiran) Kulkarni BDS, LL B, M Sc, D Ped Dent, Ph D, FRCD(C)
Infant Massage	Petrina Fava, RN, CIMT
Growth & Development (Networking for last half hour)	Debra Williams-Conliffe, PHN
Adjustments to New Life (Networking for last half hour)	Debra Williams-Conliffe, PHN

Fall 2012 Topics

Pregnancy Changes & Concerns

Relationships – Keeping Them Healthy

Stages of Labour – Birthing Hopes & Fears

Sharing experiences & stories on pregnancy, birthing, babies and the changes in your life

Bringing Baby Home

Fall 2016 & Winter 2017 Topics

Topic	Facilitator
Equipment & Gadgets You Will Really Need
Pregnancy Changes & Concerns	Jody MacDonald, RN EdD, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
The Birthing Experience
Feeding Your Baby
Caring for Yourself & Your Baby
Adjusting Your Family Life

Exploring Gender Neutral Parenting

Boys should play with trucks and Girls should play with Barbie? Societal expectations about gender often influence how we socialize and raise our children. In this workshop, parents will explore and discuss together the topic of gender neutral parenting. The following questions will be addressed: What is gender neutral parenting? How do parents model gender expectations? What impact does this have? Should boys and girls be parented differently? Is gender neutral parenting even possible? Join us to discuss some of these important questions!

Facilitator: Dr. Pat Durish, Women and Gender Studies

Exploring the impact of a learning disability on your child’s success in University — A Panel Discussion

Does your child have a learning disability or an autism spectrum disorder?

The Family Care Office and Accessibility Services will be hosting a panel and get together for students’, staff or faculty children (Grade 7 or higher) (if your child cannot attend, please feel free to still register)who have a learning disability or autism spectrum disorder to meet with current U of T students with a learning disability/ASD. If your child cannot attend, please feel free to still register.

This will be an opportunity for your child to hear from current U of T students who can explain the impact of having an autism spectrum disorder or a learning disability on studying and succeeding at university. These students will discuss their transition to university, personal experiences and their coping strategies. There will also be an opportunity to ask these students questions and mix informally.

Faculty Panel: Managing Demands of Work and Family Life for Pre-tenure and Tenure Faculty

This panel discussion will provide you with an opportunity to hear from your colleagues who have managed the competing demands of building their career as a pre-tenure faculty member and dealing with their personal and family life. You will have an opportunity to hear their stories and to ask questions.

Panelists:

Sue Bondy, Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Michel Cottier, Assistant Professor, Classics
Amy Mullin, Professor, UTM Chair of Philosophy
Anna Shternshis, Assistant Professor, Yiddish and Diaspora Studies

Moderator: Francesca Dobbin, Director, Family Programs and Services

Faculty Relocation Service (FRS) Training Session

As the University goes through this exciting and challenging time of recruiting new faculty, the Faculty Relocation Services can provide assistance to prospective and recently appointed faculty with most aspects of relocating to Toronto. In this session, we will review how FRS assists tenure stream faculty with their relocation concerns and how we can help with your department’s recruitment strategy.

We will outline:

the process of ordering the kits and setting up appointments with our staff
what we discuss in a typical appointment and our available resources
inform you of the other services on-campus which can assist with relocation and recruitment issues

Representatives from the following office will review other programs and services which assist incoming faculty:

Office of the Vice President and Provost
Faculty Housing
Immigration
Dual Career Connection
Benefits
GCSE Tax Assistance

Faculty Relocation Service Information Session (Staff only)

Date: Monday, November 11, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Centre for Learning, Leadership & Culture (LLC) formerly Organizational Development Learning Centre (ODLC), 215 Huron Street, 6th floor, Room 610

In this session, you will receive:

An overview of the service provided by the Faculty Relocation Service including how to arrange for appointments for prospective tenure and teaching stream faculty, and how to order faculty recruitment booklets
Information from guest speakers who will review Faculty Housing, Dual Career Connection, immigration, and recruitment

A light vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Please register early, space is limited! All University of Toronto staff are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Faculty Spousal / Partner Network

Are you new to Toronto and need help in discovering what the city has to offer? This group will assist and guide new faculty spouses/partners with questions and concerns about Toronto. This will include an introduction to Toronto and the University. Discussion will involve schools, child care, immigration, entertainment and more. The Faculty Spousal/Partner Network will be a great opportunity to meet other faculty spouses/partners new to the city!

Family Budgeting 101

Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

1+1 = 2. Most of the time. Sometimes it equals -3. Come to our webinar, Budgeting 101 and learn that math is the easy part of budgeting. The tough part is understanding your relationship with money (and acknowledging that you even have a relationship with money!). Like all relationships, some parts of it need work. Learn to identify those aspects of your money relationship that need improvement, how to make those improvements and to better understand your patterns of behaviour around money. Oh, and we will show you how to make a budget too, using a nifty easy to use excel file!

Facilitator: Tim St. Vincent is the Credit Counselling Society’s Financial Educator for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the GTA, he is based out of Winnipeg. Tim has over 25 years experience in Financial Services and is a retired Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Tim has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (Hons.) has achieved his Certificate in Management (C.I.M.) Hons. and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. Tim believes strongly in the power of education, planning and acting on your plan.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and their family members – including children of appropriate ages – are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Family Budgeting 101

Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This webinar is not about numbers. Most people can do the math around a budget and come up with 1+1=2. Unless you don’t understand your relationship with money, then often you will find that 1+1= -3 (if you have problems with math there are calculators and friends who can help). This webinar focuses on understanding your relationship with money, finding the problems with that relationship and working to fix them.

Do you ever wonder why you run out of money before the month is over? You know how much you make, how much you spend, yet the money never seems to last as long as you think it should. You have a budget of sorts, but do you track your expenses? If not then you don’t have a budget, you have a wish list, and wishing doesn’t help pay the bills. It may be time to look at your relationship with money. Yes, you have one. Like all relationships there are good parts and not so good parts. Come to our Budgeting 101 webinar and learn how to examine your patterns of behaviour around money and how to get back in control of your finances.

Facilitator: Tim is the Credit Counselling Society’s Financial Educator for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the GTA, he is based out of Winnipeg. Tim has over 25 years experience in Financial Services and is a retired Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Tim has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (Hons.) has achieved his Certificate In Management (C.I.M.) Hons. and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. Tim believes strongly in the power of education, planning and acting on your plan.

Family Care Office Open House for Staff & Faculty

Drop-in and learn about the Family Care Office!

Learn about services and resources that the Family Care Office provides to support student parents and students who are caring for aging relatives. Meet the Family Care Office staff, browse through our library collection and pick up helpful resources.

No registration is required. Refreshments will be provided!

Family Cooking on a Budget

Featuring a Cooking Demonstration for You and Your Family!
Healthy Snacks Your Children Can Make

Fun shaped finger sandwiches
Vegetable boats
Haystack cookies

Simple and Nutritious Food

Hummus
Tabouleh
Baba Ghannouj

Family Dance Party

Date: Sunday, January 27, 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, 100 Devonshire Place

Get active! Bring your children 4 and up to a dance party!

Free to all U of T students, members and caregivers. Please sign in at the front desk at arrival.

Family Day

Varsity Blues Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Laurier
Free hot chocolate & cookies with U of T mascots True Blue and Blaze. All U of T families welcome. Free tickets available at the Family Care Office, 214 College St. Brought to you by the University of Toronto Family Care Office and the Faculty of Physical Education and Health.

Basketball Doubleheader vs. Ryerson
Pizza and drinks in the student lounge at 5:00 p.m. All U of T families welcome. Free tickets available at the Family Care Office, 214 College St. Brought to you by the University of Toronto Family Care Office and the Faculty of Physical Education and Health.

Children’s Reading Series, Free.
Featuring Sharon Jennings: author of “Franklin the Turtle”, “Jerimiah and Mrs. Ming”.
Free snacks and art activity for kids.

Family Day: Mini-Basketball Clinic and Basketball Women’s Varsity Blues vs. Laurentian University

Family Basketball Clinic: Children 4 to 12 years of age and their parents will be able to practice their basketball skills on the Athletic Centre court from 4:00 to 5:30pm. Parents and guardians will be expected to participate with their children in the Basketball Clinic; we’re hoping to raise awareness of healthy physical activity for the whole family. FREE pizza will be available afterwards for those participating in the clinic. Following the clinic, you can enjoy watching the women’s basketball team at 6pm.

This free event is sponsored by the Faculty of Physical Education and Health & the Family Care Office.

Family Dynamics in Caregiving

This interactive workshop will focus on the following areas:

Communicating with family members
How to handle family conflicts
Dividing family responsibilities
Understanding sibling relationships

Facilitator: Lynne Gallagher is a social worker and the Coordinator of Caregiver Education Programs for Family Service Toronto.

Family Event: Family Skate

Date: Friday, February 15, 2019 (P.A. Day)
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Varsity Arena

Join us for some winter fun on ice! Bring your own skates (adult skates will be available to borrow, sizes are not guaranteed and very few children skate sizes, not guaranteed as well), helmets and good spirits. CSA approved helmets are mandatory for children and strongly recommended for adults in order to protect oneself from potential concussion injuries. One adult wearing skates must be on the ice at all times with their child.

Free hot chocolate will be provided.

Please register by email: family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, U of T status, names and ages of all participating family members. Deadline for registration is February 13 at 5 pm.

A collaborative program of the U of T Family Care Office and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Family Event: Pizza and Hockey with the Varsity Blues

This event is at capacity. Thank you for your interest.

Time & Location:

2:00 pm – Family pizza, colouring and a hockey q&a – Room TBA, Varsity Pavilion, 299 Bloor St. West
3:00 pm – Men’s Hockey Game – Varsity Arena – 299 Bloor St. West

Join Varsity Blues for a fun hockey-filled afternoon! Families will enjoy pizza, colouring and a hockey q&a session with Family Care and Varsity staff, followed by watching UofT’s Varsity Blues Men’s Hockey Team vs. University of Windsor in the Varsity Arena.

Please Note: The Varsity Arena can be very cold, crowded and loud at hockey games – dress warmly and bring ear plugs or coverings if desired. The arena is concrete with many stairs. Please supervise younger children carefully and remain within arm’s reach at all times for safety. Strollers cannot be brought into the arena, but may be left outside.

Registration required; spaces are limited. To register, please email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, status with U of T, and ages of all participating family members. Each person can request tickets for a UofT student, staff or faculty, an adult partner and dependent children. Tickets will be distributed on the day of the event.

Family Event: Saturday Drop-in for U of T Families

An opportunity for U of T families to connect and network in a relaxed setting, while their children (up to 5 years of age) interact and play in the same room. U of T students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome to attend. Weather permitting we will be using the ELC playground.

Family Event: Science Rendezvous 2019 at the University of Toronto

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019
Time: Multiple times, see links below
Location: Over 40 locations, please see Tri-Campus locations below

The world becomes your laboratory on Saturday, May 11 for the free, annual, all-day Science Rendezvous. Attend Science Rendezvous on the downtown Toronto campus along St. George, U of T Mississauga at the Mississauga Central Library, and U of T Scarborough at the Toronto Zoo.

Science Rendezvous offers visitors of all ages and backgrounds the chance to interact with world-class researchers, witness awe-inspiring demonstrations, partake in hands-on experiments and, above all, have fun while discovering science in a whole new way.

This year come and visit with mutant flies and glowing bacteria, touch 3D printed medieval artifacts, take virtual reality tours of archeological settings, create art with math, paint pictures with acids, bases, and plant juices, view waveforms of your voice, learn about music therapy, measure your lung volume with a balloon, analyze your blood type, trick your brain with optical illusions and 3D puzzles, engage with robots, rockets, satellites, and the solar car, play student-made video games, see how a prosthetic hand works, put a ping pong ball into orbit, walk through a scale model of the solar system, take a look through a solar telescope, and much, much more!

Family Event: Summer Sky Adventure for Children of U of T Students

Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019
Time: 8:30 pm
Location: 2 Russell Street

Join us as we fly through the solar system in the planetarium show and visit the observation floor. Weather permitting, gaze through a telescope and view the city line or, if the night is clear, observe planets and stars. Open to U of T students with children starting Grade 4 in September up to Grade 8. Accompanied with one adult only please.

Register early, spaces limited! Email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student and grades of your participating children.

Family Event: Summer Sky Adventure for Kids

Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Time: 8:30 pm
Location: 2 Russell Street

Join us as we fly through the solar system in the planetarium show and visit the observation floor. Weather permitting, gaze through a telescope and view the city line or, if the night is clear, observe planets and stars. Open to U of T students, staff, and faculty with children starting Grade 4 in September up to Grade 8. Accompanied with one adult only please.

Register early, spaces limited! Email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, U of T status and grades of your participating children.

Event co-sponsored by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Family Care Office.

Family Event: Swim Meet

Date: Friday, January 18, 2019 (P.A. Day)
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: U of T Athletic Centre, 55 Harbord St. (at Spadina)

Join Varsity Blues and Junior Blues for a fun-filled afternoon of activity!
Families will participate in the physical literacy activity then cheer on the Varsity Blues swim meet afterward!

Family Physical Activity	2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Free pizza for families who participated in the physical activity	3:00 pm
Varsity Blues grand prix swim meet at the Varsity pool	3:30 pm

Family Swim Meet is free for U of T students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners and children!

To register for swim meet and pizza:
E-mail family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, status with U of T, ages of all participating children, and any dietary restrictions by Wednesday, January 16 @ 5:00 pm.

Additional Notes:

Children aged 18 months to 12 years of age are welcome for pizza and the Swim Meet, the physical activity is geared for children aged 4 – 6 years.
Children should dress for physical activity, in running shoes and comfortable clothing.
Children MUST participate with an adult and a maximum of two children per adult is permitted.
This is a not a drop off program, caregivers must remain at all times.
Absolutely NO GLASS is permitted in the pool gallery.
The Varsity Pool gallery can be very hot, crowded and loud at swim meets. You may want to bring earplugs for children and wear light clothing. The gallery is concrete with many stairs. Please supervise younger children carefully and remain within arm’s reach at all times for safety. Strollers cannot be brought into the pool gallery, but may be left outside the gallery.

Event co-sponsored by the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Family Care Office.

Family Event: U Can Move & Swim Meet

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2019
Time: 2:30 – 6:00 pm (please arrive by 2:15 pm at the turnstiles)
Location: U of T Athletic Centre, 55 Harbord St. (at Spadina)

Join Varsity Blues and Junior Blues for a fun-filled afternoon of activity!

Families will participate in the physical literacy activity then cheer on the Varsity Blues swim meet afterward!

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm	Multi Sport – Physical Literacy (children 4+ years of age)
3:30 pm	Free pizza for families who participated in the multi sport – physical literacy
4:00 pm	Varsity Blues swim meet at the Varsity pool

Family Swim Meet is free for U of T students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners and children!

To register for swim meet and pizza:
E-mail family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, status with U of T, ages of all participating children, and any dietary restrictions by Wednesday, November 13^th.

Family Event: U Can Move + Men’s Hockey

Time & Location:

5:45 pm – U Can Move at the Goldring Centre – 100 Devonshire Pl.
7:00 pm – Men’s Hockey Game – Varsity Arena – 299 Bloor St. West

Join Varsity Blues for a fun-filled evening of activity! Families will participate in the U Can Move Physical Literacy program, and then cheer on the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team in the U of T Varsity Arena.

What is the U Can Move program?

Physical literacy is an essential part of a healthy and active lifestyle! Just like ABCs are important in learning how to read, Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) and Fundamental Sports Skills (FSS) are building blocks that allow children to move with confidence, play with skill and have fun in the long term! Being active for life is the ultimate goal.

From 5:45 – 6:30 pm, you’ll have the chance to participate in:
Active Start with caregiver — Children walking to age 3
Active Start + FUNdamentals — Children ages 4 – 12

Pizza will be served to families participating in the U Can Move Physical Literacy Program.

Additional Notes:

Children should dress for physical activity, in running shoes and comfortable clothing.
Children aged 18 months to 12 years of age are welcome.
Children under the age of four MUST participate with an adult and a maximum of two children per adult is permitted.
This is a not a drop off program, caregivers must remain at all times.
The Varsity Arena can be very cold, crowded and loud at hockey games. You may want to bring earplugs and warm clothes for children. The arena is concrete with many stairs. Please supervise younger children carefully and remain within arm’s reach at all times for safety. Strollers cannot be brought into the arena, but may be left outside.

Varsity Blues Hockey

At 7pm the Men’s Varsity Blues Hockey team plays against the University of Waterloo at the Varsity Arena! Learn more by visiting www.varsityblues.ca

Registration required. To register please email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, status with U of T, and ages of all participating family members. This is a free event for U of T student families. Staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome, and must purchase tickets in advance at https://varsityblues.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx?cid=160. Space is limited.

Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Family Event: U Can Move and Varsity Hockey Game

U Can Move: Children 4 to 12 years of age will be able to run, kick and play in the Varsity Dome while developing physical literacy skills. This activity will be led by Junior Blues instructors. Parents and guardians will be expected to remain in the dome during the program. After the U Can Move Program, you can enjoy watching the Men’s Varsity Blues hockey game. U of T will be playing against York University. Free hot chocolate will be provided during the game.

This event is sponsored by the Varsity Blues, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education and the Family Care Office.

Family Event: U of T Student Family Potluck Picnic

Date: Friday, July 5, 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (rain or shine)
Location: Toronto Island

Want to enjoy a day out with your family? Join us, rain or shine, for a potluck picnic, connect with other student families, and take a First Story Toronto interactive tour, illustrating Toronto’s Indigenous presence and history of the Toronto Island from an Indigenous perspective. Along with your lunch, you may want to bring beach toys and your own bike, as bike rentals are expensive and take cash only.

We can meet at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (ferry schedule here) where the Jack Layton statue on a bike is, and travel to Toronto Island together. If you arrive later than 10 am, meet us at the Centre Island splash pad, which is nearby the playground, beach, and maze! Purchase your online ticket here, otherwise you will be standing in line for quite a while! If you may require financial assistance, please contact First Nations House or the Family Care Office.

To register, please email family.care@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-0951 and include your name, U of T status, names and ages of your children, dietary restrictions or mobility challenges.

Event co-sponsored by First Nations House and the Family Care Office.

Family Event: Webb’s First Look at the Universe and a Summer Sky Adventure for Kids (FULL)

Date: Friday, September 2nd, 2022
Time: 2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Location: AB114, 50 St George St – please enter via the Ursula Franklin doors

Join us as we learn about James Webb Space Telescope images, followed by a guided solar observation through the Astronomy department’s telescopes. Open to U of T students, staff, and faculty with children starting Grade 2 in September up to Grade 9. Accompanied with one adult only please.

Register early, spaces limited! Email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, U of T status and grades of your participating children.

Event collaboration by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Family Care Office.

Family Event: Welcome Event for Student Parents and their Families

Lunch will be provided. We plan to offer pizza for children, sandwiches, fruit and veggie trays, and water. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.

The start of the new academic year is an exciting time not only for student parents, but also for their partners and children. Our goal for the Welcome Event is to give student parents an opportunity to meet other students and their families and to get to know the Family Care Office staff and mentors. You will be able to attend a workshop on Building Resiliency through Mindfulness while your children are supervised in the same building by our staff.

Children will be supervised on the Early Learning Playground or indoors if it rains. Children two years of age or younger are welcome to stay with their parents during the workshop.
This event is open to U of T students, their children and partners.

Family Events

Are you looking for fun family activities? Looking for fun, on-campus family event? Check out these upcoming Saturday activities organized by the Family Care Office. See the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team face off against the York Lions at the Varsity Arena on Saturday, November 1, 2003 – Fun starts at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, November 15 come to Family Day at the Athletic Centre and see the Varsity Blues basketball team take on the Waterloo Warriors – ball drops at 6:00 p.m. And on Saturday November 22nd, Hart House is housing a family-friendly book reading. Come out and enjoy the fun!

Family Law Satellite Clinic (Downtown Legal Services)

Law students from Downtown Legal Services will provide legal information and referrals for students, staff and faculty with a legal question.

Family Law: Custody, Access & Child Support

Learn the basics of Family Law and what is involved in child support, custody claims, and access:

What is custody and different types of custody, what happens when parents do/do not agree, what courts look at in determining custody?
What is access?
Who is obligated to pay child support, how is the amount calculated, how long it lasts, when and how can you apply for it, how is it enforced? Q & A session will follow.

Facilitator: Downtown Legal Services

Family Movie: Homeward Bound — The Incredible Journey

Three pets (Chance, a young dog unfamiliar with the world; Shadow, an aging, wise dog; and Sassy, a snobby cat) are left behind when their family goes on vacation. Unsure of what happened, the animals set out on a quest to find their family, risking their lives, while their family searches for them in the same areas.

Family Picnic for Students with Family Responsibilities & their Families

Date: Saturday, October 1, 2022
Time: 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Location: Ramsden Park (Yonge Street, across from the Rosedale Subway Station)

The Family Care Office is hosting a family picnic! Come out with your family to meet other students and their families. Bring a blanket (if you can) and lunch for your family. The FCO will provide snacks and drinks, and arrange for fun activities for the children!

To register, email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, U of T status and ages of your participating children.

Family Safety and CPR – Life Skills Class (non-certified)

Participants will learn what to do in case of bleeding, seizures, safety, falls, poison, burns, preventive measures, and CPR for infants, children, and adults.

Family Sundays at Hart House

Date: Monthly on Sundays on the fall and winter terms
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Various, Hart House
Cost: Free

Bring your family to Hart House one Sunday a month for fun, interactive and educational family events that explore cultural diversity through storytelling, music, food, arts and crafts.

For more details, please visit the Hart House website.

Family Sundays: Bright Lights and Santa Claus Parade Warm Up

Date: Sunday, November 18, 2018
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Hart House Debates Room, 7 Hart House Cir

Warm up before the Santa Claus Parade at Hart House. Craft your own letter to Santa and learn about festivals of light from around the world. Create your own bright light from everyday materials to take away with you.

Presented by Hart House and the Family Care Office.

Family Support Series: Because “Calm Down” Never Seems to Work: An Introduction to Emotion Coaching

Date: Monday, February 1st, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Being a parent is not easy at the best of times. We navigate challenging behaviours, and intense feelings, while trying to manage our own along the way! Add the pandemic, where everyone’s nervous system is on overdrive, and our emotions are much closer to the surface. Plus living in a society that encourages emotion avoidance rather than expression, it’s doesn’t take much before we erupt.

Emotion coaching is the interpersonal process that has the most powerful effect on calming the brain (Lafrance & Miller, 2020). Once children feel heard, they are more likely to hear us, co-operate, become more flexible, and come up with solutions when needed.

In this workshop, participants will learn:

A brief overview of emotion basics: how emotions feel, what they need and their action tendency
The 5 steps of emotion coaching, with a focus on ‘validation’
Awareness of our knee-jerkparenting responses that can steer our kids away from fully processing their emotions
Tips to build our inner resources so we can better calm ourselves when trying to help calm our children

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

Family Support Series: The Good Enough Parent

Date: Monday, March 1st, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Parenting is a challenge. The journey of child raising is not an easy one. And when you add all of the external and internal pressure, it can feel like what is required is perfection. There is joy in bringing up children. But where can you find it when you are with them even more now and worried about so much?

Take a breath! You are not doing a bad job! What if you could define and create the parenting way that will work for you and give you more control over the way you parent your kids?

Join us for this lunch hour webinar where you will learn how to tame your parenting guilt, strategies to cope with stress and the key steps to take on the road to parenting success on your terms.

Facilitator: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker and trainer, dedicated to helping people gain clarity on the life that they want to live, and developing the healthy habits to make it a reality. She firmly believes that life is too short to live a life that makes you unhappy and is on a mission to free her clients from guilt, imposter syndrome and unworthiness so that they can share their gifts and dreams with others. A wife, and mom to two lively boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in her day-to-day. Find out more at www.tararhodes.ca.

Family Trivia! – an online workshop for children and an adult family member

Date: Friday, January 15, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Are you looking for a fun way to work together as a family on PA day? Why not join us and have a friendly competition of trivia?

This trivia competition is for families with child(ren) ages 6 to 10 years and an adult family member. Your family will be your team!

There is no minimum or maximum number of family members that can be part of one team.
Who will win? We shall see!!

Facilitators: Gobika Sithamparanathan (She/Her), MScOT Candidate ’21, and Joanne Lieu, Ph.D student whose program of study is Educational Leadership and Policy. Both students are currently student peer mentors with the Family Care Office.

Registration required. The child(ren) and a current University of Toronto student, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellow, or their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Family Volleyball Day

Date: Saturday, November 3, 2018
Location: Field House, U of T Athletic Centre, 55 Harbord St. (at Spadina)
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Get active with the whole family at Family Volleyball Day.
Serve, set and spike for fun in the gym, then watch a free Varsity Blues volleyball game afterward!

Family Volleyball in the Field House – 11 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Free pizza for families who participated in the physical activity – 11:40 a.m.
Varsity Blues women’s volleyball game at the Athletic Centre – 12 p.m.

Family Volleyball Day is free for U of T students and their partners and children! Staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are also welcome.

To register for family volleyball and pizza:
E-mail family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, status with U of T, and ages of all participating children by Friday, November 2nd at 3:00 pm.

What you need to know for Family Volleyball Day

Children aged 18 months to 12 years of age are welcome.
Children should dress for physical activity, in running shoes and comfortable clothing.
Children under the age of four MUST participate with an adult and a maximum of two children per adult is permitted.
This is a not a drop off program. Caregivers must remain with children at all times.
Please supervise younger children carefully and remain within arm’s reach at all times for safety.
Strollers cannot be brought into the physical activity area, but may be left outside.

Event co-sponsored by the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Family Care Office.

Father Engagement: Why it Matters

If you’re a Dad, you want to be involved in your child’s life. If you’re a Mom,

you want your partner involved, too. But do you know why father engagement matters? In this workshop we’ll talk about our motivations to be engaged parents, and you’ll learn what the research says about the positive impacts of father engagement–for children, spouses, families, and fathers, too!

Facilitator: Kevin Black is a PhD student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, where one of his research projects involves studying the social marketing of father engagement in the “early years.” Prior to this, Kevin worked in the social service sector, including five years leading two community-based research and communications projects that promoted the importance of investing in early childhood development. He also gets to practice what he studies, since he is the father of two young daughters.

Father’s Group

Nobody gives you training to be a father and kids certainly don’t come with a user’s guide or an owner’s manual. Is balancing children, work and studies a constant challenge or your greatest accomplishment? Meet other fathers at U of T to discuss issues, find out about resources and share insights.

This is an ongoing group open to faculty, staff and students with meetings scheduled for every other Thursday. The times and dates of meetings may change depending on scheduling preferences of group members. Future activities of the Father’s Group may include videos and guest speakers!

Fatherhood right from start

Dads leave an indelible mark on their children and it starts right from the moment a man knows he is going to become a dad. Fatherhood Right from the Start is for those who have a baby on the way and for those whose babies have arrived within the past year. We will look at the roles a dad can take with his children, the adjustments that keep us on our toes as new dads, and the keys to maintaining a strong relationship with your partner. When you father right from the start you will set a foundation for a strong, vibrant relationship with your family.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a Parent Educator with the LAMP Early Years Services in Toronto and the Provincial Coordinator of Dad Central Ontario.

Fatherhood Under Pressure

Date: Friday, April 23, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

What happens when the pressures of life seem to come from every direction? Let’s talk about some strategies for caring for the relationships that matter most in the midst of the stresses life brings. This session will discuss:

Understanding our values
Living within our priorities
Developing stress management habits

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a marriage and family therapist focusing on men’s and couple’s issues, as well as, the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Fatherhood: A Father’s Guide to Building Character in Children (Webinar)

Date:  Friday, April 17, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The job of a parent is to help our children figure out how to live productive lives as they grow. Too often we fall into the trap of focusing on behaviour and we miss the opportunity to encourage and teach them to build good character. This workshop will give us some ideas of the importance of character over behaviour and how to instill good character as a pattern for our children’s growth.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a marriage and family therapist focusing on men’s and couple’s issues, as well as, the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario.

Fatherhood: How Dads Can Encourage Self-regulation in Their Children

Self-regulation is the ability to stay focused and alert in the midst of stress, novelty, and uncertainty. It involves self-control, empathy, and self-awareness. This workshop will give an overview of self-regulation and what dads can do to help their children master their emotions and make healthy choices.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a family therapist focusing on men’s and couple’s issues.

Fatherhood: Mastering What Matters: How Dads Can Encourage Self-Regulation in Children

Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a marriage and family therapist focusing on men’s and couple’s issues, as well as, the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario.

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Fatherhood: Mastering What Matters: How Dads Can Encourage Self-Regulation in Children (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Friday, January 18, 2019
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: UTSC, AA160

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a marriage and family therapist focusing on men’s and couple’s issues, as well as, the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario.

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

FCO March Break Activities: African Drumming Workshop for Kids

Captivate and inspire your child with the universal language of drumming!

Join us for a passionate, hands-on, and interactive workshop on African drumming that will bring out the best in your child. Drums will be provided to participants for use in the workshop. For children 4-12 years of age. All children must be supervised by parents/caregivers.

FCO Open House

Visit the Family Care Office and meet other parents on campus. Join us for Face Painting, Arts and Crafts, Storytelling for Kids, Prize Draw and Free Pizza.

Schedule of Events:

All day

12-2pm

Athletic Centre
Kids and Company
Toronto Parks and Recreation
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Health
Toronto Preschool Speech & Language Services
Toronto Community Care Access Centre
Student Family Housing, and more…

1pm & 3pm — Storytelling for the kids told by staff from the Toronto Public Library

1pm — Child Care Subsidy Workshop!

4 pm — Prize Draw

All U of T families are welcome!

Prize draw is generously sponsored by Parentbooks, Hart House Theatre, the Faculty of Physical Education and Health and Body Blitz Spa.

Feeding Body & Soul: Soup, Homemade Bread & Bannock (Students only)

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Location: First Nations House – 563 Spadina Ave., 3rd Floor

Learn to cook a delicious, quick & inexpensive meal in this hands-on workshop, taste a sample and take some home for dinner!

We will be cooking a three-sisters soup and learning the teachings behind it, bannock (Indigenous fried bread) and how to make a quick and delicious bread recipe that will take industrialized bread off your grocery list!

Facilitators:

John Croutch is a status Indian of mixed heritage. An Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) member of Wikwemikoong First Nation on his mother’s side and of German Canadian heritage on his father’s side. John currently works as an Indigenous Cultural Competency Trainer with HR & Equity and as a Standardized Patient Trainer with the Faculty of Medicine both at the University of Toronto. John ran his own restaurant for 9 years, closing in 2004 and recently received his Chef de Cuisine certificate from Liaison College.

Lee Maracle – born in North Vancouver, Lee Maracle is a member of the St o: lo nation. She is the author of a number of award winning and critically acclaimed literary works. She is co-editor of a number of anthologies including the award winning My Home as I Remember. Maracle has published in some of the most prestigious anthologies and scholarly journals worldwide. She is Traditional Teacher for First Nations House at U of T. and teaches in the Indigenous Studies program. She holds an honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Thomas University, is a Senior Fellow of Massey College, U of T, a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal and the Order of Canada. Maracle has served as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at four universities. She holds three teaching awards and seven writing awards, including the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and is a finalist for the prestigious Neustadt award, often referred to as the American Nobel.

Please register early, space is limited. University of Toronto students are welcome to attend.

A collaboration of Student Life Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Training, First Nations House and the Family Care Office.

Feeding Your Preschool Child: Encouraging children to try new foods

Join Sinéad Rafferty, Early Childhood Educator working with preschool children and their families at the U of T Early Learning Centre to:

Build an understanding of the developmental issues of the preschool child and how they relate to healthy eating habits
Learn about the role parents and caregivers play in influencing preschooler eating patterns
Learn fun and creative ways to support children in trying new foods that also encourages positive self-esteem and healthy eating experiences

Filing for the First Time: An Introduction to Canadian Taxes

Ruth Reimer from Green, Chencinski, Starkman and Eles (CGSE) will introduce the process of filing taxes in Canada and discuss some of the details of filing in both Canada and the US. A concurrent session will answer questions for those completing forms for countries other than the US.

Financial Survival for Student Families: Getting Out of Debt

By the end of this workshop, students will be able to:

Learn to navigate the credit rating system.
Identify specific debt management strategies and tips, including creating a realistic budget that incorporates saving for debt payment, ten rules of money management, dealing with creditors and collectors, and consumer rights.
Share and discuss resources that will help to better position themselves financially while in school.

Facilitator: Mark Tsipilevich, Education Coordinator, Credit Counselling Canada

Financial Survival for Student Families: Learn how to manage your money, get out debt, and use taxes to your advantage

Are you a student struggling to cover the costs of your education and living expenses? Even if your tuition fees are covered by the departmental funding, scholarships or bursaries, supporting a family in Toronto can be expensive and many students struggle to afford the costs of living during their time at the university.

During this event, we will be talking about support services offered by the university, extended health & dental insurance, and money and debt management. Money Management for Student Families, a seminar facilitated by a financial planner – Monique Madan, will provide you with important tools to help you manage your money and debt today – and upon graduation. Following the seminar, we will offer a Q&A with SGS financial counsellors and Enrolment Services.

Financial Survival for Students with Family Responsibilities

Having trouble staying afloat?

Supporting yourself and a partner, children or other dependents while in school can make for a tight budget.

Join us to learn what financial resources are available to you, funding options for both undergraduate and graduate students, and financial tips & money management strategies.

This event is geared to U of T graduate and undergraduate students.

Financial Survival Talks

Come and speak individually with various U of T staff and union staff representatives about financial assistance you can access in the university. Learn more about:

UTSU Dollar for Daycare grant, student discounts, newly created GSU Awards
OSAP, SGS Parenta l Grant, Extended Health & Dental benefit plans
What grant committees are looking for
On campus student services and family resources

Lunch will be served. All U of T incoming, current students & their partner/spouse are welcome to attend!

Financial Survival Workshop & Fair

Learn about helpful financial resources & information, including:

Practical ways of budgeting and reducing spending
Dealing with debt
Why it is important to file your income taxes every year
Tax credits, deductions, government benefits
And a special booth for undergraduate student parents to fill out a Dollar for Daycare application!

Guest speaker: Anne Arbour, Financial Educator, Credit Counselling Society

This is a collaborative event by UTSU and the Family Care Office.

Refreshments will be served. Various resources for students will be available in the room and we will have FREE giveaways for those in attendance!

All University of Toronto students and their partner/spouse are welcome. This workshop is a collaboration of the University of Toronto Students Union (UTSU) and the Family Care Office.

Financial Tips for Student Parents

Are you an undergraduate full or part-time student parent? Strapped for money?

Learn how to best fill out the UTSU Dollars for Daycare application to help pay for your childcare-related expenses, even if you are already receiving child care subsidies. Find out about additional UTSU services to help you stretch your dollars including the Extended Health and Dental Plan, the free Income Tax Clinic, the Food Bank service, photocopying service and more!

Find Your Inner Hero – Online workshop for parents and children

Date: Friday, February 12, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

During this one-hour webinar children and their parents will spend time together thinking about what makes someone a hero. They will explore the hero-like characteristics of imaginary and real-life heroes while thinking about their strengths and personal power to make a difference in the lives of others. Children and parents will become heroes by engaging in an act of kindness whereby and will make a card for somebody they feel needs encouragement or support. For this activity, participants will need a piece of paper (A4 format, regular or construction), a pencil/pen and markers/crayons/coloured pencils. Participants can also prepare any other optional materials they might want to use to create a card they design.

Recommended for children 6 to 10 year and an adult family member.

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 16 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 9-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Finding Joy and Humour in Caregiving (U of T Scarborough)

This interactive workshop facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto is for caregivers of people who have dementia.

Topics:

Creating opportunities for joy and looking at the lighter side of caregiving
The benefits of using humour and having a positive outlook
Strategies and approaches for incorporating joy and humour into caregiving

Facilitator: Risa Kim, Social Worker, Alzheimer Society Toronto

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Finding Your Balance: A Conference for Students with Family Responsibilities

Join us on Friday, May 25th for a conference created to help students navigate the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with education.

Welcoming Remarks: Dr. Lee Maracle

Lee Maracle is a Sto:Loh nation, grandmother of four, mother of four who was born in North Vancouver, BC. Her works include: the novels, Ravensong, Bobbi Lee, Sundogs, short story collection, Sojourner’s Truth, poetry collection, Bentbox, and non-fiction work I Am Woman. She is Co-editor of My Home As I Remember and Telling It: Women and Language Across Cultures, editor of a number of poetry works, Gatherings journals and has published in dozens of anthologies in Canada and America. Ms. Maracle is a both an award winning author and teacher. She currently is Mentor for Aboriginal Students at University of Toronto where she also is a teacher and also the Traditional Cultural Director for the Indigenous Theatre School, where she is a part-time cultural instructor.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bonnie Fox

Bonnie Fox taught at Dalhousie, Trent, York and King’s College (UWO) before coming to U of T. She has written and done research on feminist theory, gender segregation and competition in the labour force, workplace restructuring, the development of gender divisions in the transition to parenthood, and the social relations of childbirth. Her books, When Couples Become Parents: The Creation of Gender in the Transition to Parenthood (University of Toronto Press) & the third edition of her anthology, Family Patterns, Gender Relations (Oxford UP) were published in 2009.

1. Time and Stress Management for Students with Family Responsibilities

Is time and time management making you stressed? And stress messing with your time management? In this workshop, designed for students with family responsibilities, we will examine the relationship between time and stress, identify strategies to improve time and stress management and practice some basic skills.

Facilitator: Andrea Graham is a Learning Skills Counsellor at the University of Toronto’s Academic Success Centre.

2A. Money Management for Student Families

Are you a student and struggling to cover the costs of your education and living expenses? Well, you are in good company! Even if your tuition fees are covered by department funding, scholarships or bursaries, living in or commuting to downtown Toronto can be expensive. In addition, you have family responsibilities at the same time that you are investing your time and earnings towards a higher education. No wonder so many are saddled with a heavy debt load upon graduation.

Most students struggle to afford their costs of living during their period of study. This 60 minute seminar will provide you with some important tools to help you manage your money and debt today -and upon graduation.

Topics will include: Budgeting; Optimizing banking relationships; Debt and Tax issues

Facilitator: Monique Madan is a leading fee-for-service financial planner dedicated to helping individuals and companies realize their financial goals.

2B. Taking Your Whole Self to School

All of us have many parts, but students with family responsibilities have perhaps even more. What parts of you never go to school (or are never seen at home)? What feeds your vitality? What if you could bring that energy with you? Using writing exercises and concrete objects, explore the possibility of bringing your whole self to school and home again.

Facilitator: Ronna Bloom is the University of Toronto’s Poet in Community.

3A. Building Your Child’s Self Esteem

3B. Finding “Family Friendly” Work

Learn and plan how to find work that will fit into your life and your family responsibilities. This hands-on session will provide an exchange of career information, ideas and strategies that will help you with all aspects of the career development process such as resume writing and identifying family-friendly employers.

Facilitator: Suhan Hanifa is an Employment Coach at the University of Toronto.

PLUS Leadership Lunchtime CafÃ© and FREE Family Marketplace!

Who can attend? UofT undergraduate, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with family responsibilities.

Breakfast and lunch provided! Free child care, disability related accommodations, or special dietary requirements can be arranged through the Family Care Office.

Sponsored by: Family Care Office, Student Life Programs and Services, Career Centre, Academic Success Centre, First Nations House and Student Family Housing.

Free Movies for UofT families

This movie is more appropriate for young children (4 to 8 years old); its runtime is 81 minutes.

From Cohabitation to Divorce

Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This webinar (hosted by a family lawyer) is a must-attend event for anyone with questions about Family Law in Ontario. Whether you are separated from your spouse and seeking a divorce, or entering into a common-law relationship and considering getting a domestic contract, this webinar will answer your questions.

Participants will learn about the 5 main topics in family law: decision-making (“custody”), parenting schedule (“access”), property division, child support and spousal support. Alternatives to court will also be discussed (e.g. separation agreements, mediation, collaborative practice, mediation-arbitration, court).

Below are some common topics that will be covered:

How long do you have to live with someone before you are considered common-law partners?
How long do separated parents need to pay child support?
Am I guaranteed spousal support if I leave my spouse?
Do married persons and common-law partners have the same rights?

After the presentation, participants will be able to ask anything they want to know about family law. Participants can use the MS Teams chat box during the webinar and/or send in their questions in advance to the host: sasha@kpalawyers.ca.

Facilitator: An associate at KPA Lawyers, Sasha Faraone practises exclusively in the area of family law.

Sasha earned her law degree from the University of Ottawa. Prior to law school, she earned a Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (O.I.S.E.) at the University of Toronto. She also holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario in Management and Organisational Studies, with a specialization in Human Resources. Sasha also received a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from York University and aspires to be a mediator and educator in the not-so-distant future.

Sasha is passionate about family law and is known for her settlement-oriented approach to files. She is keen on resolving as many issues as possible out of court; which reduces both stress and costs for her clients.

From Cohabitation to Divorce: What You Should Know About Family Law

Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Building, Room 313

Come hear an experienced family lawyer discuss the following important questions:

Common law relationships – what rights and obligations do you have?
Cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts – what’s the difference? when do you need one?
“I want to get married but afraid of the financial effects if we were to divorce. How do I protect myself?”
“I want to have kids but am afraid of a custody battle if my relationship ends. How do I protect myself?”
“I am separated and headed for divorce – how do I protect myself?”
“Will the legal fees bankrupt me? Is there a cheaper way?”

A question and answer session will follow.

Facilitated by Ingrid van Weert, Barrister & Solicitor

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

From Theory to Practice: Developmental Strategies for your Child’s Success (0-5-yr olds)

This interactive workshop will introduce child development theory to assist you in ensuring your child reaches his or her full potential. Strategies will be developed that will turn everyday activities into wonderful learning opportunities for infants, toddlers and preschool age children. Workshop’s informal format will allow for lively brainstorming and discussion.

Facilitators:Christine Cadieux, Faculty of Child Studies, Centennial College and Nicole Grignard, Early Childhood Educator

From Theory to Practice: Developmental Strategies for your Infant & Toddler’s Success

This workshop will introduce child development theory to assist you in helping your infant and toddler reach their full potential. Practical strategies that can turn everyday activities into wonderful learning opportunities for infants and toddlers will also be discussed.

Facilitator: Simone Castellino is the Assistant Director of the Queen’s Park Child Care Centre.

Grad Connections: Students with Family Responsibilities

Date: Friday, October 12, 2018
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Location: SGS Lounge, 63 St George St.

Take a break and connect with other grad students at our new bi-weekly chat forum. Share your experiences in an informal setting, talk about your challenges and life as a graduate student. An expert staff facilitator will be available to answer questions related to each week’s theme. This is a free event! Coffee and tea will be available. Space is limited to 25.

Grad Student Parent Meet-ups

Connect and unwind with other U of T graduate students who have or are about to have children. Share resources, get support and enjoy relaxing craft activities!

Pizza lunch will be served.

All U of T graduate student parents and expectant graduate students are welcome.

This program is a collaborative initiative of the Family Care Office, Graduate Student Union, Grad Life and Hart House.

Grad Talk: Becoming a Parent in Graduate School

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Cumberland Room, Centre for International Experience, 33 St. George Street

Lunch will be provided.

A panel discussion featuring a faculty member and graduate students who are raising children; you will be able to hear firsthand about their experiences for integrating studies and careers with raising children
Hear about programs and resources available for students who are starting a family: University and Government leave policies; funding options for pregnancy/parental leave; and, resources for new parents
Self-assessment — you will have an opportunity to explore your own readiness to start a family.

Presented by the Family Care Office, the School of Graduate Studies, and the Gradlife Program.

Registration required. University of Toronto students and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Halloween ‘Character Treats’ – an online workshop for children and an adult family member

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Halloween is a fun time when we use our creativity to transform ourselves and become something or someone else. In this Halloween-themed activity, children and their parents will identify their individual ‘character treats’. They will explore how their individual characteristics connect to those around them and why that can be a real treat! Participants will learn to face four Halloween ghosts: Denialin, Doubty, Worry-Anne and Fearan. This social and emotional learning activity is aimed at children 6 to 10 years of age. For this activity, please have paper, markers, crayons, coloured pencils and scissors.

Recommended for children 6 to 10 years and an adult family member.

Halloween Costume Making Workshop

In this fun and creative workshop – for any and all skill levels – we will be learning three different easy to make Halloween costumes for kids. You are welcome to make up to two costumes being taught. You are also welcome to bring in any costume you are already working on if you are looking for assistance. All materials will be provided.

Halloween Party for Student Families

The Native Students’ Association in collaboration with First Nations House, Transitional Year Program and the Family Care Office invites everyone to dress up and join us for some ghoulish games, freaky fun, and frightening food!

Happy Parents, Happy Kids

Ann Douglas, a Canadian best-selling parenting author, provides a guide to parenting without anxiety, guilt, or feeling overwhelmed in her latest book:Happy Parents, Happy Kids.  In this presentation she will discuss:

Does parenting have to be this hard?
How to boost your enjoyment of parenthood
How to feel less anxious, less guilty, and less overwhelmed; and tap into the support you need

Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting. She is a U of T graduate, and received her degree in History in 1985.  She is the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio and the creator of Canada’s bestselling series of pregnancy and parenting books, The Mother of All book series. Her most recent books are Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm.  Please note her book Happy Parents, Happy Kids will be available for sale in the ODLC.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their families are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Healthy Child Screening Clinic

Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (drop-in clinic, no appointment is necessary)
Location: Basement of the Early Learning Centre (ELC), 7 Glen Morris Street

Please buzz the staff of the screening clinic for entrance to the basement of the ELC

FREE developmental and nutritional check-up for children between 0 – 6 years of age. An opportunity to speak to a public health nurse about your child’s healthy development.

Come in and have your child screened for developmental, communication, and nutritional risks.

Have your questions answered regarding topics such as: Physical Growth, Social/Emotional Development, Motor Skills, Language Development, Picky Eaters, Physical Activity, and Feeding Environment.

Drop in clinic.  No appointment necessary.  Two Toronto Public Health Nurses will do the screening.

You are encouraged to bring your child with you; however, children are not required to attend the screening.  Strollers must be kept outside, and may be locked to a bike post.

University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Healthy School Lunches and Family Meals

During this workshop we will discuss the fundamentals of meal planning – why, how and where to start, for a healthy energy packed lunch. Daunting and as overwhelming it seems, it can take less than 20 minutes to do, alleviate major daily stress and cut down on your grocery bill. We will discuss:

Kids and Back to School Lunch

The essentials of what makes an energy packed lunch.
How to ensure that the lunchbox comes home empty.
Ideas to keep you going throughout the year.

Family Meal Planning

Meal planning for the whole family, even the picky eaters.
Easy ways to keep it going and not fall off the planning wagon!
Staples needed in the kitchen to pull off fast and simple meals when you are pressed for time.

Bring your favourite recipes that you use a regular basis to share with others! Let’s make this workshop as collaborative as we can!

Each participant will receive a Super Smart Kids Breakfast and Lunch Meal Plan.

Help, There is a Teenager in my House

Date: Thursdays, May 18, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop focuses on the challenges and exciting possibilities of parenting teenagers. First, we will look at physical, social and emotional changes that take place during teenage years and explore how these changes impact our children’s relationships with us and the world around them. Next, we will discuss how our parenting also changes to meet “where our children are at,” developmentally. Here, we will discuss setting boundaries, discipline, communication and parenting styles, finding balance, and (re)building relationships. This workshop is for all present and future parents of teenagers who would like to laugh and learn: laugh about our mistakes (present and future) and learn, in a non-judgmental environment, how to best support our children.

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is Doctor of Philosophy student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 19 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 12-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Help!!! I am the Parent of a Teen

Join us for a discussion on what is going on in your teen’s life and parenting strategies for dealing with these issues in a positive way. Bring your topics for discussion, which will include:

Teen developmental stages and challenges
Drugs and alcohol
Sexuality
Peer pressure
What doesn’t work

The workshop will be presented by Lynne Mitchell M.E.S., M. Ed., R.S.W. Lynne is a registered social worker in private practice in the area of individuals, relationships and families with a special interest in adolescents and young adults. She has extensive experience delivering parent support groups and workshops in workplace settings. She was a clinical supervisor for 18 years at Youth Clinical Services, where she worked with teens and their families.

Helping Children Adjust to Separation and Divorce

This introductory workshop will explore how parents can effectively protect their children from conflict during the separation and divorce process. The workshop will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

Facilitator: Michael A. Saini, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. For the past 15 years, he has been conducting custody evaluations and assisting children’s counsel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, Ministry of the Attorney General in Ontario. He is a parent coach to assist parents with the transition of separation and he has written in the area of high conflict, alienation, supervised visitation, virtual visitation and parent competencies post separation and divorce.

Helping Children Cope with Separation and Divorce (Webinar)

Divorce is painful and confusing. How you handle it influences how your child will cope. Children need empathy, love and support at a time when parents may have less to draw on themselves. This webinar is intended to provide participants with a deeper understanding of what goes on in the hearts and minds of children of all ages in the wake of marital disruption, so that parents can help foster their children’s resilience.

The webinar will also describe how to explain divorce to children, and address common responses such reunification fantasies, separation anxiety and anger. It will also note a few tips on how to support children who have witnessed parental conflict.

Facilitator: Lynda Fernyhough, MA, Homewood Health. Lynda has approximately 30 years of experience working with children and families, which includes working as a counsellor in Vancouver elementary and high schools, as well as in private practice. In addition to working as a counsellor, Lynda currently works as a parenting coach, helping individuals and families change interpersonal dynamics that are not serving them well.

Helping Students Through Crisis

Session I: A Referral Guide for Front Line Staff

Front line staff are often the first people to whom students turn when they face personal difficulties. This session, the first of a two-part series, will provide participants with the skills to effectively help students through crisis. This interactive workshop is designed to help front line staff master the art of effective referrals – from how to identify students in difficulty, to when to provide an immediate referral, where to go for assistance in emergency situations, and who to consult. We will be working from the University of Toronto information booklet entitled Connections: Identifying and Referring Students in Difficulty, as well as practicing referral skills using an interactive demonstration.

Session II: A Resource Guide for Front Line Staff

Front line staff are often the first people to whom students turn when they face personal difficulties. This session, the second of a two-part series, will build on the knowledge and skills gathered in the first session. A comprehensive overview will be presented on many of the services that can help students, particularly those with family responsibilities. Types of information that will be covered include the following:

Overview of On Campus Student Services and their Programs
Emergency Housing
Child Care: Subsidies and Emergency Care
Health and Dental Coverage
Resources to Deal with Abuse (Spousal, Child)
Assistance with Food and Clothing
Culturally Specific Services and Unique Resources for Women
Neighbourhood, Community & Social Services

Helping Your Child Develop Social Skills

Meet the challenges of parenting by helping your child become more socially competent, and set the stage for building relationships. In this workshop you will:

Analyze your own and your child’s Social Skills
Learn ways to teach your child etiquette, conversation, conflict resolution and problem solving skills, and
Help build your child’s self esteem through encouragement and respect

This workshop will focus on 5 – 12 years old.

Facilitator: Judy Gast, Family Education Centre

Helping Your Child Develop Social Skills (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: University of Toronto Mississauga Campus, Davis Building Room 3129

This workshop will help parents develop techniques to help your child become more socially competent, and to lay the groundwork for building successful relationships.

Assess social skills of both parents and children
Learn ways to teach respectful communication, problem solving skills, how to handle a variety of social situations and the emotions felt
Help build your child’s self esteem through encouragement and respect

This workshop will focus on children ages 5 – 12 years old.

Facilitator: Kolleen McIlveen, Family Education Centre. Kolleen has been working for the Family Education Centre since 2010, and became a Parent Educator in 2012. She has been involved in the field of parent education since 2004 when her child was a toddler. Kolleen has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Marketing and International Management.

Helping Your Child Succeed at School

Every parent wants their child to be happy and successful at school. Many working parents struggle with knowing how to support their children with school-related activities. This session invites participants to seek a partnership between each child, the school and themselves as parents. This partnership creates positive structure at home to support their children’s experience at school, and looks for ways to reward effort rather than outcomes.

During this 1 hour wellness session participants will:

Learn to build partnerships between each child, the school and yourselves as parents;
Discover how to create a positive structure at home to support your children’s experience at school;
Become aware of ways to reward effort rather than outcomes

Facilitator: Homewood Health

Helping Your Child Succeed at School (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: University of Toronto Mississauga Campus, Davis Building Room 3130

All parents want their children to be happy and successful at school. Many working parents struggle with knowing how to support their children with school-related activities. This session invites participants to seek a partnership between child, school and themselves as parents. This partnership creates positive structure at home to support their children’s experience at school, and looks for ways to reward effort rather than outcomes.

During this 1 hour wellness session participants will:

Learn to build partnerships between child, school and parents
Discover how to create a positive structure at home to support children’s experience at school
Become aware of ways to reward effort rather than outcomes.

Facilitator: Homewood Health

Please register early, space is limited! All University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) staff, faculty and students are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Helping Your Child Succeed in School

Are you concerned about how your child is doing in school?
Are you unsure about how to approach a parent-teacher conference?
Join an experienced teacher and a principal to discuss topics including: choices of school programs, parent-teacher relationship, parent involvement, and LGBTQ concerns.

*This will be a general presentation and it is not necessary that your child attends this school.

Helping Your Child Through a Separation or Divorce

In this workshop facilitated by Susan Garrod-Schuster, the video “Healing Wounded Hearts” will be shown. This video features a collection of children’s voices who are living with parental separation. Following the video will be a question and answer period and strategies for coping will be shared.

Hidden in Plain “Site” Preventing Online Sexual Exploitation Together

Date: Monday, October 24, 2022
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The risk of online sexual exploitation of youth is rising, especially in the context of the #COVID19 pandemic. White Ribbon is pleased to offer a free webinar to parents on preventing all forms of #onlinesexualexploitation and #sextrafficking.

In this webinar, parents will learn more about:

Warning signs of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking
How to engage youth in practicing online safety
How to prevent this issue from happening through learning about healthy relationships, consent, allyship and equity
Help and resources available.

Facilitator: Taylor Demetrioff is the Bilingual Community Engagement Manager – Education at White Ribbon. With over a decade working in the mental health field, Taylor has worked hard to bring positive programming and education to Canadian teens and adults.

Starting in his career, Taylor developed a mental health and music program for teens struggling with their mental well-being called “Let It Out!” while studying at l’Université de Saint Boniface on Treaty 1 land. More recently, Taylor has focused his efforts on fostering meaningful relations with Elders and Indigenous leaders across Manitoba to challenge colonialism while maintaining a deep love, respect and appreciation for Indigenous cultures.

As a father and husband, Taylor strives to end gender-based violence while promoting healthy relationships, gender equality and healthy masculinities.

Hidden in Plain “Site” Preventing Online Sexual Exploitation Together

Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The risk of online sexual exploitation of youth is rising, especially in the context of the #COVID19
pandemic. White Ribbon is pleased to offer a free webinar to parents on preventing all forms of
#onlinesexualexploitation and #sextrafficking.

In this webinar, parents will learn more about:

Warning signs of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking
How to engage youth in practicing online safety
How to prevent this issue from happening through learning about healthy relationships, consent, allyship and equity
Help and resources available.

Facilitator: David Garzon is the Team Lead, Community Engagement at White Ribbon. He is responsible for the management and delivery of several key initiatives across White Ribbon, together with the program staff team. David has worked in Bolivia, Guatemala, and Colombia delivering workshops and implementing projects on gender equity, masculinities, LGBTQ+ rights, gender-based violence, feminism, youth empowerment, health, and fair trade. David holds a bachelor degree in Sociology and Latin American and Caribbean studies from York University, a certificate in Critical Reflections on Masculinities from the Center for Social Research, Technology and Capacity Building, and is currently finishing a post-graduate program in Global Business Management at Humber College.

Homeschooling Information Session

Have you ever considered of homeschooling for your children? Are you looking for more information on one of the various education options available for kids in Ontario? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this workshop is for you. The Homeschooling Information Session will give you a chance to learn about homeschooling and get answers to all of your burning questions. Through this session you will:

Learn how homeschooling works in Ontario including related regulations and processes
Gain a better understanding of the benefits and potential challenges of homeschooling
Learn about creating a learning curriculum and finding resources and support
Have an opportunity to ask questions and gain insight from a parent who homeschooled his child

Facilitator: Carlo Ricci is a Professor at the Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University, a representative with the Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents and a parent who homeschooled his daughter. Professor Ricci founded and edits the Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning (JUAL). He has published a number of books and articles including, The Willed Curriculum, Unschooling, and Self-Direction: What Do Love, Trust, Respect, Care, and Compassion Have To Do With Learning? (2012) and Natural Born Learners: Unschooling and Autonomy in Education (co-edited with Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko (2014).His research interests include Unschooling; Homeschooling; Holistic Education; Self-determined Learning; Free Schools; Democratic Schools; Online Learning; Technology and Learning; Play; Natural Learning; Curiosity; Willed Learning; and the Willed Curriculum.”

How Might We Create a More Family-Friendly UofT?  Student Parent Feedback Session

Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Robarts Library, Family Study Space, 9^th Floor, Room 9-002.

The Innovation Hub, in partnership with the Family Care Office, is looking to hear from student-parents on how U of T can be more family-friendly.  Join us to learn about the results of a research project the Innovation Hub conducted last year with student parents and then participate in interactive activities and dialogue that will generate practical ideas for how the university can better support student parents.  Your contributions will influence the future direction of student life programming and services.

As a thank you for participating, each participant will be provided with a $10 coffee gift card.

Facilitators: Innovation Hub staff members

University of Toronto current students are welcome.  You are also welcome to bring your child(ren) to this space, but please be advised you will be required to provide supervision.  We will have some toys and activities for the younger children under 5 years of age.  Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration required at family.care@utoronto.ca or 416-978-0951, and please provide us with your child’s age if they will be attending.

Please note, if you cannot attend the event, but would like to provide feedback, please contact innovationhub@utoronto.ca.

How not to fall through the cracks — a Single Parents’ Guide to Financial Survival

Are you a single, undergraduate student parent? Having trouble staying afloat? Do you want to learn and exchange tips about financial survival? Come to the Single Parents’ Financial Survival Workshop organized for students by students to learn about:

money management and budgeting
credit and debt — how to manage it and what to do when things go wrong
access to scholarships, grants, bursaries, and community resources
transitioning from Ontario Works

This event is sponsored by a number of U of T Departments, including Admissions & Awards, Woodsworth College, and UTSU.

How Ontario School Boards Identify and Support the Needs of Diverse Learners

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Location: Zoom – A meeting link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop will focus on Ministry of Education policies and processes related to supporting students with diverse needs and strengths. It will review the role of School Support Teams, Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Identification Placement Review Committees (IPRC). It will also provide a forum for participants to ask general questions about how students with exceptionalities access various supports and how parents can best navigate these systems.

Facilitator: For the past 15 years Jody Chong has split her time between her roles as an Assistant Professor at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and the Toronto District School Board where she is employed as a Special Education Teacher. Prior to this, she worked as a Reading Teacher with the Learning Disabilities Research Program at SickKids Hospital for almost ten years. Her research interests include reading difficulties and disabilities and the implementation of evidence-based literacy programs in classrooms.

How to Adopt

Date: Monday, April 17, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Have you ever considered adoption as a way of growing your family? The first step of your adoption journey is educating yourself about the process and options. This session, led by the Adoption Council of Ontario, will provide an overview of private, public and international adoption processes in Ontario. As well, information will be provided on the Home Study and the education process necessary to become eligible to adopt in Ontario. Helpful tips and strategies to ease the adoption journey will also be discussed.

Facilitator: Adoption Council of Ontario

How to Adopt

Date: Monday, February 8, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Facilitator: Ellen Igumnova RSW, BSW

With her experience in children welfare, Ellen developed a passion for contributing to positive social change in our society by working towards finding permanent and stable homes for children involved in Ontario’s child welfare system. As a Clinical Coordinator, Ellen has been working with the AdoptOntario team and other professionals since Fall 2019 to create profiles for waiting children, communicate with prospective adoptive parents, identify matches and share information regarding adoption with the ultimate goal of finding permanence for children as every child deserves to grow up with love and support from a family that they can call their own.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

How to Choose the Right Elementary School for Your Child with Special Needs

This session will help parents determine what factors should be taken into account when choosing an elementary school to enable children to reach their full learning potential.

In this session you will:

Learn about how the Toronto District School Board works to accommodate childrens special needs both in a variety of mainstream classroom environments and in Intensive Support programs;
Find out how to work with the school if your child has special needs or needs extra resource help.

Panelists: Karen Falconer, TDSB Superintendent; Cindy Jaques, TDSB Coordinator (Acting), Low Incidence Special Education; and Dr. Mary Pugh, U of T Faculty, Special Needs Parent and Member of the TCDSB Special Education Advisory Committee

How to Choose the Right School for Your Child

This session will help parents determine what factors should be taken into account when choosing an elementary and junior high school to enable children reach their full learning potential.

Learn about Toronto District School Board elementary, alternative and specialized schools, such as: French Immersion Schools, Alternative Schools or Afrocentric Alternative Schools
Find out how to work with the school if your child has special needs, needs extra resource help, or is interested in extracurricular activities

Discussion Panellists:

Karen Falconer, TDSB Superintendent
Angela Marsh, TDSB School Principal

How to Choose the Right Secondary School for your Child

This session will help parents determine what factors should be taken into account when choosing a secondary school. Parents will:

Learn about Toronto District School Board secondary schools including alternative & specialized schooling options;
Find out what questions you need to consider in your decisions and what resources are available to help you decide;
Find out how to work with the school if your child has special needs, needs extra resource help, or is interested in certain extracurricular activities.

Panelists: Karen Falconer, TDSB Superintendent and Sheryl Freeman, Principal at Central Technical School

How to Cope with Burnout

Date: Monday, July 12, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Depletion. Stress. Mental health. These words have become common in our vocabulary over the last 18 months. And for good reason. Many of us are bursting at the seams, and cannot cope with what’s going on. If you can identify with anything mentioned, you may be experiencing burnout. We know that many people are experiencing this right now, in various forms. How do we navigate it effectively?

Come join us for this 60-minute session, where you will discover more about what burnout is from a family perspective and how to identify when you have it, learn the key strategies to deal with burnout when it’s happening, and the practices to put in place to prevent it from happening in the future. In addition, you will be able to experience two coping mechanisms in real time, so you know how to recreate it for yourself!

Facilitator: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker and trainer, dedicated to helping people gain clarity on the life that they want to live, and developing healthy habits to make it a reality. She firmly believes that life is too short to live a life that makes you unhappy and is on a mission to free her clients from guilt, imposter syndrome and unworthiness so that they can share their gifts and dreams with others. A wife, and mom to two lively boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in her day-to-day. Find out more at www.tararhodes.ca.

How to Cope with Burnout

Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Depletion. Stress. Mental health. These words have become common in our vocabulary over the last 3 years. And for good reason. Many of us are bursting at the seams, and cannot cope with what’s going on. If you can identify with anything mentioned, you may be experiencing burnout. We know that many people are experiencing this right now, in various forms. How do we navigate it effectively? Learning how to manage stress to be able to care for your kids, parents, and anyone in between is essential to stay out of burnout. Take time to invest in yourself today!

Facilitator: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker and an award-winning facilitator and trainer. She is dedicated to helping people gain the clarity and confidence to advocate for the life they want to live, and then developing the healthy habits to make that a reality. She firmly believes that life is too short to live a life that makes you unhappy, and is on a mission to help her clients take control of their lives so they can share their unique gifts with the world. A wife and mom to two lively boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in her every day. You can find out more at on Tara Rhode’s website.

How to Find Reliable & Quality HomeCare Services

This workshop will help you find a Nanny or a Caregiver who is the ‘right fit for your family’, who shares your values and has required qualifications and training for the job.

At the end of the workshop you will be familiar with:

The Live-in Caregiver Programme which brings foreign Nannys/Caregivers to Canada, or employs people already living in the GTA
Interview techniques, reference checks and preparing a contract
The costs of this type of child/elder/special needs care in your home
Experiences of other people who hired a Nanny on their own

Panelists:

Arlene Stein, Director of Events and Catering, Hart House
Samira Lall, Amacare Inc, Nanny Recruitment and Placement Agency
Kaye Francis, Manager of the Family Care Office, currently on maternity leave
A representative from Intercede, non-profit community based organization for the rights of domestic workers, caregivers and newcomers

How to Have Great Family Vacations on a Shoestring Budget

Join us for ideas on how to plan fun-filled vacations with your child/children without breaking the bank. This practical session will answer participants’ questions, such as:

Which attractions can my kids and I see for free?
How can I save money on accommodation and meals?
Which websites can help me find cheap plane tickets?
How can I take my kids to Disneyworld without blowing the family budget?

Facilitator: Robert Lynn, Portfolio Manager at U of T Rotman School of Management

How to Own Your Own Your Dream Home

Come out and learn first hand everything you need to know about buying and owning your own dream home.

Identify the major factors to be considered, and decide if home ownership is right for you
Identify resources available to first time home buyers
Assess your housing needs
Determine various costs of home ownership and what you can afford to buy

Presented by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,Housing Services and the Family Care Office at U of T

How To Talk to Your Kids About Anti-Black Racism

Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This virtual workshop provides foundational knowledge for understanding anti-Black racism in Canada including key terminology, ideological framework, and historical information. The workshop focuses on debunking the myth of the great free north, understanding Canada’s legacies of colonialism and enslavement, and understanding the ways in which anti-Black racism manifests today. Participants will consolidate their knowledge using a transformative Jeopardy game/bingo card.

This workshop then moves from theory into a practice for sharing tools with children on how to recognise, challenge, and resist anti-Black racism. Facilitators will provide tips and resources for how to present information and analysis to children in a way that is age appropriate, safe, empowering, and engaging. The group will discuss how children and families can engage in self-love and transformative allied actions and will plan mini lessons for their families in breakout groups.

Facilitators: LeRoi Newbold and Nauoda Robinson from the FREEDOMSCHOOL – Toronto – a youth and parent driven initiative that intervenes to fight against anti-Black racism in the school system and to creative educational alternatives for Black children.

How to Unlock the Best in our Children and Ourselves

We all want to help our kids become caring, courageous, positive and principled people. But in today’s hectic, information-overdosed world there seem to be a thousand influences on them that we are not always happy about. And when they don’t act like the kind of people we hoped they would be, we often feel out of control, out of ideas and worried about how to turn things around.

Would you like to see your children:

Taking greater initiative at home and school?
Able to put themselves in others’ shoes?
Taking more responsibility for their actions?
Valuing togetherness as a family and wanting to spend more time with you?
Consistently treating peers, adults and themselves with respect?
Being honest even when the truth is difficult to share?
Courageously facing fears and persisting through challenges?
Less influenced by negative peer pressure and able to stand up for what they believe in?

Join Sara Dimerman for a one hour seminar (plus Q & A) on how to accomplish this.

Facilitator:

Sara Dimerman has been a therapist and educator for over twenty years. She is one of North America’s most trusted parenting and relationship experts and the author of three books – ‘Am I A Normal Parent?’, ‘Character Is the Key’ and a book for couples – ‘How can I be your Lover when I’m too Busy being your Mother?’

A complimentary copy of Sara’s book ‘Character at the Key’ will be given to one of the seminar’s attendees as part of a draw. Everybody else can purchase Sara’s book after the workshop at a discounted rate of $20.00.

Visit www.helpmesara.com or folllow Sara @helpmesara

How Your Attachment Style Affects Your Parenting Style

Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:15 pm
Location: St. George campus, Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

In this workshop, parents will gain an understanding of:

Attachment styles (secure attachment, avoidant attachment, ambivalent attachment)
Discover how their attachment style with their primary caregiver influences their current parenting style.
Explore the impact of our attachment styles through interactive exercises
Gain insight into narratives around relationships we may have created that are blocking our growth.

Participants learn how they can be more aware of areas they need to work on to develop healthier relationships with their children. If one doesn’t know about their unconscious, default ways of reacting that are deeply ingrained in the psyche, there is no chance to consciously create positive change. There is a special emphasis put on practical techniques parents can try based on their attachment style in relating better to their children. In this way, the children may be more likely to develop a secure attachment style. Attachment styles and working models of relationships can change, and by changing a parent’s attachment style, their child’s attachment style can become more secure too.

Facilitator: Samantha Samuels is in her final year of the Masters of Counselling Psychology program at OISE, University of Toronto and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from York University. She has worked as a counsellor in not-for-profit and educational settings in Ontario. Through her studies in Psychology and couples/family therapy, she has researched the attachment styles and its impact on parent-child relationships in great depth. Samantha has developed and facilitated numerous workshops across the Greater Toronto Area and enjoys sharing information related to personal growth and self-development.

I Don’t See What You Mean: How Communication Styles Affect Family Dynamics

A Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Workshop.

Explore different communication styles and understand their impact on your family dynamics. Use the patterns of personality type described in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to communicate effectively, and to appreciate personal differences. During this full-day workshop, you will experience “personality in action” through a few interactive challenges and discussions, and become more aware of your communication preferences. By the end of the workshop, you will:

Receive a personalized MBTI report describing communication style preferences
Recognize how various problem solving and decision making methods impact people close to you
Learn how to use the diversity of communication styles to help improve your interaction with your family members and others

Facilitator: Carlos Esteves is a training and development professional with fifteen years of experience as a manager and senior leader in the creation and implementation of customer satisfaction and team communication improvement workshops, including Myers Briggs Type Indicator workshop.

Identities @ Work: Balancing Job Searching, Work & Caregiving

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2023
Time: 2:10 – 3:30 pm
Location: HYBRID – Online (Zoom) and In-Person (800 Bay Street, 5^th Floor)

In this interactive dialogue, co-hosted by Career Exploration & Education and the Family Care Office, we will:

Acknowledge and identify systemic barriers caregivers face when seeking and maintaining employment
Explore how to identify employers that support the priorities and needs of caregivers
Learn how to honor caregiving skills on your resume, and how and when to address resume gaps
Develop structures of support and identify resources that can support you in finding balance between job-seeking, working and caregiving

REGISTER & LEARN MORE ON CLNx.

Full link to register: https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/slevents.htm?eventId=49614

Impact of Separation and Divorce on Children

Caroline Rabbat has over twenty years experience working in the field of children and adult mental health and has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations on the impact of separation/divorce on children. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to discuss issues impacting children when parents separate/divorce and be provided with practical parenting strategies to address those issues.

In/Fertility & Beyond

If you want to have children and are looking for some general information on fertility, have tried for 6-12 months without success, or think that your biological clock is running out, this workshop will provide an opportunity to interact with a fertility counsellor and to empower you on the journey to parenthood.

At the end of the session, you will be able to:

Plan how to seek a fertility specialist and when to do it
Access resources on various assisted reproductive technologies
Identify treatment options for men and women, same-sex and heterosexual couples
Discuss the cost of fertility medications and procedures

Facilitator: Jan Silverman is a fertility program specialist and health educator at Women’s College Hospital.

Increase Your Cultural Fluency — A Key to an Effective Transition to Your New Life in Canada

Although many newcomers to Canada have a high level of English proficiency and extensive professional experience, they face barriers in finding suitable employment and adapting to a new life in general. The evidence shows that a newcomer’s “cultural fluency” has a greater impact on the individual’s transition and adaption to a new country. In this session, the presenter will provide insightful observations and clear analysis on how cultural values and assumptions influence people’s perspectives, communication and behaviour. The presenter will also share strategies on how to improve your cultural fluency in Canada so you can communicate and work more effectively in the Canadian context.

Presenter:

Ben Yang came to Canada from Beijing China as a graduate student at OISE/UT over 20 years ago, and has had first-hand experience of adapting to a different cultural and academic environment. Currently, he is the Executive Director, International Education and Training at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario.

He is a frequent presenter on globalization, cross-cultural communication and career development, and has been teaching as an instructor for the International Educator Training Program (IETP) at Queens’ University for the past 10 years.

Information Session on Employment Insurance (special benefits) for HR Staff

The Family Care Office has invited a representative from Service Canada to provide an overview on the regulations and application procedures for applying for Employment Insurance Maternity and Parental Benefits, Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits and Employment Insurance benefits for Parents of Critically Ill Children.

Facilitator: Sarita Censoni, Citizen Services Specialist, Service Canada

Interactive Storytelling for the Kids

FCO’s Open House will feature an interactive performance of stories and music by Mr. James (James Patterson), who is a dynamic and imaginative storyteller and musician who tells tales and sings songs from all around the world. Mr. James is part of a Children’s Trio called Three Funny Hats which has been enchanting audiences with stories and songs for three years. He is the founder of WorldPlay Theatre which gives performances and teaches classes in Canada and Israel.

Intercultural & Interfaith Partnerships: How to Make Your Relationship Work

This panel discussion is an opportunity for individuals to reflect on the positive aspects and the challenges of interfaith and cross-cultural relationships. How do you negotiate differences? How could this impact on parenting? What about other family relationships?

Panellists will speak from a professional knowledge of conflict resolution, relationship counselling and also from personal experience. There will be an opportunity for questions and conversation amongst the panellists and the audience.

Panellists:

Garth Yarde, Coordinator of Conflict Resolution, St. Stephen’s Community House
Nancy Ross, MA, Member CAPT, Clinical Member OSP
Lisa Schlaich and Fisseha Belay, OISE graduate students

This workshop is sponsored by the Campus Chaplain Association, Family Care Office, and The Multi-Faith Centre.

Interfaith Harmony Week: Faith & Family Fun Day

Date: Monday, February 6, 2023
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Location: Multi-Faith Centre – Main Activity Hall, 569 Spadina Ave

Join us for a fun afternoon of interactive activities for students and families to explore different ways to engage in interfaith bridge-building. Interfaith work, in its most broadest sense is bringing people from diverse faiths together, making connections, and becoming a community of support for one another. What constitutes a family can mean many things, but akin to interfaith work, it is about bridging understanding and building a community of support and love. In honour of Interfaith Harmony Week, the Family Care Office and the Multi-Faith Centre are pleased to offer an afternoon dedicated to celebrating and honouring our diverse community through inclusive activities, including: friend-building exercises, plant potting, banner decorating, board games, and light snacks. Students are encouraged to drop-by on their own or with their respective family. Children of all ages are welcome.

About the Program: The Interfaith Harmony Week is a week-long program of interfaith activities that aligns with the UN’s World Interfaith Harmony Week during the first week of February. This week of engagements and learning offers an opportuntiy to celebrate interfaith work globally.

Registration: This event is for student families; students must register on CLNX and then email family.care@utoronto.ca with the names and ages of all attendees.

International Spouses / Partners Support Group

An informal self-support group for all International faculty, staff and student spouses/partners. The group meets every other Friday to share information, to participate in fun activities, to practice English with each other and get professional advice on topics such as: health care, child care, immigration, career information, community services and volunteering. A group that will make your adjustment to life in Canada easier.

Internet Safety

Increase your awareness of how your kids are using the Internet and the issues they may encounter along the way with Dave Richards, a 30-year veteran with the Toronto Police force. Having worked in a variety of law enforcement areas, including Crime Analyst and the Youth Bureau Officer, he offers an expertise in the dos and don’ts of surfing the net.

Introducing & Cooking Your Own Babyfood

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable and, best of all, you know exactly what’s in it! At the end of this workshop the participants will be able to:

Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Use simple equipment to make baby food
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo has been working for FoodShare for many years as a facilitator for the Cooking Your Own Babyfood workshops.

Introducing Mindfulness to Children: One Playful Breath at a Time

Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Mindfulness practice is known to foster resilience, emotion regulation and attention as well as reduce anxiety and stress. But how can we engage children in mindfulness when it is so often associated with sitting still? In this workshop, Sara will playfully introduce mindfulness to children through story, movement and fun activities that go beyond ‘sitting still.’ In this way, children can get a taste of mindfulness and even teach their parents afterwards. Sara will also include an activity at the start for both parents & caregivers.

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups in both private practice and the Mindfulness Clinic. She has trained as a facilitator in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and is a certified teacher in Mindful Self-compassion (MSC). She facilitates mindfulness & compassion workshops and groups for all ages. She is the author of several mindfulness related children’s books including My New Best Friend, which introduces self-compassion to children and No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully. She has been a regular instructor at Ryerson University in the School of Early Childhood Studies for over 13 years. She is the parent of two children and can be found online at www.mindfulfamilies.ca

Registration required. The children of U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend with a parent.

*Recommended for children ages 6-10 years old.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Introduction to Family Law

Date: Tuesday, December 13
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Learn the basics of Family Law and what is involved in:

Child decision-making responsibility and parenting time
Child and spousal support
Separation agreements
General overview of the family court process

Presenter: Downtown Legal Services

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are welcome. Partners and family members (including chosen family members) who are co-caregivers with U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are also welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this in-person event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Introduction to Family Law

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College Street, Room 313

Learn the basics of Family Law and what is involved in:

Custody and access
Child and spousal support
Separation agreements
Restraining orders
General overview of the family court process

Presenter: Downtown Legal Services

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Introduction to Fertility

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: OISE, 252 Bloor St W, Room OI 2286

Attend this workshop to get the facts on fertility from Dr. Marjorie Dixon, the CEO & Medical Director of Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health.

During the one-hour session, Dr. Dixon will cover:

An overview of fertility
Issues, symptoms and causes
Fertility myths
Treatments and costs
Supports and services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Facilitator Bio:

Dr. Marjorie Dixon is the founder of Anova Fertility – Canada’s first full service fertility centre with a next generation embryology laboratory. Dr. Dixon is a graduate of the McGill University’s School of Medicine. Her initial postgraduate training was at the University of Toronto, in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her passion for reproductive medicine continued during her postgraduate training with a 3-year subspecialty, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology accredited fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont. Dr. Dixon is an active member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and holds the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, where she actively participates in medical student and resident education. She continues to be an invited speaker at both national and international conferences in her field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Introduction to Mindful Parenting

Evening Mindful Parenting Series
In February, the Family Care Office will be offering a two-workshop Mindful Parenting series. Introduction to Mindful Parenting will be offered online on February 9 7:45 pm – 9 pm. Mindfulness for Kids: Building a Parent’s Toolkit will be the following week at the same time. Notes:
1) Please try attend both workshops if you can! Please register for each one of you are planning to attend both.
2) If you are planning to participate with someone with whom you co-parent, please submit two registrations even though you might be logging in from the same device. Thank you!

INTRODUCTION TO MINDFUL PARENTING

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Time: 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In Mindful Parenting, we apply mindfulness principles to the art of parenting as a way to build a strong child-parent relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. In this introductory workshop, parents will learn, through fun and practical exercises, the key elements of Mindful Parenting, focusing on three pillars: awareness, acceptance, and intention. Come clarify your values as a parent and learn how to translate your long-term parenting goals into day-to-day life with kids; find new ways to cultivate self-compassion and patience towards your child; and understand the crucial role of parenting “mistakes” and how to embrace them as opportunities.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been facilitating mindfulness and yoga programs for parents and children for 15 years, and has led the Family Care Office Mindful Parenting programs since 2013. Mari has a degree in Psychology, with a specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health from the University of Toronto, and is currently a PhD student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her two kids, aged 11 and 13.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Managing Parenting Pressures During a Pandemic

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Parenting is difficult in the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. In this webinar we will discuss some of the pressures parents are experiencing as families try to work, study, live and play in close quarters and constant company. We will validate struggles, reflect on shifting expectations during a pandemic and consider strategies for navigating this difficult time without adding additional pressures or lists to participants. Good enough is good enough, especially right now.

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

KAIROS Blanket Exercise

Date: Friday, November 16, 2018 (P.A. Day)
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Main Activity Hall, MultiFaith Centre, 569 Spadina Ave.

Learn about Indigenous colonization as it really happened in this interactive, family-friendly KAIROS-inspired blanket exercise led by facilitator Dawn Maracle. Participants – including children 5 years and older – will take part in a time-travelling, role-playing exercise that captures the experiences of Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island, known to most today as “Canada.” Over the span of 2 hours, Dawn will walk participants through the various stages of pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Read more about KAIROS’ blanket exercise here.

Wear your fun/mismatched socks as you will be taking shoes off for the exercise!

All U of T students, staff and faculty and their partners and children are welcome.

This event is held in conjunction with U of T’s Student Life Access and Inclusion Peer Programs.

Registration required at family.care@utoronto.ca.

Keeping our Kids Safe: A seminar discussing children’s safety

Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Parents and caregivers want to do the best they can to ensure that the children and youth in their care are happy and safe. This workshop is for everyone who is interested in learning the concepts of helping to keep children and youth safe from harm (including physical, sexual, emotional harm, community violence, bullying, and technology assisted abuse and violence).

Participants will be updated on:

the current trends in violence and abuse prevention (learning about offender grooming tactics, secrecy, what to say to kids, and how to get help);
the assumptions that have been made about children/youth and safety;
the mixed messages children/youth have received in the past (stranger danger, street proofing);
appropriate messages for staff, parents and caregivers to give to children and youth;
practical safety tips; and
how to talk to children and youth about personal safety,
how to build a positive healthy relationship with kids.

Facilitator: Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

How do I protect my kids from cyberbullying? Is “sexting” a reality for our children? What’s the deal with social networking? Are Facebook, Twitter andYouTube here to stay? How much is too much screen time? How can I learn more about the social-media world my kids are growing up in?

Social Media and the Internet do NOT have to be scary! Join us for a frank discussion about the Internet and social media’s impact on kids of all ages.

Led by Kiwi Seminars, a group that specializes in speaking to parents and students alike, this session will empower parents through knowledge and teach the real risks on the Internet while not indulging in media hype. Topics covered will includetips on how to protect ourselves, teaching our children how to be safe, how to use the World Wide Web responsibly and more.

Kids & Company Information Session (Staff & Faculty)

The University of Toronto is a registered member with Kids & Company, a work-life support service for working parents and caregivers needing childcare or elder care services, including backup support programs to compliment already existing care arrangements. U of T membership provides our faculty and staff access to Kids & Company’s part-time & full — time childcare, emergency back -up childcare, nanny placement service, and elder care support services.

Attend this session for more details on the services provided by Kids & Company, to find out how to register and activate a service, and what it will cost.

Learning to Love Winter for Families

Date: Wednesday, January 18th, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: MS Teams – The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Hosted in collaboration with U of T’s Centre for International Experience (CIE), we invite families spending their first, or one of their first, winters in Toronto to learn how to not just survive, but thrive during the coming months. Topics include dressing appropriately for winter weather, winter safety, and local activities for families to enjoy.

Facilitator: Hannah Souza, Program Coordinator, Orientation & Community Programs, Centre for International Experience

Legal Aspects of Separation and Divorce

This workshop is for students, staff & faculty who are considering separation and would like to construct a plan for this process. Join Suzette M. Bloom, L.L.B. and learn what is involved. Acquire tools to navigate your way through the system so you can make informed choices. Know your rights & obligations. Learn how to select a lawyer & finance the cost of your legal services.

Let’s Talk about Fertility

Join us for this panel discussion with three U of T members who will share their experiences as they tried (or are trying) to conceive and have a baby. They will discuss the stresses, emotions, joys and challenges they faced along with the resources they accessed.

Also participating on the panel, will be Dr. Marjorie Dixon, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at U of T, and a fertility specialist.

Let’s Talk About Gender: A Discussion Panel on Gender Independent Children

Join us for a conversation about some of the practical, emotional, and social issues involved with children who challenge gender norms. Hear first-hand how parents are supporting their own gender non-conforming children, learn about available resources, and how to work with your child’s school.

Panellists:

Parents of Gender Non-Conforming Children
Ilana David, Gender-Based Violence Prevention Social Worker with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)

This event is sponsored by the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office and the Family Care Office.

Let’s Talk Health – Preparing Healthy Lunches & Snacks

Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In partnership with Hart House, the Family Care Office presents this webinar where will be discussing how to ensure your kids are not only eating well but getting all their nutrients! From how to prepare meals and lunches that are interactive, to educating your kids about health.

Facilitator: Aisha Lesley Bentham; Vegan chef, performing artist, health enthusiast, and lifestyle expert started the HUE brand four years ago and has worked with a diverse clientele from providing meals for working mothers to the international Artist WU-tang. Her love for food and art motivated her to create a vegan food and lifestyle brand that inspires vegan meals, offers tips and tools on how to be a more sustainable and aware consumer. She believes in her mission to educate, inform and encourage her community to create a life that has no rules but rather an array of options for you to pick and choose from.

Let’s Talk About Childcare Subsidies

Date:Monday, November 21, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

While childcare costs in the GTA can be high, many families are eligible for government subsidies to help offset fees. In this webinar, City of Toronto staff will provide information on the subsidy process, from eligibility, to applying to finding a childcare centre where your subsidy can be used. Join us for more information on whether this is an option available to your family!

Facilitator: Peter Young, City of Toronto Children’s Services

LGBTQ Parenting

This workshop will lend insight into the challenges frequently faced by LGBTQ families, and provide strategies for facilitating partnerships with professionals working to support U of T families.

During this workshop, you will:

Discuss indicators of early learning environments that are inclusive of LGBTQ issues.
Access information and resources for working with programs in support of children reared in LGBTQ-headed households.
Gain increased insight into agencies within the U of T community and the greater Toronto area that serve to support LGBTQ families.
Safely share and exchange common experiences within a LGBTQ-positive space.

Facilitators: Ryan Campbell and Iyana Browne

Ryan and Iyana are supervisors at the University of Toronto Early Learning Centre. Ryan is also an MA candidate in Ryerson’s Early Childhood Studies program and has published and presented on various LGBTQ-related issues in early childhood education. Iyana is currently working on a BA in Equity Studies and Anthropology.

LGBTQ Parents and their Children in Child Care Centres and in Schools

The aim of the session is to lend insight into the challenges frequently faced by LGBTQ families whose children are attending school or are in a daycare setting. Panelists will:

discuss indicators of early learning environments that are inclusive of LGBTQ issues and share strategies to ensure the inclusion of queer issues in the early childhood classroom
provide insight into current and emerging strategies for assisting a child in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
provide information and resources for working with programs in support of children reared in LGBTQ-headed households

Panelists:

Ryan Campbell is a supervisor at the UofT Early Learning Centre and he is the co-author of Building Bridges: Queer Families in Early Childhood Education;
Steven Solomon, MSW, RSW, PhD.(c) is a School Social Worker with the Human Sexuality Program, Triangle Program in the TDSB.
Rosa Brooksis a co-op student in the TDSB and co-facilitates COLAGE.

Life Management Series – Finding Balance: A Student-Parent Panel (CCR approved)

Date: Friday, October 14, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for an opportunity to discover strategies and insights from current students with family responsibilities on how to adjust to university life. We will have a moderated panel of three students who will talk about their experiences of being a student-parent while pursuing either their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Registration required. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students – Time and Stress Management: Making it Work

Date: Monday, March 27, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop is intended for student caregivers. All of us have 24-hours in a day. Balancing family care and school is challenging, but there are strategies and supports that can help. You may have heard tips and tricks but how do you put them into practice. For those that attended our March 20^th Tips and Tricks Workshop on Time and Stress Management, this is a chance to put tips and tricks from last week into practice and/or share what you’ve tried and troubleshoot. For those who have not attended, that is ok! We’ll do a quick review of basic tips and tricks to get up to speed before creating some plans for practice.

Facilitator: Cristina Peter, Learning Strategist, EdD Student, Mom of 2

Registration required. U of T students are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students – Time and Stress Management: the Tips and Tricks

Date: Monday, March 20, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop is intended for student caregivers. All of us have 24-hours in a day. How can they be optimized? How do I balance all the things I want or need to do for my studies, my family, and my own well-being? What strategies can I use to mitigate the impact of stress on my studies? How do I avoid or respond to burnout? Balancing family care and school is challenging, but there are strategies and supports that can help. Students with family care responsibilities who find ways to manage time effectively can be more productive and have a sense of balance. Whether your life is predictable or unpredictable, there are ways of effectively using time to balance your competing priorities. This one-hour interactive workshop helps student parents to create realistic goals for their family and academic lives. We’ll share our best tips and tricks, and come prepared to share your own! As a student with If you attended our Stress and Time Management sessions last semester, you are more than welcome to attend and hear the content again- this is a replication of last semester’s workshop.

Facilitator: Cristina Peter, Learning Strategist, EdD Student, Mom of 2

Life Management Series for Students: Negotiating Time for Family (webinar)

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020
Time: 12 noon to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Webinar (link will be emailed to you before the session)

A workshop series designed to empower students to balance their academic priorities and self-care, while caring for others.

What happens when family responsibilities clash with academic expectations? Thinking about how to start a conversation with your graduate supervisor about family priorities can be stressful. Join the Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre (Grad CRC) for a 30 minute webinar designed to empower students to balance family and academic priorities using negotiation and self-advocacy strategies. This webinar will help you to:

Feel more confident about having a discussion with your supervisor about family issues and obligations;
• Identify helpful campus supports and resources; and
• Learn key negotiation strategies that may be useful as you prepare for discussions with your supervisor around family interests.

Facilitators: G2G Peer Advisors, Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre (Grad CRC)

Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved.  Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

Life Management Series for Students: Be Good to Yourself, Whoever You Are: A Poet in Community Workshop with Ronna Bloom

Date: Friday, April 8, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Often in life and in school, energy moves towards projects and people, but there’s little left for your own restoration. In this workshop, through the use of poems and prompts, you will be nudged into writing and reflecting on what sustains you, what you love and what you need. Take this time for yourself as a flicker of possibility of how you might take time for yourself in general.

No experience necessary. Please have a pen and paper, a notebook or whatever you like to write with on hand.

Ronna Bloom is a teacher and author of six books of poetry. Her poems have been recorded by the CNIB, and translated into Spanish, Bangla, and Chinese. Ronna created the Poet in Residence program at Sinai Health and is currently Poet in Community to the University of Toronto. www.ronnabloom.com

Poet in Community is on Facebook

Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Life Management Certificate and Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

This is a workshop series to empower students to balance academic priorities and self-care, with caring for others.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Facing (Yet Another) Change: Preparing for your return back to campus

Date: Friday, December 3, 2021
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The last two years have been a lot to handle, especially for people with family responsibilities. Figuring out how to stay safe and navigate uncertainty while also working and studying and caring for loved ones has been an intense juggling act for many. As we approach another big change — the return back to campus in January — what’s on your mind? In this workshop and discussion space, you will have the opportunity to reflect and think ahead towards your return to in-person learning in 2022. Together, we will explore some tools for navigating change and being in transition. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to connect with other students with families responsibilities who are facing the exact same change in their lives.

Kate Klein is a community-based facilitator and activist. She works at George Brown College as a coordinator and faculty member in the Transitions to Post-Secondary Education program.

A workshop series to empower students to balance academic priorities and self-care, with caring for others.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Financial Survival for Student Families – Learn how to manage your money, get out of debt, and use taxes to your advantage

Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The facilitator will be talking about money and debt management, to provide you with important tools to help you better manage both.

A workshop series to empower students to balance academic priorities and self-care, with caring for others.

Facilitator: Gary Rusyn, B.A., CEPF, Financial Educator, Credit Counselling Society

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Graduate Supervision Challenges and Best Practices

Date: Friday, October 22, 2021
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us to get a clear understanding of what to do and where to go for your different needs around supervision. Panelists will discuss ways to address some of the challenges that can arise in the supervisory relationship, such as:

What steps to take when choosing a supervisor
How to start the supervisory relationship off on the right foot
Things to consider if you’re thinking about changing supervisors
Where to go for help if you’re experiencing interpersonal conflict

Panelists:

Charmaine Williams, SGS Vice Dean, Student
Caroline Rabbat, Director, Graduate Centre for Mentorship and Supervision
Gail Fernando, Membership and Advocacy Coordinator, University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union

An online workshop by the School of Graduate Studies, the UTGSU – University of Toronto Graduate Students Union, and the Family Care Office.

A workshop series to empower students to balance academic priorities and self-care, with caring for others.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Self Advocacy for Students – Navigating the University

Date: Friday, November 26, 2021
Time: 10:00am – 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join this webinar to get insights on how to navigate the university’s systems and how you can advocate for yourself and/or your family when you may need an accommodation, need to talk to a professor, need financial support, and so on. This workshop is for students of all backgrounds who may be experiencing challenges and would like to learn more about navigating the University through self-advocacy as we will also explore how this process can be more difficult for students who are feeling marginalized and facing systemic barriers on campus.

Facilitators: Jasjit Sangha, Learning Strategist, Student Life and Karolina Szymanska, OISE/UT Academic Support, Student Awards & Funding

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Self-Advocacy for Students – Navigating the University

Date: Friday, January 29, 2021
Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Facilitators: Karolina Szymanska, Graduate Liaison Officer, OISE Dept. of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education and Jasjit Sangha, PhD, Academic Success

Registration required. All U of T students are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series for Students: Stuck in the Middle – Juggling School and Family Life

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between academic life and caring for others.

“Stuck in the Middle” is a self-discovery session on dealing with constant challenges of having family responsibilities, working and being a student. This self-awareness session will help you understand the feelings of guilt that arise when juggling your role as a student and not always having enough time to spend with your children and/or your loved ones. It’s for everyone who feels overwhelmed.

Most of the exercises are done in pairs and within the group. In this session you will discover your patterns of ‘stuckness’ and learn to convert feelings of being overwhelmed into action, energy and change.

Facilitator: Anna Wesolinska is a Gestalt psychotherapist who has a private practice and has been running workshops at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto, the North York Women’s Centre, and the Family Care Office.

Pizza lunch will be provided.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

* This Event is Graduate Professional Skills (GPS) Program approved.

Life Management Series for Students: Students Advocating for Themselves & Their Family Through Writing

Date: Friday, November 29, 2019
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between academic life and caring for others.

Students with family responsibilities have a lot on their plate! When a problem arises – be it academic, family related, personal or professional – advocating for oneself and one’s family can feel like a daunting task, particularly if the stakes are high. Traditionally defined as the “art of persuasion,” rhetoric is a powerful tool which students can use to better communicate through the written word. What is the best way to present one’s case? How can emotions be conveyed strategically and diplomatically? When writing a letter or email, what should come first – the presentation of the problem or the suggested solution? This workshop will touch upon these questions by focusing on the strategic use of rhetoric in letter and email writing.

Facilitator: Dr. Viktoria Jovanovic-Krstic, Writing & Rhetoric, Innis College. Dr. Jovanovic-Krstic brings with her years of experience in English stylistics and grammar, as well as business and technical communications from academic institutions across Canada and Europe. Her main areas of research and interest are the rhetoric of war, spinning and framing tactics in the press, grammar, persuasive writing and business communication. Viktoria is also a mom of two children who is no stranger to the life of a student with family responsibilities!

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Light refreshments will be provided.

Register at https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/slevents.htm?eventId=19418

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Life Management Series for Students: Studying at Home with Children

Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for a webinar with Learning Strategist (and mother) Cristina Peters. This webinar will discuss strategies for working/studying from home with children.

Facilitator: Cristina Peters, Learning Strategist, Academic Success Centre

A workshop series to empower students to balance academic priorities and self-care, with caring for others.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series: Effective Study Tips

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between their academic work and caring for others.

How can I stay organized and on top of my studies this year? What’s the best way to read and take notes that are useful for review? This interactive workshop will answer these questions and more. Stress related to studying can be amplified when there are distractions related to family care underfoot, in the sink, or asking for help with their own homework. Students who find ways to stay organized and study effectively are more productive, gain a deeper understanding from their readings, and have an easier time reviewing notes and thinking critically. Come to learn about studying, reading and note taking from and with other students with family responsibilities.

Facilitator: Learning Strategist at the Academic Success Centre at the University of Toronto.

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete three workshops in one academic year, will receive Life Management Certificate and Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities. The University has introduced the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official document that helps students show employers and graduate schools the skills and competencies they have gained through their involvement on campus.

**This event is Graduate Professional Skills (GPS) approved. GPS consists of a range of optional “offerings” with a time commitment roughly equivalent to 60 hours of work. Its successful completion will be recognized by a transcript notation.

Registration required. University of Toronto students are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Life Management Series: Family-Friendly Career Planning

In this interactive session we’ll explore different ways of conceptualizing career. We’ll focus particularly on a broad definition of career that includes non-work elements of life, like family, and discuss strategies for defining and finding meaningful careers. We’ll cover job search strategies, labour market research, and self and career exploration activities.

Facilitator: Jonathan Turner is a Career Educator at the University of Toronto Career Centre. He works with all students, but primarily with graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; this includes designing and leading workshops, conducting outreach to graduate units, and meeting with students individually. Jonathan has a BA (Philosophy and History) from York University, a BSc (Physics) from the University of Waterloo, and both an MA and a PhD (History and Philosophy of Science and Technology) from the University of Toronto. Jonathan married when he was a graduate student, and is the proud father of one rambunctious toddler.

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Life Management Certificate and Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities. The University has introduced the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), a new official document that helps students show employers and graduate schools the skills and competencies they have gained through their involvement on campus.

Life Management Series: Healthy Habits: Prioritizing Self Care

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between their academic work and caring for others.

It’s hard to be healthy. Most of us live in environments that our nervous systems can barely handle on a good day, and yet we are told we must stay calm, find a balance, and be productive. This may be especially true for students who are also parents. This workshop explores some of the more common health issues that students experience, and how integrating simple strategies into daily routines may make a difference for your health and wellbeing now, and into the future.

Facilitator: Judy Vorderbrugee, RN, BAAJOURN., MA, Community Health Coordinator, University of Toronto

Life Management Series: Healthy Habits: Prioritizing Self Care (Webinar)

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between their academic work and caring for others.

Facilitator: Ravi Gabble, MPH, Health Education Coordinator, University of Toronto at Mississauga

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete three workshops over one academic year, will receive a Life Management Certificate and Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities. The University has introduced the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), a new official document that helps students show employers and graduate schools the skills and competencies they have gained through their involvement on campus.

Life Management Series: Navigating Career Development while Balancing Family Care (CCR approved)

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Family responsibilities can range from taking care of older adults to children, in this session we will be discussing strategies on how to balance both personal and professional responsibilities in your job search and career development.

This interactive themed discussion co-hosted by Career Exploration & Education and the Family Care Office will provide you and a group of your peers with the opportunity to learn strategies, ask questions and discuss ways to balance family responsibilities, the job search, and career development. There will be a 1-hour presentation by a Career Educator followed by 30 minutes of discussion-based conversation,

Facilitator: Steven Lappano, Career Educator, UofT Career Exploration and Education

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Registration required. U of T students welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series: Negotiating Time for Family — Strategies for Bringing up Family in Discussions with your Supervisor

Date: Thursday, April 4, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Webinar (access details will be provided)

What happens when family responsibilities clash with academic expectations?

Thinking about how to start a conversation with your supervisor about family priorities can be stressful. Join the Graduate Conflict Resolution Centre (Grad CRC) for a webinar about the challenges of talking to your supervisor about family and learn the key negotiation strategies that will help you to become more effective at discussing your family needs with your supervisor.

By the end of this webinar you will:

Feel more confident about having a discussion with their supervisor about family issues
Be able to identify supports available to graduate students and techniques that may help them prepare for discussions with supervisors about family issues
Understand the importance of preparation for any discussion with a supervisor aimed at reaching an agreement (i.e. negotiation)

Facilitators: G2G Peer Advisor & Manager, Grad CRC

Registration required. All University of Toronto students are welcome.

Life Management Series: Procrastination (CCR Approved)

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between being in school and caring for others.

Do you avoid school work and find that all your time is taken up with family responsibilities and other commitments? Are you behind on your readings and assignments and cramming to finish at the last minute? Do you feel a great deal of stress and anxiety about deadlines and continually put them off?

If you struggle with some of these issues, this workshop can help. Through group discussion and hands-on activities, you will learn the reasons for procrastination, identify your personal procrastination habits, and learn practical strategies to develop more effective work habits.

Participants are encouraged to bring their course schedule, course syllabi, and any day-timers or family calendars they use to the workshop.

Facilitator: Meghan Litteljohn, Academic Success Centre, University of Toronto.

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved and may lead to Life Management Certificate. The Series consists of interactive workshops designed to empower student parents and students with family responsibilities to find a better balance in their lives by learning key life management skills, such as: goal setting and prioritization, stress and time management, self-advocacy and communicating effectively, personal wellness and more. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Life Management Certificate and Co-Curricular Record recognition. Co-Curricular Record is designed to help students find opportunities at U of T beyond the classroom and to have their skills and experiences captured on an official document.

Life Management Series: Stress Management (CCR Approved)

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between being in school and caring for others.

Where is the time to do all the things I want or need to do for my studies and my family? How do I stop worrying about my past mistakes and future goals? What is my learning style and how does this impact study-related anxiety? What is the best method and time for relaxation (and won’t relaxing just put me further behind)? Find the answers to these questions and more in this 1.5-hour interactive workshop.

Facilitator: Janelle Joseph, PhD, Learning Strategist & Adjunct Professor

Life Management Series: Stress Management (CCR Approved)

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between being in school and caring for others.

How do I balance all the things I want or need to do for my studies, my family, and my own well-being? What strategies can I use to mitigate the impact of stress on my studies? How do I avoid or respond to burnout? Balancing family care and school is challenging, but there are strategies and supports that can help. Bring your questions, concerns, and your own life-hacks to this 1 hour interactive workshop.

Facilitator: Cristina Peter, Learning Strategist, EdD Student, Mom of 2

* * Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years, will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Registration required. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Life Management Series: Time Management (CCR approved)

Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between academic life and caring for others.

All of us have 24-hours in a day. How can they be optimized? Time-related stress is a fact of life in university and family care. Students with family care responsibilities who find ways to manage time effectively can be more productive and have a sense of balance. They also find it easier to focus on their families and enjoy relaxing time. Whether your life is predictable or unpredictable, there are ways of effectively using time to balance your competing priorities. This one-hour interactive workshop helps student parents to create realistic goals for their family and academic lives.

Facilitator: Cristina Peter, Learning Strategist, EdD Student, Mom of 2

Life Management Series: Time Management Webinar

A workshop series designed to empower students to find a better balance between academic life and caring for others.

All of us have 24-hours in a day. How can they be optimized? Time-related stress is a fact of life in university and parenthood. Student parents who find ways to manage time effectively are more productive, and have an easier time memorizing information, concentrating on and understanding their readings, and thinking critically. They also find it easier to focus on their families and enjoy relaxing time. This one-hour interactive workshop helps student parents to create realistic goals for their family and academic lives.

Facilitator: Janelle Joseph, PhD, Learning Strategist & Adjunct Professor

Living and Learning with Baby (from 6 weeks to 6 months) — for parent and baby to attend together

Come and meet other parents and talk about:

Adjusting to Parenthood
Infant Nutrition
Growth and Development
Caring for a Sick Child
Keeping Your Child Safe
Community Resources

Facilitator: Debra Williams-Conliffe, Public Health Nurse

A program by the City of Toronto Public Health Dept. in collaboration with the U of T Family Care Office.

Living Life to the Full Program

Dates & Times:

Thursdays, June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 6 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Location: This course will be on-line; the zoom meeting link will be emailed to you before June 11

Living Life to the Full is a nine-week mental health promotion course based on the principle of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). The course is intended to help participants gain skills and knowledge for coping with stress, and various life challenges. You maybe someone experiencing difficulties during the COVID 19 time, or maybe you are a caregiver to a loved one, or simply feel this course could help you with a challenge you are experiencing right now. This course is for you. Please note this course isn’t considered psychotherapy.

Facilitator: Canadian Mental Health Association

This group will require a minimum of 8 participants to register. It will have a maximum of 12 participants.

For further information on the content of the sessions, please view the brochure.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and partners are welcome to attend.

Please note: your registration will be for all sessions from June 11 – August 6, 2020.

Lunchtime Series For Students with Family Responsibilities

This lunchtime series consists of brief interactive sessions customized for students with family responsibilities. Students will have an opportunity to learn, share, and find support by exchanging ideas and stories in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Time Management

Where is the time to do all the things you need or want to? Find it in this hands-on workshop by learning to focus on your goals, think strategically about your time, and turn your priorities into success stories. Practical systems through which to manage your time are included.

Facilitator: Andrea Graham, a Learning Strategist with U of T’s Academic Success Centre.

Stress Management

Come and take some time to relax and breathe! We will be learning and practicing different relaxation techniques, such as a guided mindfulness meditation, yoga stretches, and have a discussion of what methods we use as student parents to help de-stress throughout a busy day.

Spirituality in Schooling

Spirituality in schooling has often been misrepresented. Either rejected as unscientific and not applicable to scholars or seen as an unwanted extension of religion in schools, students have been asked to check their spirituality at the doors of the school. This workshop will look at:

What is spirituality?
How can spirituality be a part of my own student experience?
How can I foster spirituality in my child’s schooling experience? Why is this important?

This workshop aims to be both a broad look at spirituality in schooling as well as giving practical ways to apply and foster spiritual living in your own life and in your child’s life.

Facilitator:

Eric Ritskes is a graduate student in Education, writer on spirituality in education, a father of one rambunctious 2-year old girl, blogger and story teller. He lives in Toronto and enjoys the simple pleasures in life such as good espresso and the daily crossword puzzle.

Community Kitchen for Students with Family Responsibilities

The Family Care Office invites students with family responsibilities to this December session — Cooking Up the Best Possible Relationship. At this hands-on workshop, while cooking some inexpensive, quick and tasty recipes, we will discuss the necessary ingredients for the best possible relationship with your partner. Vegetarian lunch will be provided. Register

Keys to Effective Parent-Child Communication

Effective communication is an important parenting skill. Whether you are parenting a toddler or a teenager, good communication is the key to building self-esteem as well as mutual respect. This workshop will provide useful information and techniques for parents on how to use communication to strengthen their relationships with their children.

Lunchtime Session for Students Caring for Children 2 to 9 years of age

Have kids? Care for kids as if they were your own? Looking for fun & easy games and crafts for children on those days when you just need to get some reading done? In this session, we will be learning some easy craft ideas and games for kids to play on their own or with friends. Connect with other student parents and learn some simple activities to stimulate your children’s development and keep them entertained! Students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome. Vegetarian lunch served!

Staying Connected – Being a student-parent and caring for your other relationships

Looking for balance? Join other student parents as we share tips and discuss the challenges of finding a balance between school, family, and connecting with friends and loved ones. Vegetarian lunch served!

Keeping your Cool: Assertive Parenting

Temper tantrums. Whining. Endless energy. How is a parent to keep their calm and help their children develop good habits in the middle of a crazy day? We will discuss how to choose our battles and calm down when the stress of family care, school, and work is piling up. We will also talk about how we can help our children to express their emotions in healthy ways.

Career Planning for Student Parents

Trying to decide about the career to pursue?
Thinking about your next steps?
Exploring your career options?

Come to an informal discussion to learn how the University of Toronto Career Centre can help you to plan for the future.

Facilitator: Karen Carrel Rice, M.Ed, Career Counsellor

Making Your Own Babyfood

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Cooking your own baby food is easy and affordable, and best of all you know exactly what’s in it! Learn to:

Use simple equipment to make baby food
Know how and when to introduce solid foods
Compare homemade and store-bought baby food
Adapt the food their family is eating to their baby’s needs
Handle and store food safely

Facilitator: Marcela Jaramillo, Food Share

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their families are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Managing Finances during the Pandemic and Planning for Afterwards (Webinar)

Date: Monday, April 20, 2020
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for a practical webinar on how to plan for emergency reduced income, deal with your bills as well as your creditors. You are not alone and we are here to help you!

Facilitator: Anne Arbour is the Financial Educator at the Credit Counselling Society, with over 25 years of experience in financial services and a passion to promote financial literacy in her community. Anne holds an MBA from York University – Schulich School of Business, and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).

Registration Required. U of T students, staff, faculty and their families are welcome to attend.

Managing Flexible Work Arrangements to deal with Family Concerns (Staff Only)

Are you returning from a maternity leave or taking care of young children and are thinking of a different work arrangement? Perhaps you are caring for an aging relative and realize you just don’t have enough time in the day to handle all your responsibilities. Attending this session will help staff understand:

The different types of flexible work arrangements that may be possible for staff
How appropriate flexible work arrangements can be put in place (case study examples will be used)
How you would proceed to request a flexible work arrangement for yourself

Facilitators: Teresa Scannell, Career/Work-Life Consultant; Kaye Francis, Manager, FCO Office

Managing Your Finances in Times of Uncertainty

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Online – link will be emailed to registered participants prior to workshop

In these times of great uncertainty, there are so many unanswered questions and so many aspects of our lives that are outside of our control. How, then, can we remain in control of our financial lives to build and protect our futures? How do we put ourselves in the best position to be able to weather any potential future storms still to come?

Join us for this interactive webinar where we will discuss:

Strategies for assessing where your family is financially right now, deciding where you would like to be and how you can best get there.
How to prepare for future unknowns, including the tax implications of many benefit programs and the effect of loan deferrals on our long term debt repayment plans.
OSAP deferrals and student COVID-related benefits.
Concrete strategies for rebuilding emergency funds and even sharing some everyday savings ideas.

There will be plenty of time for questions, so you can email them to us in advance or come with yours!

Facilitator: Anne Arbour, a Financial Educator with the Credit Counselling Society, a non-profit agency dedicated to helping Canadians manage their money better, solve their debt problems and learn about credit.

Registration required. U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

If you wish please email your questions in advance to family.care@utoronto.ca.

March Break Fun: Astronomy Adventure

Join us as we visit the University of Toronto Planetarium for an exciting show and chance at viewing through a telescope. If we have clear weather that night, you will be able to see the planet Mercury at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky, just after sunset.

Please note that we might only be able to see the Toronto skyline if it is cloudy, but we will still get to fly through the solar system in the planetarium no matter what the weather is like.

This event is for children Grades 3 to 8 (children from 8 to 14 years of age), and at least one of their parents must be a current student, staff, faculty or postdoctoral fellow. Children need to be accompanied by an adult (only one adult per family please, as we want to make room for as many children as possible). Event co-sponsored by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Family Care Office.

March Break Fun: Cosmic Encounters: Comets, Asteroids, and other stuff that can hit the Earth

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2022
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Do you ever wonder what kind of object killed the dinosaurs? Or how what things from space might someday hit the Earth? Together, we will explore the often overlooked members of our solar system: the comets, asteroids, and other objects that might collide with our planet. This event will consist of a short lecture, an interactive trivia quiz, and plenty of time to ask questions!

School age children of U of T students, staff, faculty and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to attend. Register at family.care@utoronto.ca with your name and status at U of T, names of family members and ages of children, and dietary restrictions if any.

Event co-sponsored by the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Family Care Office.

March Break Fun: Craft Fun for Kids

Bring your child(ren) to Hart House to make fun buttons and personal mini-mirrors to keep or give! Afterwards you may walk with us to Robarts Library for the opening of the Family Study Space, where students, staff, postdoctoral fellow and faculty can bring their children 12 and under. All children are to be supervised by parents/caregivers. Event co-sponsored by Hart House and the Family Care Office.

March Break Fun: Let’s Build a Fort!

Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Want to create a room inside your house that didn’t exist before? Create your very own magical pillow fort at home from cushions and blankets and stuff you already have. Forts are a perfect place for reading, drawing, snacking and hanging out. As a group we’ll make and decorate our own happy places at home and then come up with a set of fort building instructions we can share with others.

Parents and caregivers: this workshop will involve the temporary, safe, re-arrangement of some soft furnishings in your home. All fort-builders must agree to re-assemble the living room to its original state with minimal coaching and encouragement from you.

Event co-sponsored by Hart House and the Family Care Office.

March Break Fun: PowWows

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

What would you do if a law was created so that you couldn’t dance or sing anymore? Canada’s First Nation’s people found a way to secretly a way to go against the norm. As a result of trusting their inner voices, a new style of celebration was created.

Join Karen as she shares the secret journey of finding a current expression of celebration.

Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane is an Anishnaabe award-winner book writer, author of “PowWow – a Celebration Through Song and Dance”.

Maternity Leave Planning (Faculty, Staff & Librarians)

Becoming a parent is one of the most monumental experiences in a person’s life. Unfortunately, children do not come with foolproof instructions!

Combining a career and family life presents special challenges. This workshop adopts a highly practical approach to preparing faculty, staff and librarians for maternity / parental / and adoption leave, and for a successful return to work. While you may attend the seminar at any point during your pregnancy or adoption process, the ideal time is about three months prior to the arrival of your child. Topics will include:

Forms and more forms – a guide to government maternity / parental benefits & U of T policies
Planning your return to work
Resources on campus and in the community that will make your life easier
Do we really need all that equipment? – a guide to baby paraphernalia
Helping older children and pets to adjust
Enjoying it all!

Media & Body Image

Societal pressures on young women to look and act a certain way is increasingly affecting children at younger ages than ever before. In this workshop, you will learn about and discuss the various messages that the media sends to young girls and adolescents about body image and what it means to be a female in the 21st century. Parenting strategies for increasing communication about these messages will also be provided, along with a facilitated deconstruction activity.

Facilitator: Lina Zahreddine, BAH, M.S.W Candidate, and Parent.

Meet, Greet & Ask Questions: A Chat for Incoming and Current Student Families

Date: Friday, August 20, 2021
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

A session for U of T students with family responsibilities and their spouse/partner to chat and connect with their peers and/or to ask a Family Care Advisor questions on:

Child care & child care subsidies
Schools
Children’s programs
Balancing study and family (and work too, if that is your case)
How to get connected with a peer mentor
Other issues that student parents have to deal with

All new and current U of T students with family responsibilities and their partner/spouse are welcome, registration required.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Mental Health for New Parents

Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop will explore issues that new parents face and how they can find resources and support during pre and post-pregnancy. Most new parents struggle with a lack of sleep, needing support, mental health, infant care, and more. Learn strategies to care for your baby’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs while taking care of your self too. Discover strategies, tools, and resources to help.

Facilitator: Bronwyn Addico CBE(BFW) CD(DONA) www.balancingbirthbaby.com

Bronwyn Addico, Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth & Early Parenting Educator, Birth Preparation & Healing Coach. Bronwyn has worked as a prenatal educator in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for many years. After the birth of her son in 2013, she became a certified Dancing For Birth instructor.

In 2014 she embarked on a journey to become a Birthing From Within childbirth mentor and spent time in California in the Spring of 2016 to further her in-depth training. Bronwyn has been deeply influenced by this program’s view of birth as an initiation into parenting and how to examine your fears of birth and parenting. Since that time she has worked as a birth and postpartum Doula, supporting close to 100 families during this special journey in their lives.

Bronwyn is a single mother to two wonderful kids. She is able to share a wealth of information based on her vast array of parenting experiences. Contact Bronwyn: bronwyn@balancingbirthbaby.com

Mental Health for New Parents

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Facilitator:
Bronwyn Addico CBE(BFW) CD(DONA) www.balancingbirthbaby.com

Bronwyn Addico (she/her) is the owner of Balancing Birth to Baby, a support company for expecting and new parents that offers prenatal education and Doula support in Southern Ontario, Canada. She has been a Childbirth & Early Parenting Educator since 2015 and a Birth & Postpartum Doula since 2016.

After a difficult birth experience in 2013, she embarked on a journey to become a Birthing From Within childbirth mentor and spent time in California in 2016 to further her in-depth training. Bronwyn has been deeply influenced by this program’s view of birth as an initiation into parenting and how to examine your fears of birth and parenting. She uses the tools that she learned in this program within all aspects of her professional career and has developed them into a coaching program to help birthing people prepare for birth and work through a difficult or traumatic birth experience. She has supported more than 200 families during their births and early parenting journey.

Bronwyn is a single mother to two wonderful kids.

Contact Bronwyn: bronwyn@balancingbirthbaby.com

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are welcome. Partners and family members (including chosen family members) who are co-caregivers with U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are also welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this in-person event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Mindful Discipline

In this workshop, we will explore what possibilities become available when we understand discipline not as the process of training our children to obey rules by correcting disobedience, but instead as the process of teaching them how to self-regulate. Through a framework of attachment and a focus on the importance of the parenting relationship, we will learn mindfulness practices that can build the three essential pillars of mindful discipline: acceptance and autonomy, boundaries and structure, and reconnection and repair.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for parents and children since 2006, and this is her fifth year facilitating the Family Care Office’s Mindful Parenting series. She also teaches an online Mindful Parenting course at Indiana University. Mari has a degree in Psychology, with an specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and is currently a doctoral student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her six year-old son and eight year-old daughter.

Mindful Parenting

Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019 WAITLIST
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College Street, Room 313

In Mindful Parenting we apply mindfulness principles to the art of parenting as a way to build a strong child-parent relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. In this introductory workshop, parents will learn about the key elements of Mindful Parenting, including listening with full attention, becoming aware of emotions, developing a non-judgemental attitude, accepting difficulties and challenges, building compassion and acceptance, and embracing mistakes as opportunities. Parents will not only experience practical exercises in the workshop, but also bring home tools and techniques for increasing presence, patience, and compassion towards self and child.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for parents and children since 2006. She also teaches an online Mindful Parenting course at Indiana University.  Mari has a degree in Psychology, with an specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and is currently a doctoral student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her eight year-old son and ten year-old daughter.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their families are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Mindful Parenting (4 Week Course)

Date: Thursdays, June 6, June 13, June 20
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Building, 214 College St., Room 313

In this Mindful Parenting series, we will apply mindfulness principles to the experience of parenting as a way to build a strong parent-child relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. Parents will explore the Mindful Parenting framework and its key elements: awareness of self and child; presence and patience; non-judgemental attitude; compassion and acceptance; and embracing mistakes as opportunities.

Each session will include a guided meditation, which participants are encouraged to practice at home between sessions. Group discussion and sharing of experiences will take place every week, and a variety of tools and techniques for implementing mindful parenting at home will be explored.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for parents and children since 2006, and this is her fifth year facilitating the Family Care Office’s Mindful Parenting series. She also teaches Mindful Parenting at Indiana University, via webinars. Mari has a degree in Psychology, with an specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and is currently a doctoral student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her eight year-old son and nine year-old daughter.

Mindful Parenting (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: UTM Maanjiwe nendamowinan (formerly the new North Building), MN, Room #4107

In Mindful Parenting, we apply mindfulness principles to the art of parenting as a way to build a strong child-parent relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. In this introductory workshop, parents will learn about the key elements of Mindful Parenting, including listening with full attention, becoming aware of emotions, developing a non-judgemental attitude, accepting difficulties and challenges, building compassion and acceptance, and embracing mistakes as opportunities. Parents will not only experience practical exercises in the workshop, but also bring home tools and techniques for increasing presence, patience, and compassion towards self and child.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Mindful Parenting for LGTBQ Parents

Mindful parenting aims to enhance your emotional connection with your child. It is intended to facilitate your self-awareness, mindfulness and intentionality in responding to your child’s needs at all ages. In this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of mindful meditation as applied to parenting through reflective and experiential exercises. You will be given mindfulness practices to apply in your everyday lives as parents or caregivers.

Facilitator:

Rachael Frankford, MSW, RSW, is a Social Worker in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital and a lecturer for the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Rachael is a mother of three young children and an experienced meditation practitioner.

Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW, is a clinical social worker in both community-based and independent practice, where she incorporates mindfulness into her work with children and adults. She has developed a mindfulness group for children and families at a children’s mental health agency in Toronto. She also teaches regularly at Ryerson University in Early Childhood Education.

This workshop is sponsored by LGBTQ Parenting Network, U of T Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, and the U of T Family Care Office.

Mindful Parents: Resilient Children

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Do you ever find yourself automatically reacting to your children’s challenging behaviour in ways that leave you feeling disconnected, discouraged, and even depleted? Do you find that some of the most difficult parenting moments are when your children need you the most? Mindfulness skills can help by supporting parents to regulate our big emotions when we are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or getting activated by our children’s big emotions. In this workshop, Sara will share mindfulness and compassion practices for in-the-moment parenting challenges. These practices can help us to be responsive rather than reactive; and be a little kinder towards ourselves along the way…

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups in both private practice and the Mindfulness Clinic. She has trained as a facilitator in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and is a trained teacher in Mindful Self-compassion (MSC). She facilitates mindfulness & compassion workshops and groups for all ages. She is the author of several mindfulness related children’s books including My New Best Friend, which introduces self-compassion to children and No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully. She has been a regular instructor at Ryerson University in theSchool of Early Childhood Studies for over 13 years. She is the parent of two children and can be found online at www.mindfulfamilies.ca

Registration required. U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Mindful Parents: Resilient Children

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Do you ever find yourself automatically reacting to your children in ways that leave you feeling disconnected, discouraged, and even depleted? Do you find that some of the most difficult parenting moments are when your children need you the most? Mindfulness skills can help by supporting parents to regulate our big emotions when we are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or getting activated by our children’s big emotions. In this workshop, Sara will share mindfulness and compassion practices for in-the-moment parenting challenges, guided by a recognition that many of these challenges arise from the very stressful climate in which we parent. These practices can help us to be responsive rather than reactive; and be a little kinder towards ourselves along the way.

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups in private practice. She is a certified Mindful Self-compassion teacher (UCSD) and has trained in PACT (A Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy and Emotion Focused Family Therapy. She facilitates mindful self-compassion groups for parents and couples. She is the author of several mindfulness related children’s books including No Ordinary Pizza: A Story about Interconnection, My New Best Friend, which introduces self-compassion to children, and No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully. She is the parent of two children and can be found online at www.mindfulfamilies.ca

Mindfulness for Children & Families

In this 2-part workshop, participants will learn about developing a mindfulness practice for the whole family.

In the first session, parents will be introduced to mindfulness, ways they can share mindfulness practice with their children and how to develop an ongoing practice with their children.

In the second session, children and parents together will learn about mindfulness and a range of ways to practice together at home. The practices are playful, fun and engaging for children; all the while teaching important skills such as awareness of thoughts & feelings, slowing down, paying full attention to tasks, body awareness, gratitude and compassion. Participants will receive information about resources to support their practice.

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW, is a clinical social worker in both community-based and independent practice, where she incorporates mindfulness into her work with children and adults. She also teaches regularly at Ryerson University in Early Childhood Education.

Mindfulness for Kids: Building a Parent’s Toolkit

MINDFULNESS FOR KIDS: BUILDING A PARENT’S TOOLKIT

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Time: 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

In this workshop we will explore practical ways of bringing mindfulness to the home. We will cover topics such as the benefits of a mindfulness practice for children, how to establish a mindfulness routine, and tips on practicing mindfulness as a family. Parents will leave with ideas of hands-on exercises, as well and simple and fun meditations to try with their children.

Mindfulness for Parents (Group)

Back by popular demand, Mari Rossi will be leading a 4-week series on Mindfulness for Parents. Each session will include a discussion and a guided meditation. Exercises to be tried at home will be offered every week. Participants are encouraged to attend all 4 sessions.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for parents and children since 2006, and this is her fourth year facilitating the Family Care Office’s Mindful Parenting series. She studies Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, as well as Women and Gender Studies, at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her five year-old son and seven year-old daughter.

Mindfulness Week: Morning Meditation for Parents and Expectant Parents

Come join us for three mornings of guided meditations for parents, led by Mari Rossi.

Immerse yourself in mindfulness and see first-hand the benefits of a consistent practice. Start your summer on the right foot by taking the time to ground yourself and kick-start your mindfulness practice.

Mother-Daughter Wen-Do

What is Wen-Do? Wen-Do is a self defense course designed for women, by women to learn easy to use and easy to remember methods of protecting ourselves in a wide range of situations. Techniques are designed for effective use by women of all ages, sizes, and abilities. A combination of discussion, with practical physical skills results in an integration of mental and physical preparedness.

This two day course is not just for mothers-daughters. Bring along a niece, your friend’s child, your sister, your partner’s daughter. The child must be over 9 yrs.

Navigating Special Education in the Public School System

The workshop will focus on development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the Identification Placement Review Committee (IPRC) process. It will also look at how learning challenges identified in the IEP are addressed in the classroom. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the language and process of Special Education in the public school system.

Facilitators Mitchell Curci has worked in Special Education for over 38 years in the public and independent school system. He is currently with the Learning Disabilities Association Toronto District (LDATD) where he is involved in Community Outreach and Education Advocacy.
Jordana Curci has taught for 5 years in both the Intermediate and Primary Division where she brings a fresh perspective on the learning issues that impact literacy. She is currently working in the area of Special Education in her school

Navigating Special Education in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Centre for International Experience, 33 St. George Street – #101 Baldwin Rm

The workshop will focus on development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the Identification Placement Review Committee (IPRC) process. It will also look at how learning challenges identified in the IEP are addressed in the classroom, and provide a brief overview of the gifted program. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the language and process of Special Education in the TDSB.

Facilitator: Special Education Inclusion Consultant

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Navigating Special Education in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)

Date: Monday, March 27, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The workshop will focus on development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the Identification Placement Review Committee (IPRC) process. It will also look at how learning challenges identified in the IEP are addressed in the classroom, and provide a brief overview of the gifted program. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the language and process of Special Education in the TDSB.

Facilitator: TDSB Special Education Inclusion Consultant & Special Education Inclusion Coordinator

Navigating the Early Learning and Care Environment and Transitioning to School: Parent as Partners

Date: Friday, November 27, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Participants will gain an understanding of the external resources available for children requiring “Special Education Needs” (SEN) as well as typical developing children, and of the “Every Child Belongs” model (Service Delivery Model: Toronto Children Services).

We will talk about the process of transitioning children from childcare to full day learning and to elementary school, supporting them in childcare and school, and the importance of the collaborative relationship between parents, Resource Consultant, childcare and schools.

Facilitator: Loris Bennett, M.A. – Loris is a Doctoral Candidate in Leadership in Higher Education with a focus on Special Education and an Adjunct Professor in Disability Studies and Early Childhood Education. Loris has over 25 years of extensive experience in the human services field supervising residential programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities as well as offering comprehensive consultation to families and Early Learning Education and Care organizations that support children with special needs. Her scholarship is centered on teaching and professional activity, focusing on promoting access and equity for people with disabilities within a local, national and international context. Loris’ research interests include the areas of diversity, inclusion, access and equity for people with disabilities and expanding professional development of human services personnel.

Navigating the End of Term Challenges & Advocacy – A Conversation for Students with Family Responsibilities

Date: Tuesday, April 14 , 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for a conversation based on your questions during this unprecedented time. The panel will share thoughts on how to both navigate the university’s systems and how you can advocate for yourself and your family at the end of term when facing difficulties asking for accommodations.

Panelists: Jodie Glean – Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office Director, Karolina Szymanski – Graduate Liaison Officer, OISE Dept of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education, Maria Jardim – Advisor (Student Focus) – Family Care Office.

Moderator: Mairi McKenna-Edwards, Student Life Coordinator, Diversity & Inclusivity Training

U of T graduate and undergraduate students with family responsibilities are welcome to attend.

To register, please email family.care@utoronto.ca with your name and department/College. Questions will be collected ahead of the discussion at registration to protect your anonymity.

New Faculty Family Event

This informal family event, hosted in the U of T Family Resource Centre, is designed for new faculty parents and their families. Join us to:

Find out about resources and supports for new faculty parents at the University of Toronto daycare centres, home child care and nanny services
Meet other faculty, faculty spouses/ partners, and their children in a family-friendly environment
Give your children an opportunity to play together with others.

Please bring your whole family to this event!

Nutrition for Children 4 to 8 Years old

Participants will learn:

Different small nutritious meals and snacks to be served everyday
To offer a variety of foods from the four food groups
The importance of providing healthy snacks and healthy food
Tips on how to feed a picky eater
The importance of being a good food role model
Easy recipes for children 4 to 8 years of age

Online Chat for New Student Parents

Plan early for the upcoming school year and get the information you need from the comfort of your own computer/phone. A Family Care Advisor will be available to chat and answer questions on:

child care & child care subsidies
schools
children’s programs
balancing study and family (and work too, if that is your case)
how to get connected with a peer mentor
other issues that student parents have to deal with!

Online Chat for Prospective and Current Student Families

Dates:

Friday, January 24, 2020, 10:00 – 11:00 am

Location: Online (link will be emailed)

Get the information you need from the comfort of your own computer/phone. A Family Care Advisor will be available to chat and answer questions on:

Child care & child care subsidies
Schools
Children’s programs
Balancing study and family (and work too, if that is your case)
How to get connected with a peer mentor
Other issues that student parents have to deal with

All prospective, new, current U of T student parents and their partner/spouse are welcome, registration required.

Online Chat Series: All You Want To Know About Student Parent Life @ U of T

An FCO Advisor & a Peer Mentor will be available to chat and answer questions about student parent life at U of T, including:

Balancing study and family
Strategies and insights on caring for a family member
Specific questions on child care and child care subsidies
Your newly found pregnancy!

Online Chat Series: Balancing family and school deadlines

An FCO Advisor & a Peer Mentor will be available to chat and answer questions about student parent life at U of T, including:

Balancing study and family
Strategies and insights on caring for a family member
Specific questions on child care and child care subsidies
Your newly found pregnancy!

Online Chat Session for Faculty, Staff and Students

Get the information you need from the comfort of your own computer/phone. A Family Care Advisor will be available to chat and answer questions on:

Planning for a child and leaves available
Child care and child care subsidies
Schools and children programs
Elder care resources
Balancing work/study and family
and more…

Online Discussion Board For Students with Family Responsibilities

Join our hands-on (and fun!) session to learn how to make the most out of our online community utilizing the U of T Portal! Find out how to optimize the sharing and exchanging of your common experiences and resources with other students with family responsibilities.

Facilitator: Cheryl Ziegler holds the position of IT & Communications Coordinator in Student Life at U of T. Her current interests include interface design, portal applications development, improving IT/media literacy on campus and exploring the potentials of social networking and virtual worlds.

Online Storytime with U of T Libraries

Date: April 12-16, 2021 (all week from Monday to Friday)
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session’s initial start date.

Join an online storytime with U of T librarians, who will be reading from their favourite picture books.

Does your child want to showcase some of their amazing artwork? Email storytime@library.utoronto.ca with a photo of their creations for chance to have it displayed during the storytime session.
Multiple photos/pieces accepted. Please let us know in the email if you plan on attending on a particular day(s), so we can be sure your little artist gets to see their work on display!

Recommended for ages 3-8 years (but all are welcome!)

Registration required. Children of University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation 2020 Session: Life Beyond the Classroom + Social

Date: Friday, October 9th, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for a presentation by the Co-Curricular Record and Graduate Skills Professional Program to learn more about life beyond the classroom at U of T.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

A Family Care Office staff member will be available to answer any general questions

Facilitators: Co-Curricular Record (CCR) representative – Rose Lin; Graduate Skills Professional Program (GPS) Representative – Liam O’Leary

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation 2020 Session: Supports for Academic Success – Accessibility Services + Social

Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Lead by Accessibility Services, Academic Success Centre and First Nations House, this session will help you learn about the supports and resources available to you to succeed in your academics at the University of Toronto.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

A Family Care Office staff member will be available to answer any general questions.

Facilitators: Reshma Dhrodia – Accessibility Services; Bonnie Maracle – Academic Success Centre (ASC) and The First Nations House

Orientation 2020 Session: Undergraduate Students – Academic and Financial Supports + Social

Date: Friday, September 18th, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Learn about the academic and financial supports available to you as an undergraduate student with the University of Toronto.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

Facilitator: Barbara Muniz, Woodsworth College

Orientation 2020 Session: Your Student Union and Their Services + Social

Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Learn about the resources available to you by your Student Union, such as UTSU, GSU, APUS and UTMAGS.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

A Family Care Office staff member will be available to answer any general questions

Facilitators: UTSU, GSU, APUS and UTMAGS representatives

Orientation for International Students & their Families

During the Orientation we will discuss important information for families and partners that will help them make transition to life in Canada and on campus a little bit easier. It will be a great opportunity to meet other spouses and partners of international students. We will discuss the following topics:

Access to health resources
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for families
How to find child care, apply for subsidies, programs for children
Support services for international student families on campus and in the community
Fun activities for families in Toronto

All University of Toronto international students and their families are welcome.

Orientation for Student Parents

Vegetarian Lunch Available.

The Family Care Office invites incoming and current student parents to Orientation 2013. Please join us to learn about the services and resources available to student parents on campus, get advice from our student mentors on how to adjust to the University, and start creating your support networks by making new friends and meeting University staff.

12:00 pm – 12:15 pm: Welcome, Lunch, and Networking with Mentors.
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm: An overview of University services.
12:30 pm – 12:45 pm: “How S/he does it?” project launch. Find out key learning strategies of highly successful student parents.
12:45 pm – 01:15 pm: Panel Discussion: How student parents manage their family life, school and work at the U of T.
01:15 pm – 01:30 pm: Informal Q & A with students & University staff.
01:30 pm: Campus tour showcasing family friendly spaces on the St. George campus.

Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities 2022

Date: Friday, September 23, 2022
Time: 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The Family Care Office invites incoming and current students with family responsibilities to Orientation 2022!
Start building your support networks and learn how to be proactive and prepared so you can successfully navigate your degree while caring for others:

Meet university staff
Learn about services and resources on campus

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office by Thursday, September 15 and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities 2022 – Student Panel & Family Event

Date: This event, originally scheduled for September 24, has been postponed. Please check our website for the new date.
Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for an opportunity to discover strategies and insights from current students with family responsibilities on how to adjust to university life. We will have a panel of three students who will talk about their experiences of being a student with family responsibilities.

After the panel, musician Michelle Rumball will lead our families in a child-friendly musical activity. This event will allow families an opportunity to meet each other virtually, as well as experience an example of the great family-friendly activities our office provides. Children of all ages are invited, but the activity will be geared towards children under eight years old.

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome. Register by emailing your name, names and ages of your children if applicable to family.care@utoronto.ca

Orientation to the Athletic Centre for Students with Family Responsibilities

Come join other students with family responsibilities and receive a tour and orientation to the Athletic Centre and its programming. Find out about their classes and drop-in programs and how to use their facilities such as their gymnasia, pools , strength and conditioning centre, indoor track, dance studio, cardio machines, and squash courts. You will also learn about the Family Programs, Camp U of T, and Junior Blues. There really is something for everybody!

Overwhelmed to Overjoyed (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room IC318

Have you ever felt that there is too much going on? Between work, school, commute, family, (insert your issue here), you can’t find time to breathe? You are not alone! If you have ever wanted to alleviate the constant stress and take control of how you respond, come join us at Overwhelm to Overjoyed. During this 90-minute workshop, you will discover the 4 simple keys to managing stress in healthy ways.

Facilitator Bio: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, dedicated to helping people gain clarity on the life they want to live, and developing the healthy habits to make it a reality. S he firmly believes that life is too short to live a life which makes you unhappy. A wife and mom to two boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in every day.

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

P.A. Day Event- Film Basics for Kids

Our first-ever video camera workshop, for children ages 10 to 14 years and one parent per family. Together you’ll learn how to use a video camera, film a short video, and the basics of a video editing program. Participants are encouraged to bring their own Mac laptops with iMovie software, but we have a small number available just in case.

Children of University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and postdoctoral fellows are welcome. Co-sponsored by the Family Care Office and the Hart House Film Board.

PA Day Event: Family Fun at the Student Commons

Date: December 2^nd, 2022
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Location: Student Commons, 230 College St. (event on the 4^th floor, enter via the Huron St. doors)

Looking for an activity for the December 2^nd PA Day? Bring your kiddos along for Family Fun at the Student Commons! From 12 pm – 4 pm, enjoy a free pizza lunch, cookie decorating, crafts and a visit from Toronto Wildlife. Please RSVP to family.care@utoronto.ca with number of attendees (adults and children) and any dietary needs. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

PA Day Skate

Date: Friday, October 11, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Varsity Arena

On October 11, make the most of the kids’ day off by lacing up some skates and hitting the ice for an afternoon of free family fun!

Free skate rentals while supplies last, and no registration required! More details on the KPE website.

Panel Discussion on Different Birthing Options

Join us for a panel discussion about birthing options available to women.

Understand the different philosophies and approaches used by the different birthing practitioners
Learn about the roles practitioners play throughout the pregnancy, the birth, and after the birth
Find out how to access the different types of birthing practitioners
Learn what services are covered by OHIP

This panel will include: Lisa Weston, vice president of the Association of Ontario Midwives; Ilona Fritsch, an Hypnobirthing specialist; and a prenatal educator from Mount Sinai Hospital, Matthuschka Sheedy, RN.

Panel Discussion on the Birthing Experience

Join us for a panel discussion about some of the different birthing options available to women. Through the panel, you will:

Learn what to expect during the birthing process, including a home birth, from the perspective of a woman who has experienced one.
Learn about the role the different practitioners play throughout the pregnancy, the birth, and after the birth.
Learn how to access the different types of birthing practitioners and learn what services are covered by OHIP and UHIP.
Learn about the services a doula can provide during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Facilitators: Alanna Kibbe (Registered Mi

dwife at Seventh Generation Midwives), Kelly Maslen (birth doula at Simply Healthy Family) and a parent who has recently experienced a home birth.

Parental Leave Planning

In this session, we will review the government legislation and U of T policy that guides a parental leave. The employment insurance application process will be explained and general information on campus and community resources for parents will be provided. This session is for faculty/staff who are same-sex partners or male faculty/staff members who are considering taking a parental leave.

Parental Leave Planning (Staff and Faculty)

Are you a new father? Considering taking a parental leave but don’t know where to start? Then attend this workshop for an overview of provincial and federal regulations and U of T policy that covers parental leave. The process of applying for Employment Insurance will also be explained.

Parenthood Through Surrogacy

Join us for an informal information session for prospective parents led by experienced legal and mental health experts specializing in the field of fertility. During the session, we will discuss some of the following issues:

Legal steps involved in growing a family through surrogacy.
Legal landscape for surrogacy in Canada (i.e. the laws pertaining to legal parentage of the child and reimbursement of the surrogate’s expenses).
Pitfalls and trouble spots to keep in mind when considering surrogacy.
Emotional and social considerations of intended parent(s) embarking on surrogacy for family-building.
Factors that gestational surrogates need to consider when deciding on a match with intended parent(s).
The latest research about the emotional and social development of children born through surrogacy.

Facilitators: Michelle Flowerday, LL.B. and Dr. Lila Z. Hakim, C.Psych.

Michelle Flowerday, LL.B. is a fertility lawyer in Toronto. Michelle works with couples facing infertility, for LGBTQ people/couples wanting to start a family, for single people looking to grow a family alone, and for surrogate mothers and egg, sperm and embryo donors assisting in the process. Michelle’s expertise includes negotiating and drafting agreements related to surrogacy, co-parenting, egg, sperm and embryo donations, making court applications for declarations of parentage, and other legal issues related to third party reproduction. Michelle works with clients in the greater Toronto area, across Canada and internationally. She speaks at conferences on the topic of fertility and surrogacy law and has provided legal advice to fertility clinics and hospitals on contract laws and compliance with Canadian assisted human reproduction laws and regulations. Michelle is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, Fertility Matters, the Advocates’ Society and the 519 Church Street Community Centre.

Dr. Lila Z. Hakim, C.Psych. is a Registered Psychologist and conducts psychological assessment and treatment with adults and couples in private practice. She is the Clinical Director of the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships (Toronto, Canada) where she supervises psychologists and graduate students, and is active in research with publications and presentations in the areas of infertility and psychotherapy research. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Counselling Special Interest Group of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society.

Parenthood through Surrogacy

Date: Friday, March 31, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Legal steps involved in growing a family through surrogacy
Legal landscape for surrogacy in Canada (i.e., the laws pertaining to legal parentage of the child and reimbursement of the surrogate’s expenses)
Pitfalls and trouble spots to keep in mind when considering surrogacy
Emotional and social considerations of intended parent(s) embarking on surrogacy for family-building
Factors that gestational surrogates need to consider when deciding on a match with intended parent(s)

Facilitators: Michelle Flowerday, LL.B. and Dr. Lila Z. Hakim, C.Psych

Michelle Flowerday, LL.B. is a fertility lawyer in Toronto, Ontario. She is a passionate advocate for and works closely with couples facing infertility, with LGBTQIA people/couples wanting to start a family, with single people looking to grow a family alone, and with surrogates, and egg, sperm, and embryo donors assisting in the process. Michelle’s expertise includes negotiating and drafting agreements related to surrogacy, co-parenting, egg, sperm, and embryo donations, making court applications for declarations of parentage, and advising on other legal issues related to third party reproduction. Michelle works with clients in the Greater Toronto Area, across Canada, and internationally. She speaks at conferences on the topic of fertility and surrogacy law and provides legal advice to fertility clinics and hospitals on laws related to contracts, consent, and compliance with Canadian assisted human reproduction laws and regulations. Michelle is an Officer of the Board of Fertility Friends Foundation and a contributing member of fertility clinic ethics committees, the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society, and the Law Society of Ontario.

Dr. Lila Z. Hakim, C.Psych. is a Registered Psychologist and conducts psychological assessment and treatment with adults and couples in private practice. She is a Partner of the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships (Toronto, Canada) where she supervises psychologists and graduate students, and is active in research with publications and presentations in the areas of infertility and psychotherapy research. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Counselling Special Interest Group of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society.

Parenthood through Third-Party Reproduction

Date: Friday, March 3, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Legal steps involved in growing a family through third-party reproduction, including donated eggs, sperm, or embryos
Known or anonymous donation arrangements
Boundaries for involvement by the donor in the life of the child
Feelings about biological connection

Facilitators: Michelle Flowerday, LL.B. and Dr. Lila Z. Hakim, C.Psych

Parenting a Child with a Learning Disability — What’s Available and What’s Possible

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for this discussion on parenting concerns for children with disabilities. Topics that will be covered include:

Understanding learning disabilities, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Management of the disability at home and at school
Discussing with your child about their learning disability
Advocating and finding supports for your child
Hear from 1-2 current U of T students with a learning disability about their experience growing up with a LD
Question and answer period

Speaker: Pearl Levey, Ph.D., Disability Advisor, U of T Accessibility Services.

Parenting a Child with a Learning Disability — What’s Available and What’s Possible

Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Join us for this discussion on parenting concerns for children with disabilities. Topics that will be covered include:

Understanding learning disabilities, ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome
Management of the disability at home and at school
Discussing with your child about their learning disability
Advocating and finding supports for your child
Question and answer period

Speaker: Pearl Levey, Ph.D., Disability Advisor, U of T Accessibility Services.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements.

Parenting Adult Children — What would Dr. Spock say?

Dr. Spock had much to say about toilet training, when to add solid food, and when to let our children cry. But most of the parent educators go silent after the teen years. Whether they remain in the nest, come and go, or have moved on, we remain parents to our adult children.

The goal of this session is:

Explore, developmentally, what is going on in the lives of our adult children
Examine what we can expect in our lives as this occurs, both individually and in our relationships
Discuss parenting strategies that are helpful
Discuss challenging situations and how to deal with them

Facilitator: Lynne Mitchell is a registered social worker with 25 years of experience. She conducts a private practice for individuals, couples and families and facilitates workshops both in the community and the private sector.

Parenting BIPOC Children in Today’s Climate – Panel Discussion

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

With the recent unfortunate events in the media we understand that many BIPOC children and their parents may be feeling overwhelmed and parents may need some guidance on how to have these difficult discussions with their children.

Join us as we discuss different techniques and strategies parents can engage in to discuss current events and overall conversations about the reality of discrimination with their children.

Facilitators:

Michael White – Director, First Nations House Indigenous Student Service

Martina Douglas – Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Faculty of Information

Yasin Dwyer – Chaplain, University of Toronto

Parenting Bootcamp (3 Part Webinar Series): Raising Cooperative, Respectful Children

“I need help! My kids won’t listen, go to bed, eat dinner, get out the door on time or do their homework without a fuss. They dawdle, argue, have tantrums, ignore me, and fight with their siblings.”

Have you ever wondered why your child is misbehaving? Why does she refuse to eat, or put her toys away? Why does he have tantrums or whine? Understanding why your child misbehaves is an essential first step in solving the problem. We like to think of this webinar series as “Behaviour 101: a Basic Primer”, and a great place to begin your parenting education.

Week 1: Parenting Styles

The three basic parenting styles
Understanding your child’s behaviour
The first goal of misbehaviour — Undue Attention-Seeking and strategies to redirect it.

Week 2: Power and Revenge

Understanding and responding to the goals of “Power” and “Revenge”
Includes many strategies on “defusing” power struggles effectively
How to cope with hurt and anger using communication skills, as well as other essential strategies.

Week 3: Effective Encouragement

Understanding the discouraged child & coping with the fourth goal of misbehaviour, “Assumed Inadequacy”
Building Self-esteem
7 Essential Parenting Principles

Webinar details and technical requirements will be sent by email to all registered participants a week prior to each webinar. Please register early, space is limited! All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and postdoctoral fellows are welcome.

Parenting During A Pandemic

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Parenting is difficult in the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. In this webinar we will discuss some of the pressures parents are experiencing as families try to work, study, live and play in close quarters and constant company. We will consider different challenges that have come up during the twists and turns of the pandemic, and reflect on strategies that have helped during this difficult time. We will validate struggles, reflect on shifting expectations during a pandemic and consider strategies for moving forward, without adding additional pressures or lists to participants.

Parenting in Today’s World: Understanding Indigenous Past & Present Realities and Inclusiveness

Join us for a 6 session series to learn about Indigenous past & present realities and how to speak about it with your children. You will:

Learn about Canada’s diversity issues including its impact on racialized and Indigenous people and ongoing indigenous colonization
Gain the knowledge and language to introduce your child to Indigenous history and present concerns, and concepts of identity, racism, and cultural differences.

A joint effort of the Division of Student Life and the Family Care Office.

U of T students, staff, faculty and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend. Registration required.

Parenting Through the Storm

Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm (The facilitator will be available for 30 minutes after the 1 hour presentation to answer questions)
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

“Having a child who is struggling doesn’t make you a bad parent, just as being a child who is struggling doesn’t make your child a bad kid.” That’s a powerful and reassuring message to hear if you happen to be the parent of a child who is struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related challenge. This webinar is based on interviews with more than 50 parents who have walked this walk and who are eager to share their best advice with other parents. Expect a workshop that is kind, encouraging, and real and that leaves you feeling anything but alone. After the 1 hour presentation, the facilitator will be available for 30 minutes to answer questions.

Facilitator: Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio and a bestselling parenting book author. Ann is the creator of The Mother of All Book series and the author, most recently, of Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm. A passionate and inspiring speaker, Ann delivers keynote addresses and leads small-group workshops at health, parenting, and education conferences across the country.

Parenting to Buffer the Negative Consequences of Separation and Divorce (Available in person or as a webinar)

If you are attending the session via a webinar, access details will be emailed.

This introductory workshop will explore how parents can effectively buffer their children from conflict during the separation and divorce process. The workshop will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

Registration required. Please select how you will be attending this workshop — either in person or as a webinar . University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Parenting to Protect Your Children Post Separation and Divorce (Webinar)

Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: A webinar link will be emailed to you shortly before the event.

This introductory webinar will explore how parents can effectively buffer their children from conflict during the separation and divorce process. The webinar will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff (including post-docs), faculty, and their partners are welcome.

Parenting Tweens & Teens: Saying No when the world says Yes

With warmth and humour, this workshop will explore the delicate bond between tweens and teens aged 12 -19 and their parents. Using many of the skills therapists use in their work with clients, parents will learn to balance empathy with limit setting to strengthen and deepen their relationships with their tweens and teens. Connected Parenting will offer parents effective strategies to avoid power struggles, de-escalate confrontations, help their kids make safe choices and instill in their kids the confidence and resilience to say ‘No’ to their peers.

Facilitator:

Jennifer Kolari, M.S.W., R.S.W. Founder of Connected Parenting and Child and Parent Therapist.

Jennifer Kolari is a therapist who has been helping children, teens and families get connected for 20 years. Jennifer published her first book in 2009 with Penguin Group USA and Penguin Canada. She has appeared in magazines such as Today’s Parent and Canadian Family, and on Canada AM, Breakfast Television, and CBC’s Steven and Chris. Her insightful strategies, shared with warmth and humour make her a highly sought-after speaker with schools, organizations and agencies throughout North America.

Jennifer spent several years counseling children, teens and parents for the Toronto District School Board and serving as a field supervisor for the University of Toronto faculty of Social Work. Before that she was a family therapist at Integra, a children’s mental health centre in Toronto. Jennifer lives in Toronto with her husband and their three children.

This workshop is sponsored by the Organizational Development and Learning Centre and the Family Care Office.

Parenting with the Developmental Assets

As parents, we want to raise children who are physically, emotionally and socially healthy and resilient. We want our children to thrive. But often we wonder if we are missing something. Is there something else I should be doing as a parent?

The “Developmental Assets” framework provides parents and caregivers with actionable behaviours with proven links to healthy human development. The framework focuses on assets, not liabilities and it is relevant to all types of families in all kinds of social environments.

In this workshop we will learn about the external and internal assets, and why the assets matter to children and youth. We will collaboratively discuss the assets we are already cultivating in our families, and the ones we wish to focus on next.

Parenting without Anger

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

All parents get angry, but if you feel that anger is having a negative impact on your family, this workshop is for you. You will learn:
• How to recognize and cope with anger triggers
• Positive and negative aspects of anger
• Why you get angry
• Impact of anger on your children
• How to change the cycle of anger through the learning and development of essential parenting skills.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis, Registered Psychotherapist specializing in parenting and family issues, co-author of three books for parents and teachers, a Certified Montessori Director, Parent Talk.

Parenting Without Anger

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 FULL
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College Street, Room 313

All parents get angry, but if you feel that anger is having a negative impact on your family, this workshop is for you. You will learn:

How to recognize and cope with anger triggers
Positive and negative aspects of anger
Why you get angry
Impact of anger on your children
How to change the cycle of anger through the learning and development of essential parenting skills.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis, Registered Psychotherapist specializing in parenting and family issues, co-author of three books for parents and teachers, a Certified Montessori Director, Parent Talk.

Parenting: Teens

Building responsibility and improving the relationship between parents and teenagers will be the focus of this workshop. Topics to be covered will include: parenting styles, goals of misbehavior, personality development, emotions, encouragement, listening skills, expressing feelings, discipline, development of responsibility and selecting appropriate approaches to discipline.

Parents of Multiples Meet-Up

Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Calling all parents of multiples! Here at U of T, there are many parents of multiples. Get together with people who really understand how crazy things can get and how amazing (and unique) parenting twins, triplets, quads, quints… is.

This is a one-time, non-facilitated, agenda-free, expectation-free, diaper-free, peer meet-up – open to any U of T parents of multiples.

Expectant parents of multiples are also welcome.

Peer Mentor Mix and Mingle

Are you a student parent or a student with other family responsibilities?

Take this opportunity to chat to a Family Care Office peer mentor either one on one or in a group.

Pizza lunch will be offered and cupcakes!

Fill out a raffle ticket to enter a chance to win one of two $50 U of T Bookstore Gift Cards

Our student librarian will be available to help direct you to resources on parenting.

There will also be an opportunity to participate in a mindful parenting exercise.

Not sure what you can ask a Peer Mentor?Then read more here.

Physiotherapy & Urinary Incontinence

Are you pregnant? Are you caring for an aging relative who is experiencing urinary incontinence? Attend this session to learn more about the issue of urinary incontinence, why it occurs and how best to manage it.

Urinary incontinence is reported to affect 3.3 million Canadians with only 25% of this population seeking professional help. Physiotherapy of the pelvic floor is becoming increasingly recognized as an effective first course of intervention for the management of urinary incontinence. A physiotherapist with training specific to pelvic health can offer education, advice & support as well as manual therapy and exercise prescription to help people of all ages to tackle incontinence issues.

Presentor: Clover O’Brien is a licensed physiotherapist working since 2006 with a wide variety of conditions and rostered with the College of Physiotherapy since 2012 to carry out assessment and treatment of pelvic floor conditions.

Pi Day with U of T Astronomy

Date: Tuesday, March 14th, 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: AB114, 50 St George St – please enter via the Ursula Franklin doors

March 14 or 3/14 is Pi Day, named after the famous number approximated as 3.14. This Pi Day, learn how astronomers and space scientists use this special number to learn about the universe and travel through our solar system. This short talk will be followed by a visit to the UofT Observatory, where we will take you on a tour of our many telescopes, and, weather permitting, we will view the sun with the aid of a solar filter.

Open to U of T students, staff, and faculty with children in grade 2 and up. Accompanied with one adult only please.

Register early, spaces limited! Email family.care@utoronto.ca and include your name, U of T status and grades of your participating children.

Event collaboration by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Family Care Office.

Pink is for Girls and Blue is for Boys? Panel Discussion on Gender Neutral Parenting

Parental and societal expectations differ for girls and boys and parenting practices often reflect these unique expectations. Should girls and boys be parented differently? Is gender neutral parenting possible? What does gender freedom look like for children and what are the advantages and disadvantages? Join us for a conversation on gender socialization and gender neutral parenting.

Panelists: Dr. Pat Durish, Women and Gender Studies; Steven Solomon, Human Sexuality Program at the TDSB; and Parent, TBA

Planning For Parenthood Workshop Series

Join us to find out how to make healthy choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle and promote wellness during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postpartum. Sessions will be interactive, promoting sharing of ideas and information. Participants will be able to access resources that support the information provided in the workshops.

Session Outline:

Session 1: Planning for Parenthood
Session 2: Making Healthy Lifestyles Choices (nutrition, physical activity, etc.)
Session 3: Harmful Substances and Protective Measures (alcohol, tobacco, etc.)
Session 4: Postpartum Care (mother, family, baby)

Facilitators: Carol Burke & Vivian Hwang

Carol Burke is a Public Health Nurse who has worked with Toronto Public Health since 1988. Her work experiences include: Maternal/Child Health; School-age Health; Adult Health; TB Control Nurse; and Healthy Lifestyles. Vivian Hwang is responsible for program delivery at the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, including the Directors Education Program and Financial Literacy for Directors and Executives.

Planning for Pregnancy and Beyond

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for this webinar to find out how to make healthy choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle and promote wellness during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postpartum. The session, created by Dr. Yolanda Kirkham, will address participants’ specific concerns on a range of topics including: questions around conceiving, health concerns and risks during pregnancy, health care provider options, antenatal care and screening tests, and post-partum issues.

Facilitators: Dr. Meghan McGrattan and Dr. Shannon Brent, U of T Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Planning for Pregnancy and Beyond

Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Facilitators: Dr. Meghan McGrattan and a resident, U of T Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Poems written by Children during March 2010

These poems were written collaboratively by the participants of the Family Writing Workshop hosted by the FCO on March 19, 2010 as part of the March Break Family Event on campus. While the format is based on the poem, “The Job of an Apple” by Ronna Bloom, the themes were chosen spontaneously by the writers.

The Job of A Dad

The Job of a Dad is to protect children,
to be good, to be holding me.
The job of a Dad is to take photos of the family,
The job of a Dad is to encourage us to do stuff,
to earn money for their family. The job of a Dad
is to be around the kid when they need you the most.
The job of a Dad is to be strong, to be healthy, to eat
and to give us the right food.
The job of a Dad is to play with me.

The Job of A Kid

The Job of a kid is to study, is to work hard, is to listen to their parents.
The job of a kid is to play.
The job of a kid is to grow, to become a good human,
on the earth, to hope for their future,
and to imagine.
The job of a kid is to learn, to have fun
and to see a lot.

These poems were written during the same event by individual children:

Mint Chocolate Ice-cream

This is a story about a forest. It was the warmest forest in New Zealand and in the forest were many mint trees. One day a man went through the forest with his pet, a dog named Joey. As he was passing through the forest he smelled the mint and this and the heat made him remember his favourite mint chocolate ice-cream.

Written by Ina Arora — 9 years old

Blue Moon

I woke up in the morning. I heard my grandma moaning. It was familiar scene to me. My grandma is sick. I know that she’s suffering from pain, and I want to help her. But I can’t. I am in impoverishment.

I’m a 5th grade girl. And I’m living in a small town with my grandma.
My grandma told me that my mom and dad went to the city to earn money. They will come back one day. I don’t remember my parent’s face.
My grandma said I resembled my dad’s eyes, and my mom’s nose.

I was lonely and I didn’t have any friends. But once I met the blue moon, now I’m not lonely. I’m a friend of blue moon. I’ve never talked to him in real life but I communicate with him with my heart. I don’t know why I like him.

This is the story about how I met him. I was crying beside a tree which was near the lake and I saw the blue moon reflecting on the lake. It was bright and shinny. The blue moon gave me energy and hope. Then, I suddenly became a friend of the blue moon.

Today, I had a dream. There was me and my grandma flying in the sky with the blue moon. The happiest thing is that my grandma was not sick in my dream. I was happy even if it was a dream.

I know this is a dream but I know it will happen as long as I have my friend, blue moon.

Written by Jane Kim — 10 years old

Positive Discipline for Children Aged 6 to 11

Know your child; teach your child. Guiding a child’s behaviour is an art. We develop our skill the more we apply the techniques. It takes knowing your child, understanding how they think and doing some problem solving together so you can understand each other.

Come discuss some key techniques that can help you understand and guide your child effectively.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a Parent Educator with the LAMP Community Health Centre. He and his wife have raised three daughters into the teen years (and so far, so good!)

Positive Parenting (U of T Mississauga)

Date: Monday, February 3, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Davis Building – UTM Room (formerly the Faculty Club), 3^rd floor

This practical and informative presentation helps parents develop a strong foundation of parenting that will help their children develop skills of social development and well-being. Participants will also learn effective strategies to facilitate positive behaviour, prevent misbehaviour and to deal effectively with inappropriate behaviour.

During this 1–hour wellness session participants will:

Discuss how to develop a strong foundation of parenting
Use this foundation as a springboard to parenting practices that help your child develop skills of social development and well-being
Learn effective strategies to facilitate positive behaviour, prevent misbehaviour and to deal effectively with inappropriate behaviour

Facilitator: Homewood Health

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Positive Parenting (U of T Scarborough)

During this 1 hour wellness session participants will:

Discuss how to develop a strong foundation of parenting
Use this foundation as a springboard to parenting practices that help your child develop skills of social development and well-being
Learn effective strategies to facilitate positive behaviour, prevent misbehaviour and to deal effectively with inappropriate behaviour

Facilitator: Chris Brown, Homewood Health

Positive Parenting and Guiding your Child’s Behaviour

The UTM parenting group is inviting other members of the community to join in this positive parenting workshop. Participants will learn about the importance of setting limits, implementing appropriate consequences and offering choices to children. A time to refresh your parenting skills, learn new information and make connections with other parents/caregivers in your community.

Workshop presented by Venay, a Public Health Nurse with the Region of Peel Family Services.

Post-Partum Depression

The connection between pregnancy and potential depression has been medically established. Do you have questions around how the baby blues may be dealt with? Have you or anyone you know had to deal with it? Join Dr. Danielle Thomas to learn more about the topic and weed out myth from reality.

Pregnancy and Becoming a Student Parent (webinar)

Date: Thursday, March 8, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Webinar (access details will be provided)

Whether you are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, hear from a family practitioner about things to consider to support a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. There are many student parents on campus who successfully complete their program of study while caring for a new child. A Family Care Office advisor will share information on resources available to support you in your new role.

Facilitators: Dr. Anu Joneja is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Toronto and teaches undergraduate medical education through the Mississauga Academy of Medicine and postgraduate students through Trillium Health Partners. She practices family medicine at the Health and Counselling Centre at UTM and Kathryn Haworth is the Education Advisor and Communication Projects Coordinator at the Family Care Office.

All students and their partner/spouse are welcome. Registration required.

Pregnancy and Parental Leave Planning Seminar for Postdoctoral Fellows in CUPE Local 3902 (Unit 5)

Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Webinar instructions will be emailed to you prior to the session

Becoming a parent is one of the most monumental experiences in a person’s life. Unfortunately, children do not come with foolproof instructions!

This workshop adopts a highly practical approach to preparing Postdoctoral Fellows represented by CUPE Local 3902, Unit 5, for pregnancy and parental leaves. Topics will include:

Forms and more forms – a guide to government pregnancy / parental benefits & U of T policies
Resources on campus and in the community that will make your life easier
Do we really need all that equipment? – a guide to baby paraphernalia
Helping older children and pets to adjust
Enjoying it all!

Facilitator: Kaye Francis, Manager, Family Care Office

Registration required. All University of Toronto Postdoctoral Fellows represented by CUPE Local 3902, Unit 5 are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Pregnancy Changes and Concerns

A bi-monthly drop-in for U of T expecting and postnatal parents to:

Gain insight into various aspects of pregnancy including nutrition, emotional and physical changes, labour and delivery, and post-partum issues such as feeding your baby and adjusting to new life.
Find support and access resources.
Meet guest speakers, exchange ideas and experiences with other women regarding various aspects of pregnancy and life with baby.

Pregnancy/Parental/Adoption/Primary Caregiver Leave Planning Seminar (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Friday, May 10, 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: HR Conference Room BV540, U of T Scarborough

Please register early. Registration closes 1 week prior to each workshop.

Becoming a parent is one of the most monumental experiences in a person’s life. Unfortunately, children do not come with foolproof instructions!

Combining a career and family life presents special challenges. This workshop adopts a highly practical approach to preparing faculty, staff and librarians for pregnancy / parental / and adoption leave, and for a successful return to work. While you may attend the seminar at any point during your pregnancy or adoption process, the ideal time is about three months prior to the arrival of your child. Topics will include:

Forms and more forms – a guide to government pregnancy / parental benefits & U of T policies
Planning your return to work
Resources on campus and in the community that will make your life easier
Do we really need all that equipment? – a guide to baby paraphernalia
Helping older children and pets to adjust
Enjoying it all!

Please register early, space is limited! All University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) staff and faculty are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Prenatal Yoga

Are you pregnant? Are you looking for some tips on how to relax and make your pregnancy a bit more comfortable and active? Join us for a rejuvenating and informative prenatal yoga session. The workshop will include a 10-minute introduction; this will allow the group to share experiences and concerns. A gentle, 45-minute yoga class will follow with a basic introduction to some simple breathing techniques and gentle postures that will help to ease the physical and mental pressures of pregnancy.

This workshop will be facilitated by Valerie Iancovich and Tara McCarthy, who are certified yoga instructors. Participants will leave with handouts outlining a sequence of postures to try at home and some basic information about the benefits of yoga during pregnancy.

Preparing for an Academic Career

For women graduate students who are planning a career in academia. Topics include:

Choosing a career in academia
How to position yourself for an academic career
The academic search process
The application process and what search committees are looking for

Accommodation: For disability-related accommodations or assistance with child care, please contact the Family Care Office at 416-978-0951 two weeks prior to each event.

Sponsor: Convened by the Status of Women Office in collaboration with the Offices of the Vice President and Provost; Vice President, Research; School of Graduate Studies; Family Care; Woodsworth College (THE500 program); Career Centre; Graduate Student Initiatives (GSI); and Graduate Students’ Union (GSU).

Preparing Healthy School Lunches and Snacks

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2019 WAITLIST
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Rm 313

Preparing healthy school lunches and snacks for your child can be easy if you have a few ideas up your sleeve. Join us to:

Find out how to maximize nutrients in your child’s lunches and snacks.
Discover ways to increase the chances of your child eating what you packed.
Learn how to become more efficient with your lunch/snack packing and spend less time in the kitchen!
Explore different lunch/snack container options and find out which will work best for your child.

Facilitator: Aviva Allen is a kids’ nutritionist and mother of two school aged boys, specializing in helping parents address picky eating and other feeding challenges. Aviva is also the founder of Healthy Moms Toronto, a network of over 19,000 moms across the GTA with an interest in living a healthy lifestyle.

Presenting Your Case Effectively: Advocating for Oneself & One’s Family (GPS)

Students have a lot on their plate. When a problem arises – be it academic, family related, personal or professional – advocating for oneself and one’s family can feel like a daunting task, particularly if the stakes are high. Traditionally defined as the “art of persuasion”, rhetoric is a powerful tool that students can utilize to better communicate through the written word. What is the best way to present one’s case? How can emotions be conveyed strategically and diplomatically? When writing a letter, what should come first – the presentation of the problem or the suggested solution? This workshop will touch upon these questions by focusing on the strategic use of rhetoric in letter writing.

Pre-requisite: Students will prepare and bring with them to the workshop a claim letter/memo requiring adjustment when something has gone wrong.

Facilitators:

Dr. Jovanovic-Krstic teaches business communication and media rhetoric at Innis College, U of T. She has also designed and taught courses in essay and report writing, rhetoric, grammar and stylistics. Her main areas of research and interest are focused in communication studies, namely communication in the blogosphere, rhetoric of war, spinning and framing tactics in the press. Viktoria is also co-founder, Communications Director of OnPoint Communications, a strategic communications consulting company.

Karolina Szymanski — Karolina Szymanski has worked at the University of Toronto for three years in various student-life related capacities. She has been intimately involved in a number of workshops and she has sat on the FCO’s Student Advisory Committee. In May, 2010, in response to student requests for more programming around self-advocacy, Karolina successfully facilitated a similar workshop at the “Embracing Effective Energies Conference” in her then role of Asst. Programming Officer with the School of Graduate Studies.

Doctoral stream students can take this course as part of the GPS Program. GPS is a new initiative from the School of Graduate Studies that comprises a variety of offerings that provide students a full range of optional opportunities for professional skills development at University of Toronto. Your successful completion of GPS will be recognized by a transcript notation.

Professional Schools Fair For Students with Family Responsibilities

Exploring your options for graduate school and/or thinking of a professional school?

Representatives from the following University of Toronto faculties will be available to answer your questions about their admission process and their programs.

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work,
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Faculty of Information (will only have information available)
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education – Initial Teacher
Education Program
Faculty of Law
School of Graduate Studies
Career Centre
Toronto School of Theology

This event is sponsored by Woodsworth College and the Family Care Office.

The Family Care Office has a small fund of money that is available to assist University of Toronto students with family responsibilities who wish to attend extra and co-curricular activities (such as this one) but are unable to because of child care costs. Here are the Eligibility Criteria.

Queer & Trans Family Planning

Come with your questions about family planning, including fertility, home and clinic insemination, sperm banks, adoption, co-parenting, single parenting, non-biological and social parenting, surrogacy, family configurations and family recognition.

Raising Cooperative Respectful Children

I need help! My child won’t listen, go to bed, eat dinner, or do his homework…..she dawdles, argues, has tantrums, talks incessantly, ignores me, and fights with her sister. A must for every parent seeking solutions that really work! This workshop will give you the essential tools and strategies you need to win your child’s cooperation.

Raising Healthy Vegetarian Children

Learn about the specific nutrient needs of vegetarian & vegan children, and how to ensure their good health, proper growth and development.

Discuss the nutrient needs of children throughout the different stages (from infants to teens).
Find out how to incorporate these nutrients into their vegetarian/vegan diets.
Learn how to make your vegetarian meals more exciting for kids.

Handouts and recipes are included and there will be lots of time for questions.

Facilitator: Aviva Allen, RHN, is a Toronto Nutritionist specializing in Pregnancy, infant and child nutrition.

Raising Sexually Healthy Children

A two part workshop series designed to help adults learn about children’s sexual growth and development and increase their ability to answer questions and deal comfortably with challenging situations and behaviours.

Facilitator: Keba Thomas, Toronto Public Health

Raising Sexually Healthy Children (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room AA160

This inclusive workshop will help parents talk about safety, boundaries and sexual health education with children and pre-teens.

Attend the workshop and you will:

Learn about children’s sexual growth and development
Help children learn how to protect themselves from unwanted sexual interference
Prepare yourself to help children learn about sexual and gender diversity
Increase your confidence in answering young people’s questions about sexuality
Increase your comfort level with handling challenging situations such as children’s sexual
expression, discussion of consent and internet safety

Facilitator: Desiree Doberstein, Toronto Public Health

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Raising Sexually Healthy Children and Pre-Teens

Date: Thursday, November 8, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

This interactive LGBTQ2S inclusive workshop will help parents talk about safety, boundaries and sexual health education with children and pre-teens.

Come and be prepared to:

Learn about children’s growth and sexual development
Increase your confidence in answering young people’s questions
Increase your comfort level with handling challenging situations

Facilitator: Jennifer Paterson is a Sexual Health Promoter with the Toronto Public Health. She is passionate about inclusive sexual health education for people of all ages.

Reach Out With Words

Support your child’s speech and language development from birth to 5 years old.

In this workshop, the participants will focus on:

Communication milestones
Early identification of delays
The referral process
Home language preservation
Learning a second language
Use of language stimulation strategies to support children at home

Facilitator: Joanna Rekas, Toronto Preschool Speech & Language Services.

Ready for Reading (U of T Scarborough)

You are your child’s first and best teacher! Learn about Toronto Public Library’s research-based programs, services, resources, spaces, and expert staff to support you and to help you get your child Ready for Reading.

Facilitator: Patty Domski, Senior Services Specialist, Children’s Services Department of Toronto Public Library

Reducing Anxiety in Your Children

Some children seem to navigate through life with confidence and resilience, while others are anxious, full of self-doubt. In this workshop you will learn how to:

Help your child deal with separation anxiety as they start JK/SK
Assess the state of your child’s anxiety and stress level, and gain ways to lessen it
Easy, everyday tools that will equip your child to withstand peer pressure, cliques, and bullying
Lay the groundwork for self-confidence and happiness all through life

Facilitator: Doone Estey, BA, MA. Doone is a Principal at Parenting Network Inc. and an Adlerian Parent Educator. She is in demand as an international expert on parenting, giving keynotes, school and corporate talks and media appearances at leading organizations. She recently presented at the ONSAP (Toronto), NASAP (Chicago and Philadelphia), CCC Alliance (New York City) and le club b (Toronto) conferences. Doone is a co-author of Raising Great Parents, How to be the Parent Your Kids Need You to Be.

Relationships After Kids

Please join us for a lively discussion with Sandra Rotholc on Relationships After Kids! As parents we are all faced with a to-do list a mile long with no time in the day for ourselves or to foster our relationships with our partners. As the mother of two, Sandra understands the challenges and necessity of taking time for each other amidst the chaos of everyday life in a busy household.

In this workshop, we will discuss stress and the impact of children on relationships, as well as strategies that foster the relationship with our partners, including active listening and communication, intimacy and finding time to be affectionate with each other and exercises to do with your partner around changes in relationship since having kids.

Facilitator: Sandra Rotholc holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Toronto. She has a special interest in coaching people to have healthier relationships. She is a Registered Social Worker, a Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Sex Therapist.

THIS EVENT IS FOR PARENTS OF ALL AGED CHILDREN FROM BABIES TO TEENAGERS!

Relationships and Money

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Couples fight, that is a fact of life. What do they fight about most? Money. What do people understand least? Money. Do you know that you have a relationship with money? Do you know that your partner also has a relationship with money and that it is likely very different from yours? What do couples hate talking about? Money. Given all of this then is it any surprise that couples fight about money? Come to our webinar, Relationships and Money and learn about your relationship with money, about your partner’s relationship with money and some techniques to deescalate the situation so that you can have a meaningful productive conversation around this sensitive topic.

Resilience 101

Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Life as we know it has been turned upside down. Our homes now function as our workplaces, playgrounds and social areas, our family members and roommates are closer than ever before, and we have been forced to shift our routines, among other things.

Let’s face it: our version of normal no longer applies.

This shift has had an unmistakable impact on our lives – increased stress & loneliness, taking on multiple roles at home and not being able to enforce the right boundaries to name a few. It’s easy to feel that no one understands what you are feeling and that you have to figure it out on your own.

You don’t have to! There are many proven ways to build resilience that will support your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

During this 60-minute webinar, you will understand what resilience is, explore methods that can be included in your lifestyle, and the one easy life hack that can help you tap into a positive mindset to help when times get tough.

Registration required. U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Robarts Family Study Space Open House

Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Robarts Library, Family Study Space, 130 St. George Street, Room #9-002

Explore Robarts Family Study Space, a secure, child-friendly, sound-proofed room in the Robarts stacks! Children are welcome and refreshments will be provided. See the Robarts library website for full details about the Open House.

About the Study Space: current students, faculty members, visiting scholars, and staff at the University of Toronto who have children 12 years old or under are eligible to use the space.

Say Goodbye to Homework Hassles

Date: Thursday, September 13, 2018
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: St. George campus, Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College St., Room 313

Is the nightly hour of homework a negative experience for both you and your child? Not all homework problems are the same and each requires a tailored solution. Learn how to help your child handle this important responsibility and establish good study habits – vital tools for their future academic success.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis has worked as a parenting counselor and parenting workshop leader for more than 20 years. She became a registered psychotherapist in 2016. She is a sought-after speaker and the co-author of Parent Talk, Practical Parenting, and Classrooms That Work, all of which are national bestsellers. Karen has been a guest parenting expert for a variety of popular news media — the Globe and Mail, CBC, Global TV, and City Life magazine. She has helped thousands develop effective strategies for behavior, based on a respectful, democratic approach to parenting.

Say Goodbye to Homework Hassles (Webinar)

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: Online, link will be emailed

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis has worked as a parenting counselor and parenting workshop leader for more than 20 years. She became a registered psychotherapist in 2016. She is a sought-after speaker and the co-author of Parent Talk, Practical Parenting, and Classrooms That Work, all of which are national bestsellers. Karen has been a guest parenting expert for a variety of popular news media — the Globe and Mail, CBC, Global TV, and City Life magazine. She has helped thousands of parents to develop effective strategies for behavior, based on a respectful, democratic approach to parenting.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.

School/Work/Life Balance for Students

The Work/Life Balance workshop will explore the multiple challenges that students and student parents face in trying to balance the multiple roles they play during their every-day lives. These roles often include parenting, being a student, other family responsibilities, keeping up physical/emotional/spiritual/mental health, financial obligations, and having a social life. This workshop will include a discussion around an alternative view of the work/life balance struggle, and participants will have an opportunity to discuss their challenges. Finally, the workshop will explore tips on improving your work/life balance, and provide helpful resources for all areas of life.

After completing this workshop, students will have learned:

An alternative way of looking at work/life balance
Tips from colleagues on how to balance the different aspects of your life
Helpful resources

Facilitator: Jessica Barnes, M.S.W. student

Screening of the DVD Split and Discussion

Date:  Thursday, October 10, 2019
Time:  12:30 noon – 1:30 pm
Location: Room 346, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, 246 Bloor Street W.

This screening will allow participants to view the DVD: Split – Divorce through Kids’ Eyes.  Split  is 28 minutes in length, and is described as a video that helps parents understand the emotional needs of their children during a divorce – and helps kids understand they are not alone.

After the screening, Professor Michael Saini will be available to speak to the video and answer questions.

Please note, the video Split will be available to borrow from the Family Care Office library after the screening.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and partners are welcome.  Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Second Births

Date: Friday, November 13, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Some women are concerned about their second delivery when the first one was not how they expected and a difficult one, sometimes even traumatic. Other women who have delivered their first babies by c-section want to have a vaginal delivery for their seconds and want to know more about it. In this session we will:

discuss common differences between first and subsequent births
review indications for labor interventions
how to reduce anxiety after a previously traumatic birth experience
planning a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)

Facilitator: Sara Cooper is a Registered Midwife with the Riverdale Community Midwives.

Self-Care for Caregivers

Date: Friday, April 28, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The last thing caregivers need is another item to add to the to-do list and another thing to feel guilty about. In this interactive session, we will consider the complex experience of caregiving and all the feelings that come with that. Together we will discuss and practice simple strategies that don’t take much time at all and that can be easily incorporated into everyday life. We will reframe self-care and affirm what participants are already doing to care for themselves while caring for others.

Facilitator:

For two decades, Rebecca Higgins has worked in community and social services in a variety of capacities. Since 2010, she has specialized in mental health education. Rebecca has designed and facilitated workshops and webinars for a wide range of groups, including library staff, helping professionals, security guards, customer service professionals, children, youth, educators, and parents.

Rebecca has served as a panelist and presenter at many conferences and has provided consultation support to various community mental health initiatives. She worked for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Canadian Mental Health Association in both Ottawa and Toronto before starting her own business in 2018.

Rebecca has a Master’s degree in Social Work and a BA in English. Her first book, a collection of short stories called The Colours of Birds, was published by Tightrope Books in 2018 and re-released by Iguana Books in 2020.

Find Rebecca at www.mentalhealthworkshopstoronto.com.

Self-Care for Caregivers

Date: Tuesday, April 5th, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Facilitator: For two decades, Rebecca Higgins has worked in community and social services in a variety of capacities. Since 2010, she has specialized in mental health education. Rebecca has designed and facilitated workshops and webinars for a wide range of groups, including library staff, helping professionals, security guards, customer service professionals, children, youth, educators, and parents.

Find Rebecca at www.mentalhealthworkshopstoronto.com.

Separation and Divorce: What About My Children?

When parents part, there are short and longer term consequences for children. Participants discuss how children react when parents decide to live apart and strategies for responding to their issues and questions. Topics include:

The influence of age and developmental stage
Role of attachment and bonding
Understanding loss from the child’s perspective
Strategies for meeting children’s needs

Facilitator: Family Service Toronto, Families in Transition staff member

Sharing (In)Fertility Journeys: A panel discussion

Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: In-person 215 Huron St, 6th floor; joining the session virtually is possible – please email Natasja VanderBerg to indicate you need to join online

This discussion is an opportunity for members of the U of T community who are currently on a journey using assisted reproductive technology or considering one. We come together to share and create connections. Three members of the U of T community will share their experience using third party gametes (eggs or sperm) and surrogacy journeys. Please join us to learn more from those who have generously offered to share their experience and to meet others on fertility/family planning journeys. All genders and sexual orientations are welcome!

The event is primarily in-person, but an option is available to join online. For those joining in person, light refreshments will be available. Feel welcome to bring your lunch. The session is meant to be casual and social. Please email Natasja VanderBerg with any questions you hope will be addressed during the discussion at least one week in advance.

Siblings without Rivalry

Does this sound familiar: “Mike took my CD again without asking!” How about this: “Can we take the baby back now.” Sibling fights like these can wear parents down. Learn what you can do to reduce the tattling, fighting and arguing. This workshop will also look at some of the causes of sibling rivalry, as well as the practical steps parents can take to create more harmonious sibling relationships.

Sleeping Techniques for Infants

Infant sleep habits are learned early. If you are a parent who has trouble getting your baby to sleep, this workshop will provide an opportunity to:

Discuss some approaches/causes to night waking
Talk about safe sleep strategies
Exchange ideas on how to fend off sleep deprivation

Facilitator: Nellie Sousa works with infants and toddlers at the U of T Early Learning Centre.

Social Networking Safety for Parents

This workshop is intended to educate and empower parents on various aspects of Social Networking Safety with practical strategies for ensuring your children are safe while using various social media and communication tools. The workshop will feature Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, Online Privacy, Texting, Handheld Devices and Cyberbullying.

Facilitator: Paul Davis has over 24 years of experience in Information Technology and has delivered workshops for the Department of National Defence, various school boards and has been featured on both Global and CTV.

Speaking to Power with Clarity and Effectiveness

Date: Friday, March 31, 2023
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: Virtual – MS Teams

Who: Students at any stage in their studies – all students are welcome!

Please use this registration link (ignore the ‘Registration for Workshop’ at the bottom of this post): Registration & details

Students with Family Responsibilities wishing to count this towards their Life Management series CCR accreditation should email family.care@utoronto.ca to let us know you’re participating in addition to registering with CLNX.

You’re invited to join Accessibility Services, Academic Success, the Multi-Faith Centre, and the Family Care Office for our fifth annual Speaking to Power with Clarity and Effectiveness.

Making a request for accommodations or consideration from professors, teaching assistants or supervisors can be an intimidating process. This workshop, gives students practical tools to help them feel more confident when making such requests. Through free writing exercises, coupled with small group discussions, students will explore the areas in which they feel hesitant in asking for help. Specifically, the reflective process and free writing will support students in exploring their identities, personal power, and the approaches they can take in communicating assertively about their requests and needs.

Students at any stage in their studies – all students are welcome! Please use this registration link: Registration & details

Springtime Origami for Students

Date: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Let’s celebrate Spring! Origami instructors will teach us how to fold bunnies, a flower basket, egg holders and more! Children are also welcome. The session will include breakout rooms to accommodate kids and complete beginners (~10 folds per model) and intermediate level.

All prospective, new, current U of T students and their partner/spouse are welcome, registration required. A joint event by APUS, UTFOLD and the Family Care Office.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Steps to Success in an Academic Career: Academic Choices and Challenges

Women faculty at all stages of their academic careers will reflect on their experiences. Panels will be divided into those from humanities, social sciences, life and physical sciences.

Stop Fighting with your Teenager

Effective communication skills are the foundation of good family relationships, especially when it comes to teenagers. Karen Skinulis of the Parenting Education Centre of Ontario will discuss proven techniques to bring families closer. Topics include: listening skills; conflict resolution; problem-solving techniques; as well as how to conduct regular family meetings.

Strengthening Families Together (SFT) on Campus

Strengthening Families Together (SFT) on Campus is a four-session education program for family members and friends of individuals living with mental illness.

SFT is designed to give families and caregivers the tools they need to address the day-to-day issues that arise while supporting their relative with schizophrenia or related illness.

Topics for discussion include:

Treatment options
Navigating the system
Coping skills
Effective communication
The criminal justice system

Facilitators are from the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

To register please contact: knicholls@schizophrenia.on.ca. This education program is in partnership with the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario.

Stuck in the Middle: Juggling the challenges of having family responsibilities and work obligations

“Stuck in the Middle” is a self-discovery session on dealing with constant challenges of having family responsibilities and work obligations.

This self-awareness session will help you understand the feelings of guilt that arise when juggling your role as a parent and not always having enough time to spend with your children and/or your loved ones. It’s for everyone who feels overwhelmed.

Facilitator: Anna Wesolinska has a small psychotherapy practice. She has been running workshops at the Gestalt Institute, the North York Women’s Centre, and the U o f T Family Care Office.

Stuck in the Middle: Managing Multiple Responsibilities

“Stuck in the Middle” is a self-discovery session on dealing with constant challenges of having family responsibilities, working and being a student.

This self-awareness session will help you understand the feelings of guilt that arise when juggling your role as a student and not always having enough time to spend with your children and/or your loved ones. It’s for everyone who feels overwhelmed.

Doctoral stream students can take this course as part of the GPS Program. GPS is an initiative from the School of Graduate Studies that comprises a variety of offerings that provide students a full range of optional opportunities for professional skills development at University of Toronto. Your successful completion of GPS will be recognized by a transcript notation.

Student Budgeting 101 (webinar)

Budgeting is about how to effectively manage the money you have. It doesn’t matter if you’re living pay check to pay check or earning six-figures a year, you need to know where your money is going if you want to have a handle on your finances. Unlike what you might believe, budgeting isn’t all about restricting what you spend money on and cutting out all the fun in your life. It’s really about understanding how much money you have and where it goes. At the end of this webinar, you will be able to define money and how to control it by completing the four steps to building a budget.

Presenters:

Edward Xiao is currently a second year Rotman Commerce student pursuing a specialization in Finance and Economics. Edward has a passion to teach and help others understand the necessity of financial knowledge.

Jennifer Tomic has been working for TD Wealth for over 10 years and is currently a Business Application Specialist. Her role involves training Financial Planners, Investment Advisors and Private Banking on how to effectively use TD systems to run their business. Jennifer has been involved with the Financial Literacy program for 3 years and is passionate about helping others to learn how to manage their finances.

Student Families Pizza Night

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: UTGSU Loft, 16 Bancroft Ave, 2nd Floor

Join other student parents and their children on the night before the February P.A. Day for a fun and relaxing night out. While parents relax and network, children activities will be provided in the same space such as button-making, colouring, and playing with other children. We will be serving pizza!

Register at family.care@utoronto.ca with your name and status at U of T, names of family members and ages of children, and dietary restrictions if any by Tuesday, February 11.

This event is a collaboration with the UTGSU, Hart House, and the Family Care Office.

*Access: Unfortunately the 2nd floor of the UTGSU building is not wheelchair accessible.

Student Families Pizza Night (partners and children are welcome)

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: UTGSU Loft, 16 Bancroft Ave, 2nd Floor

Join other student parents and their children on the night before the January P.A. Day for a fun and relaxing night out. While parents relax and network, children activities will be provided in the same space such as button-making, colouring, and playing with other children. We will be serving pizza!

Register at family.care@utoronto.ca with your name and status at U of T, names of family members and ages of children, and dietary restrictions if any.

This event is a collaboration with the UTGSU, Hart House, and the Family Care Office.

*Access: Unfortunately the 2nd floor of the UTGSU building is not wheelchair accessible.

Student Family Event: Pizza & Basketball with the Varsity Blues

Date: Saturday, February 11^th, 2023
Time and Location: 5 pm – Pizza at the Varsity Pavilion, 6 pm – Women’s Basketball Game at the Goldring Centre

Join us for a family night out! We’ll start with pizza at the Varsity Pavilion and then walk across together to watch the women’s basketball game at Goldring Centre. Tickets are limited and first-come first-served. All student families welcome; when registering, please confirm the ages of family members attending and any dietary needs. Email family.care@utoronto.ca to register.

Student Family Storytelling: Call for participation in our Talking Walls art installation, Every Family Belongs

Join us for an opportunity to socialize with other students with family responsibilities and a chance to be featured in Hart House’s upcoming Family Day-themed exhibition.

Help us increase visibility of students with family responsibilities on campus by sharing your story and having your photo taken on this day.

Childminding and light refreshments will be provided.

All students and their partner/spouse are welcome. Registration required. If childminding is needed, please call the Family Care Office at 416-978-0951 or email us with your child’s name and age.

Student Financial Resources and Tips

Are you an undergraduate student parent? Strapped for money?
Every year full and part-time undergraduate student parents can apply for the Dollars for Daycare Grant. Incomplete or unclear applications often result in less funding/no funding as the committee is unable to fully evaluate your application. Join us to learn how to best fill out the Dollars for Daycare application to help pay for your childcare-related expenses (even if you are already receiving child care subsidies) and learn about additional resources to help you stretch your dollars!

We’ll also have information about the UTSU Health and Dental Plan, the Free Income Tax Clinic Service beginning in March, a 3 cent photocopying service, a Food Bank Service and the many other services that are provided by UTSU designed to help save you money. The Family Care Office will bring their wisdom and expertise to help you discover gems around the University that you might not be familiar with.

Student Parent Conference

Building a student parents community

2008 CONFERENCE AGENDA

10:00 – 10:10 a.m. Registration

10:10 – 10:30 a.m. Welcome

10:30 – 12:00 p.m. SESSION 1: NON-VIOLENT DISCIPLINE

This session will cover proven discipline strategies that go beyond punishments and rewards and focus on non-violent communication with your children. Learn helpful tips and ideas to make disciplining more effective and your children more cooperative including:

How to use natural and logical consequences
How to win children’s cooperation
The skill of providing respectful motivation

Suitable for parents and caregivers of children 2 – 12 years of age.

Facilitator: Karen Skinulis
Karen Skinulis graduated from York University with a degree in Psychology. She is a Certified Montessori Director and has worked extensively as a teacher and a parent educator. She is a co-author of two parenting books and one teacher’s book on classroom management.

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & a Welcome Address from Lucy Fromowitz, Assistant Vice-President, Student Life.

SESSION 2: SUSTAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY

A lunch time informal peer – led discussion. Join other students to discuss tips and strategies on how to sustain your financial stability while being a student and a parent. Share information on the bursary and general financial aid application process; learn how to obtain and fill out forms; and how to maneouvre through the system.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. SESSION 3: STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

A session on dealing with constant challenges of being a parent and a student. This session is geared towards student parents with multiple responsibilities. It will address feelings of guilt that arise when juggling your role as a student and not always having enough time to spend with your children. It’s for everyone who feels overwhelmed.

This is an interactive session where most of the exercises are done in pairs and within the group. In this session you will discover your patterns of ‘stuckness’ and learn to convert feelings of being overwhelmed into action, energy and change. A list of parent-friendly resources and services that ‘take the load off’ busy schedules will be provided.

Facilitator: Anna Wesolinska
Anna Wesolinska is an Information Officer at the Family Care Office. She has a small psychotherapy practice and has been running workshops at the Gestalt Institute and the North York Women’s Centre.

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Power Break

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. SESSION 4: JOB SEARCH PANEL

A panel on how to find a job on campus. Most student parents face financial struggles and need to seek employment that fits into their busy lives. Finding a job close to or on campus would save precious time and could make your demanding lives a little more manageable. This panel will discuss options and opportunities for student parents to find employment on campus. The panel will consist of student parents employed on campus and a career counsellor.

Student Panelists: Teresa Biderman, Charity Mwebaze, Linda King
Facilitator: Karen Carrel Rice. Karen Carrel Rice, UofT Career Centre Karen received her Master of Education from OISE/UT and has over 15 years of counseling experience. She enjoys working with the diverse student body at UofT and has experience in helping students from 1st year, through to PhD, as well as career changers

2006 Student Parents Conference

A free conference for University of Toronto student parents.

Opening
Francesca Dobbin, Director of the Family Care Office
Time Management Workshop
For student parents, it often feels as if there are never enough hours in the day. Do you feel like you’re never devoting enough time to either family or school? Come to this workshop and discover tips on how to manage your time and create a balance between your school and home life.
Parenting with Humour
Catherine Lawrence, mother of three and “CLO” (Chief Laughter Officer) of Survival of the Funniest will share her insights on the critical role of laughter and humour to survive and thrive in your parenting role. She will provide some fun, practical techniques to help you SEE funny and access your funny bone at times of unavoidable stress. Don’t miss this laughter-filled workshop!
Career Choice and Job Search Tips for Student Parents
Learn how to find work that will offer you the life-balance you need to develop your career and support you in your role as a parent. This hands-on session will provide an exchange of career information, ideas and
strategies that will help you with all aspects of the career development
process such as resume writing and, identifying family-friendly employers.
Closing of the Conference.

Student Parent Meet-Up

Join us for a social with the Family Care Office peer mentors. Refreshments will be provided. Childcare and snacks will be provided for children up to 12 years of age. Babies should stay with the parent if not yet mobile.

After you drop off your children at the Early Learning Centre (OISE location), join the other student parents for a workshop on Mindful Parenting.

In Mindful Parenting we apply mindfulness principles to the art of parenting as a way to build a strong child-parent relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. In this introductory workshop, parents will learn about the key elements of Mindful Parenting, including listening with full attention, becoming aware of emotions, developing a non-judgemental attitude, accepting difficulties and challenges, building compassion and acceptance, and embracing mistakes as opportunities. Parents will not only experience practical exercises in the workshop, but also bring home tools and techniques for increasing presence, patience, and compassion towards self and child.

Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for parents and children since 2006, and this is her fifth year facilitating the Family Care Office’s Mindful Parenting series. She also teaches an online Mindful Parenting course at Indiana University. Mari has a degree in Psychology, with an specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and is currently a doctoral student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her six year-old son and eight year-old daughter.

Relax, unwind and meet other student parents who understand your challenges and concerns!

If you require child care for this session, please call our office at 416-978-0951 or email us at: family.care@utoronto.ca We will require the names of your children and ages.

All U of T student parents and their partners are welcome. Registration required. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Student Parent Mix and Mingle

Join us for a social with the Family Care Office peer mentors! Relax, unwind and meet other student parents who understand your challenges and concerns. Bring your creative energy with you as you will have an opportunity to build a dreamcatcher for your child during the event.

Student Parent Social

Join us for a social with the Family Care Office peer mentors. Relax, unwind and meet other student parents who understand your challenges and concerns! Lunch will be served.

All U of T student parents are welcome!

Student Parents Discussion Group

WANT TO TALK WITH OTHER STUDENT PARENTS ON-CAMPUS?

The Family Care Office will be sponsoring a Discussion Group For Student Parents who are interested in finding out about resources for families on-campus, offering support, sharing ideas with other parents, and discovering the secret to successful parenting.

Student Parents Drop-in Fridays

The Family Care Office is hosting DROP-IN FRIDAYS for student parents for those interested in finding out more about resources for families on campus. So, drop in to discover our Resource centre, have a tea or coffee and schmooze with other parents and discover the secret to successful parenting on campus.

Student Parents Focus Group

Are you a parent and a student? Are there resources you need at the University as a student parent or are you content with the services available? Do you have issues that are affecting your studies and your life as a parent?

Students Cooking Together

Enjoy a meal together while others do a cooking demo and share useful tips on how to prepare nutritious and delicious food. Learn the tricks of the trade to cook fast, inexpensive meals, pick up and share practical recipes!

Studying and Raising a Family: How to Make it Work

For student parents who are looking for strategies to be more effective, and for those students who may want to start a family while studying at University and are looking for perspectives on how their lives might look like, take this opportunity to hear from 2-3 student parents who are currently studying and raising a family.

These students will share:

Their experience of parenting a child while studying
The resources they have accessed to assist them academically, financially and personally

In the second hour after the panellists speak, you will have the opportunity to meet and socialize with the other students in the session, and talk to our student peer mentors. Resources will also be available on pre-conception health.

Studying at Home with Children (Webinar)

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Once you register, you will receive a link to join the webinar.

Join us for a webinar with Learning Strategist (and mother) Cristina Peters. This webinar will discuss strategies for working/studying from home with children .

Facilitator: Cristina Peters, Learning Strategist, Academic Success Centre

University of Toronto students and their partners are welcome to join the Zoom meeting! Please note, after this webinar, you may be interested in joining the U of T Student Parents and Student Carers Online Platform

For attendance, please register here.

Summer Potluck Picnic for Students With Family Responsibilites

Bring your spouse/partner and children, relax, play at the beautiful Hart House Farm, and get a chance to connect with other U of T students who know what you are talking about!

Supporting a Family Member with Mental Illness

Families who have a loved one with mental illness experience significant stress, which can impact their own health, relationships, careers and financial situations. This workshop will help teach individuals/families how to navigate the mental health system and provide them with support, education, coping skills and self-care strategies. Q&A and an informal discussion will follow.

Facilitator: Christine Cooper is the Executive Director at the Family Association for Mental Health Everywhere (FAME). Christine develops programming and the awareness for Families who have been impacted by mental health. Under her tenure, FAME has grown from one site to seven locations in the Greater Toronto Area, in her ongoing efforts to continue to build upon the need to support families.

UTSC Facilitator: Sarah Robertson, Family Association for Mental Health Everywhere (FAME)

Supporting Caregivers 55+ in Toronto

In this session, Jennifer Hardy, OT Reg. (Ont.) will:

Discuss and provide an overview of a seniors’ mental health initiative known as “Living Life to the Full”
Provide information on the availability and eligibility of Living Life to the Full in Toronto for caregivers 55+, as well as some additional resources.

Facilitator: Jennifer Hardy, OT Reg. (Ont.), Program Manager, Living Life to the Full for Caregivers 55+ with the CMHA, Ontario Division. Jenny has been working at CMHA for almost 3 years in her capacity as coordinator of the Living Life to the Full program, a CBT-based mental health promotion program delivered in community settings. Jenny has worked to bring Living Life to the Full to older adults across Ontario, and is currently focused on a program roll out in Toronto with caregivers over the age of 55+. Since graduating from the University of Toronto, Jenny has spent her career working to implement community based initiatives for older adults, including a food security program, friendly visiting service, and community garden initiative.

Please note this workshop is intended for caregivers who are 55 years or older.

Supporting Child Adjustment to Separation and Divorce

Participants discuss how parents can help children cope with separation and divorce. Topics include:

Divorce from the child’s perspective
Factors affecting how children cope with separation and divorce
Strategies for supporting child adjustment

Facilitator: Mike Stone, MSW, from Family Service Toronto, Families in Transition

Supporting our Kids: Gender and Sexual Diversity

Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: Zoom – A meeting link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop is intended to be a safe space for parents and caregivers to ask questions and explore issues related to gender and sexuality. Whether your child identifies as genderqueer, trans, cis, nonbinary, or in another way and/or straight, lesbian, gay, bi, ace, queer or questioning – this workshop is for you. The workshop begins with a discussion of language relating to gender and sexuality and self-determination and affirmation in connection with gender expansive parenting and caring. Then we will explore questions asked by some parents and carers of young people. In advance of the workshop, you will have a chance to submit your questions and topics you’d like to discuss. How can we support and try to understand our kids? Let’s explore our questions together!

Co-sponsored by the Sexual and Gender Diversity Office and the Family Care Office.

Facilitators:

Ilana David, MSW, RSW (she/they)
Gender & Sexual Diversity Social Worker, TDSB
Ilana is a social worker with over 15 years experience working with children, youth and families in mental health, 2SLGBTQ+ community services and education settings. In her current role in the TDSB, Ilana provides a range of support and consultation services, with a focus on gender and sexual diversity and gender-based violence prevention. Ilana facilitates groups for parents/caregivers of trans, non-binary and gender independent students; and advocates for safe and affirming school climates across the TDSB through staff training, student workshops and case consultations on topics such as healthy relationships, abuse prevention, and gender and sexual diversity.

Avi Magidsohn (he/him)
Trans & Non-binary Support/Triangle Program Social Worker
Gender & Sexual Diversity Team, TDSB
I have worked at the TDSB for almost 20 years in various programs – Human Sexuality Program; Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program; School Social Work; and finally, the Gender & Sexual Diversity Team. In my current role, I have the opportunity to provide social work support to the Triangle Program (Canada’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ alternative high school), co-facilitate the kids program during our monthly Gender Independent Group (group for trans/non-binary/gender-expansive students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 and their caregivers), and provide individual support to trans/non-binary/gender-expansive students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across the TDSB. As a Black, trans man, I am so aware of the importance of being out and visible so that trans and non-binary students (especially, BIPOC students) see themselves reflected in the people they are going to for support.

Surviving University Online while Living with Family

Date: Thursday, June 3, 2021
Time: 11:00am – 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you prior to the session start time.

Being a University student is challenging…and being a university student surrounded by family members can be even more interesting and sometimes challenging. Whether you are a caregiver or parent and/or surrounded by parents, siblings, and others, it can be challenging to balance you own expectations and commitments for school with those of others in your home.

This session will off helpful and productive ways to navigate home relationships as a student and will connect you to university supports and resources to help you balance your home and life commitments. Topics will include:

Navigating familial expectations and obligations
Managing multiple commitments and priorities
Finding support to create an environment to help you learn best.

This workshop will include the sharing of general content, an overview of resources from a variety of university offices and then end with breakout room options where you can connect with peers and staff from university resource offices to ask any questions and get individualized support.

Talking about Residential Schools with your Children

Date: Monday, May 8, 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Online – The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This virtual workshop is led by Lorrie Gallant, who provides parents and caregivers with background information about the history of colonization and its impact on First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada. The workshop focuses on the history of residential schools in Canada. The workshop also discusses current forms of colonization, and colonization’s continuing impact. The workshop explores ways we, as parents and caregivers, can begin to share these injustices with our young community.

Due to the limited length of the workshop, a list of required short readings and videos will be circulated in advance to registrants. Participants are also encouraged to attend Speaking our Truths: A Journey to Reconciliation – Parts 1 & 2 (register on LMS; students on CLNx) with John Croutch, Indigenous Training Coordinator, prior to attending this workshop. John Croutch will be opening and moderating the workshop with Lorrie Gallant.

Indigenous community members as well as non-indigenous community members are welcome.

Facilitator: Lorrie Gallant is an artist, storyteller, educator and an Expressive Arts Practitioner who specializes in Indigenous cultural awareness and trauma from colonization. Born and raised on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory Ontario, Gallant’s methodology comes from her Haudenosaunee cultural heritage. Gallant worked 11 years at Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford Ontario (formerly the Mohawk Institute, the first residential school in Canada) as the Museum Education Coordinator where she developed art-based teachings and workshops to reveal the rich culture of the Haudenosaunee and the history and trauma of colonization and the residential school. Gallant presents workshops, and consults with school boards, museums, educators and organizations who want to understand more and find ways to participate in the 94 calls to actions of Truth and Reconciliation

Talking To Your Child About Sexual Orientation

Join us for a conversation about the many ways we talk about sexual orientation with our kids, and how you can create a more inclusive and hopefully welcoming environment for your child to learn both personally and about the diversity of lived experience in their communities and their city.

Open to parents with kids of all ages, this workshop aims to offer guidance and facilitate peer learning on how to communicate about sexual orientation in ways that match your own values and support your child regardless of their experience.

Topics covered will include:

Understanding sexual orientation (definitions, terms)
When and how to talk to your children
Responding to questions and comments inside the family and from the various communities you and your child are part of

Facilitator: Cory Silverberg

Talking with Children about Colonization

Time: 12:00 – 1:15 pm
Location: TBA

In this series we will be looking at what, how much and how to tell children in our lives about the history and current developments of Canada’s colonization, in practical ways that are appropriate and respectful of their developmental stages.

Session Title	Date
Identity Exercise: Our Connection with the Land	Wednesday, September 26
Thanksgiving and its Meanings, Reconnections – bringing it to your thanksgiving table	Wednesday, October 3
Current issues affecting Indigenous People/Misconceptions – how to talk with your children about it	Wednesday, October 10
Actions & moving forward	Wednesday, October 17

Facilitators: Mikaela D. Gabriel, PhD Student, Clinical & Counselling Psychology at OISE/University of Toronto & Mairi McKenna-Edwards, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Division of Student Life.

Registration required. U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and their partner are welcome to attend. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Talking with Parents and Caregivers about Gender and Sexuality Diversity in Children, Youth and Families – Part II

Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This interactive workshop is presented as “Part II” to the introductory workshop hosted in Fall 2020. It will begin with a brief overview of language relating to gender and sexuality diversity and a summary of self-determination and affirmation in connection with gender expansive parenting and caring. It will then explore common questions asked by some parents and carers of young people as it relates to gender and sexuality diversity.

Facilitator: Rebecca Hooton (she/her) is a queer settler from Montreal. Working both onsite at The 519 and facilitating Inclusion training sessions gives her a broad understanding of the issues facing Queer and Trans communities, especially during this time. Her approach to community work is informed by her community organizing and training in theatrical collective creation. She is committed to ever-deepening understandings of intersectional feminism, anti-racist praxis, and healing justice.

Talking with Parents and Caregivers about Sexual and Gender Diversity in Children, Youth and Families – An Introduction

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to each session’s start time.

This interactive workshop will describe what sexual and gender diversity means and the various ways these diversities may express themselves in children, youth and families. This session will also introduce a gender-affirmation model of care (gender expansive parenting and caring).

As an overview, the workshop will:

Deepen your understanding of what sexual and gender diversity is and the various ways it may express in children and youth, and specifically within 2SLGBTQIA families;
Deepen your understanding of affirmation as a framework to better support and celebrate children, youth and families with sexual and gender diversity;
Build confidence in how best to speak to other human beings (younger and older) about 2SLGBTQIA children, youth and families – especially if you are part of a cisnormative and heteronormative family; and
Explore gender expansive parenting as a way to promote engagement, productivity and health/well-being for everyone

Facilitator: Ms. Ashley McGhee, The 519

Registration required. All current staff, faculty, students and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Teaching Kids About Consent

Teaching Children, Tweens, and Teens Consent – with Dr. Nadine Thornhill

In partnership with the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre at UofT, we developed a three part webinar series where you will hear from Dr. Nadine Thornhill, an educator specializing in child and adolescent sexuality. For over a decade, Nadine has been helping folks have honest, open conversations with their kids and teens about bodies, relationships, and more.

The series covers: Teaching Children About Consent, Teaching Tweens About Consent, Teaching Teens About Consent. Watch the Teaching Children, Tweens, and Teens Consent webinars.

Teens and the Family: Making it Work

Join us for an interactive discussion on how to navigate your family’s needs and requirements with the developmental stages and challenges of your teen. Bring issues for discussion around how you would like things to work better in your family.

By the end of this session you will be familiar with:

Your teen’s developmental challenges and how they play out in the family
Communication strategies that work in negotiating this dynamic
Resources and information that support active parenting

Facilitator: Lynne Mitchell. Lynne is a registered social worker in private practice. She facilitates parenting groups and has presented extensively on the topic of parenting teens.

The ABC’s of Adoption for LGBTQ People

Are you considering adoption? Wondering what the options are for LGBTQ people? Two speakers from the Children’s Aid Society will discuss the adoption process; a lesbian couple will share their personal experience of adopting through Children’s Aid; and Pat Fenton from the Adoption Council of Ontario will discuss some of the issues involved in international adoption and private adoption.

This workshop is being sponsored by the Family Care Office; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Resources and Programs, U of T; and the LGBT Parenting Network, Family Service Association of Toronto.

The Academic Job Interview and Negotiating Your First Contract

This session will address best (and worst) practices at the interview and strategies for contract negotiations. Topics to be addressed include:

Interview techniques: Do’s and Don’ts
Negotiating terms of the job offer

The Emotional Pathways of Adjusting to Separation and Divorce

This introductory workshop will explore the process and impact of separation and divorce with an emphasis on strategies for coping, and addressing the emotions that arise from this important life transition. The workshop will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

The Footprints of Fatherhood

Dads have a unique opportunity to influence their children. This workshop will highlight the key things children need as they follow their father’s footprints through life.

Facilitator: Brian Russell is a Parent Educator with the LAMP Early Years Services in Toronto and the Provincial Coordinator of Dad Central Ontario.

The Not So Terrible Twos (U of T Scarborough)

Join us for this informative session that will cover everything you need to know about this challenging stage.

We will cover:

What qualifies as normal and abnormal behaviors
The connections between brain changes and these behaviors
The best, proven ways to parent your child during this stage
How you as a parent can survive and help your child thrive through their second year and beyond

Facilitator: Dr. Shaila Callaghan, Chiropractor, Vita Integrative Health Clinic specializing in brain-based chiropractic care and prenatal/pediatric wellness.

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome.

The Resilient Parent and Caregiver

Learn and practice resilience based coping strategies that can help you and your family regain balance and joy in your daily life!

Caring for a child or a loved one is rewarding, but it also involves many changes, such as household and routine disruption, financial pressures as well as, long-term responsibilities. Building resilience is ensuring that you are prepared in times of high stress.

In this session, you will:

Learn self-care strategies.
Discover where you invest most of your physical and emotional energy and whether it’s productive.
Uncover your coping style and learn practical tools that will help you and your family be more resilient in times of stress.

This workshop is designed for parents and caregivers.

The Truth about Teens

Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This informative and encouraging presentation focuses on adolescent development (how understanding adolescent development can make you a better parent), parenting strategies (the three things teenagers need most from their parents), and the job description for the job of teenager (the four “key developmental tasks” of adolescence). It explains why the teen years can be such a challenging time for both parents and teens alike — and how parents can respond that challenge in a way that strengthens, not weakens, their connection to their teen. It also discusses the important role that parents can play in supporting adolescent mental health throughout the teen years and beyond—and what that means in practical terms (how parents can apply this information to their everyday lives, starting right now).

Facilitator: Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is a frequent contributor to CBC Radio and a bestselling parenting book author. Ann is the creator of The Mother of All Book series and the author, most recently, of Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm. A passionate and inspiring speaker, Ann delivers keynote addresses and leads small-group workshops at health, parenting, and education conferences across the country.

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate

The Unforgiving Role of Motherhood

Date: Wednesday, November 24th, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Being a mom is, in a word, HARD! Of course, there is so much joy in the relationship you have with your children. And, trying to keep our kids emotionally stable and able to navigate life as they grow, all while making sure the basics of life are provided can make motherhood an extremely exhausting role. The amount of information moms carry can lead to overwhelm, frustration and loneliness – especially if you consider yourself the primary parent.

What if you could get a handle on the way you parent, and enlist help along the way?

Come join us for this lunch hour webinar where you will learn 1) about the typically gendered roles in parenting and the impact it has now and in the future, 2) what successful co-parenting can look like, and 3) the ways to mitigate the challenge in being the mother you want to be. You will walk away with a list of methods that you can implement and help your mental, physical and emotional well being right away.

Facilitator: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker and trainer, dedicated to helping people gain clarity on the life that they want to live, and developing healthy habits to make it a reality. She firmly believes that life is too short to live a life that makes you unhappy and is on a mission to free her clients from guilt, imposter syndrome and unworthiness so that they can share their gifts and dreams with others. A wife, and mom to two lively boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in her day-to-day. Find out more at www.tararhodes.ca.

Toddler Nutrition — Building Healthy Eating Habits

Participants will learn:

Different small nutritious meals and snacks to be served everyday
To offer a variety of foods from the four food groups
To satisfy their thirst with water
To understand your toddler’s food needs
To feed a fussy eater
The importance of being a good food role model

In collaboration with the Woodsworth Single Parents’ Group.

Toilet Learning – Time to Potty!

Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

With potty training, there is no one size fits all approach. This course unpacks the various methods, and how to choose the best one for your family.

Facilitator: Nadine is a behavioural therapist who has over 10 years of experience working with children ranging in all types of abilities. Her experience includes performing ongoing assessments, identifying target behaviors, developing and implementing treatment plans, conducting parent workshops, and extensive documentation of clients’ progress. She not only works one-on-one with children but closely with parents to aid in reaching their children’s goals as well.

Nadine works with New Mummy Co parents on potty training, providing them support, guidance, and customized solutions to empower and foster independence in children to reach their goals.

Nadine is personable, hard-working, passionate about her clients and their families and is committed to providing them quality service that satisfies their expectations and enhances their experience.

Toilet Learning – Time to Potty!

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Transitioning from diapers to underwear can be overwhelming and a big step for both parents and children. This workshop discusses strategies to set your children up for success on this new endeavor in life. The course focuses on signs of cognitive and behavioural readiness, and when and how to start.
With potty training, there is no one size fits all approach. This workshop unpacks the various methods, and how to choose the best one for your family.

Facilitator: Nadine is a behavioural therapist who has over 10 years of experience working with children ranging in all types of abilities. Her experience includes performing ongoing assessments, identifying target behaviors, developing and implementing treatment plans, conducting parent workshops, and extensive documentation of clients’ progress. She not only works one-on-one with children but closely with parents to aid in reaching their children’s goals as well.
Nadine works with parents on providing them support, guidance, and customized solutions to empower and foster independence in children to reach their goals when learning to use the potty.
Nadine is personable, hard-working, passionate about her clients and their families and is committed to providing them quality service that satisfies their expectations and enhances their experience.

Toilet Learning Webinar

Toileting is a skill that needs to be learned. As a parent or caregiver, learn how to how to set your child up for success when they are ready to use the toilet. We will discuss how to establish core skills, steps to toilet learning, and how to deal with accidents, in order to keep your child motivated to continue learning. Most children will start toileting between 2 and 4 years old, and some as young as 18 months. Every child is different so learn the signs to look for to determine your child’s readiness.

Facilitator: Sharmeen Abeysinghe is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) with thirteen years’ experience working with families and children. She is also a mother of two boys ages 7 & 4. Sharmeen’s views on toilet readiness and child rearing have foundations in Early Childhood theories, however, it is her practical experience from working as an RECE and being a parent, where she prides herself on finding solutions that work.

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

Toileting Workshop

Helping children move from diapers or pull-ups into underwear is a big step for both parents and children. There are two different approaches that are usually used: Toilet training versus Toilet learning. In this workshop we will discuss both methods and the style that might be preferred by parents and their children.

Facilitator: Rochelle Dobusz-Hopkins- University of Toronto Early Learning Centre-RECE. Working with children and families for more than 10 years, Rochelle has had the opportunity to work with children and families from 0-12 years, but primarily with Toddlers and Preschoolers aged 16 mos-4. Rochelle has been working with children and their families at the ELC for the past 7 years.

U of T Families Celebrate Lunar New Year

Note: This event is at capacity. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email family.care@utoronto.ca

Date: Friday, January 27, 2023
Time: 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, 8th floor, Robarts Library

The Family Care Office and the Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library invite U of T community members and their families to celebrate Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year in many East and Southeast Asian cultures. Communities celebrate in different ways, at different times. U of T community members will share about ways of celebrating, and activities will be available for children. Join us to learn more about various traditions, and to celebrate Lunar New Year! Food will be generously provided by the East Asian Library.

Registration required; spaces are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to avoid disappointment, and by January 24 at the latest. To register, email family.care@utoronto.ca and include the names of family members attending, status with U of T, and ages of participating children.

University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty and their family members are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will make appropriate arrangements.

Under the Iceberg of Separation and Divorce: A Discussion Group

Date: Thursdays, April 13, 20, 27, and May 4, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Location:The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

An online educational discussion group designed to help people deal positively with separation and divorce. Topics are driven by the need of its participants. They might include:

Normalization of the separation experience
Divorce as a lonely planet
Individual coping skills and strategies to deal with fear
Creating new adult attachment scripts
The externalization of anger and conflict
Dealing, feeling and healing
Moving on and for the better

This group will be open to both parents with children and individuals without children. The first 3 sessions will focus on adult development and the last session will focus on children and parenting.

Facilitator: Michael Saini is a Professor, holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is the Co-Director of the Combined J.D. and M.S.W. Program with the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He conducts parenting plan evaluations, voice of the child reports, parent coaching and he provides parent education workshops on issues related to separation and divorce.

Understanding Canada’s Retirement Income System — Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security

Facilitator: Fernanda Soukas, Citizen Services Specialist, Service Canada

Understanding Estate Planning and the Importance of a Will

Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This workshop will provide an overview of estate planning and will answer your questions about Will planning, and Powers of Attorney.

Whether you are a new parent, recently married, in a blended family or you are caring for an aging relative, take this opportunity to learn more about estate planning and what you need to consider.

Facilitator: Stephen Offenheim has been practicing law since 1994. His practice focuses on will and estate planning. He is committed to assisting people protect their family, by having appropriate estate planning documents prepared in an affordable manner.

Understanding Estate Planning and the Importance of a Will (U of T Mississauga)

Please join Cecile Ko Brock, a lawyer with Pallett Valo LLP for a workshop on estate planning.

This workshop will provide an overview of estate planning and will answer your questions about Will planning, and Powers of Attorney.

Whether you are a new parent, recently married, in a blended family or you are caring for an aging relative, take this opportunity to learn more about estate planning and what you need to consider.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Understanding Flexible Work Arrangement Options (for staff only)

The different types of flexible work arrangements that may be possible for a staff member
How an appropriate flexible work arrangement might be put in place (a case study example will be used)
How you would proceed to request a flexible work arrangement for yourself

Understanding the different flexible work arrangement options, will help you to determine if a flexible work arrangement might be possible in your current work environment, and if it might assist you deal with a current family concern.

Please note this workshop is not intended for managers or supervisors who are dealing with requests for a flexible work arrangement.

Facilitators: Teresa Scannell, Career/Work-Life Consultant; Kaye Francis, Manager, Family Care Office

Understanding Learning Disabilities in Children

This workshop will provide information about learning disabilities in children by addressing: what a learning disability is, common signs, assessment, and the impact of a learning disability and support services available. Participants are encouraged to send their questions or concerns to family.care@utoronto.ca ahead of time and/or to bring them to the workshop for discussion.

Facilitator: TBA

Understanding the Impacts of Learning Disabilities (LD) (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room AA160

This workshop will focus on understanding the impacts of Learning Disabilities (LD) on children and their families and will offer strategies for how to help children cope at home, school and play. It will explore the perspectives of both children and their parents. It will also teach parents about the Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto and other services that are available for children with LDs and AD(H)D.

Facilitator: Oksana Romanov, Rame Balasingam, Hilary Quinn with the Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

UTM Eldercare: Understanding the Role of the CCAC

Do you have questions about community resources in the Peel region that you or your aging relative may be able to use? Join Marion Strode, Case Manager and Acting Client Services Manager for the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) for Peel as she will provide:

an overview of the elder care services offered through the Peel CCAC including the process for long term care placement
information on caregiver stress and the resources that are available in the community to help the caregiver of an aging relative

All staff and faculty are welcome to attend.

UTM Faculty Relocation Service Information Session (Staff Only)

All department administrative staff involved in the recruitment of tenure stream and teaching stream faculty are welcome to attend this Faculty Relocation Service (FRS) Information Session.

In this session, you will receive:

An overview of the services provided by the Faculty Relocation Service including how to arrange for appointments for prospective faculty
A description of other campus relocation services available to new faculty including Faculty Housing, Dual Career Connection, and banking services

UTM Orientation for Students With Family Responsibilities

Join other student parents to learn about the services and resources available to students with families on campus, get advice on how to adjust to the University life, and start creating your support networks by making new friends.

UTM Parenting Workshop: Encouragement and Self-esteem

Some children navigate life with confidence and ease, while others are anxious, full of self-doubt. In this workshop you will learn:

How to assess the state of your child’s resilience, and gain ways to improve it.
Learn why not to say ‘good job’ and what to say instead.
Everyday tools that will help equip your child to withstand peer pressure, cliques, and bullying, while laying the groundwork for self-confidence, resilience and success.

Facilitator: Doone Estey, BA, MA. Doone is a Principal atÂ Parenting Network Inc. and an Adlerian Parent Educator. She is in demand as an international expert on parenting, giving keynotes, school and corporate talks and media appearances at leading organizations. She recently presented at the ONSAP (Toronto), NASAP (Chicago and Philadelphia), CCC Alliance (New York City) and le club b (Toronto) conferences. Doone is a co-author of Raising Great Parents, How to be the Parent Your Kids Need You to Be.

UTM Parenting: CYBER SAVVY Workshop

This workshop will address important information on how to reduce online risks to children and families. Topics include:

What are IM’s, Chat Rooms, Blogs, Spam and Viruses?
What is my child doing online and who is he or she talking to?
What strategies do online predators use to gain access to children?
What precautions can I take to protect my children while they are online?

Facilitator: Judy Engle, Jewish Family and Child

UTM Positive Parenting and Guiding your Child’s Behaviour

Workshop presented by Venay, a Public Health Nurse with the Region of Peel Family Services.

Facilitator: Kasia Pytlik, M.S.W. student, Family Care Office

UTM Workshop: Supporting a Family Member with Mental Illness

Families who have a loved one with mental illness experience significant stress, which can impact their own health, relationships, careers and financial situations. This workshop will help families and caregivers care for themselves and their loved ones by discussing the development of resilience in families living with mental illness by providing support, education, coping skills and self-care strategies.

Facilitator: Stephanie Kerr, Family Support Worker, Family Association for Mental Health Everywhere (FAME), Mississauga Office.

This workshop is brought to you by the Family Care Office and Health & Counselling Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga.

UTM Workshop: Understanding the Support Services Available for Seniors in Peel Region

This workshop will provide caregivers of aging relatives an understanding of how to access support services that would help with the care of a loved one so that they can remain in the home longer, as well as information on accessing long-term care options if staying at home is no longer possible.

Kevin Leet, Program Facilitator
Family Services of Peel

UTSC Eldercare: Taking the ‘Mystery’ out of Retirement Living

Join Esther Goldstein of Retirement Residential Placement Service, Inc. for an informative and practical session on the search for a retirement home. She will discuss the following topics:

What is a retirement home and who needs one?
How to look for a retirement home, including visiting tips
The emotional aspects of relocation and how to make the transition easier

Esther Goldstein has worked as a hospital social worker in the Greater Toronto Area for the past 12 years. Much of her work involves counselling clients and their families about the difficult task of relocating to care facilities and assisting them with the placement process.

UTSC Parenting Workshop: HELP!!! I am the Parent of a Teen

Join us for a discussion on what is going on in your teen’s life and parenting strategies for dealing with these issues in a positive way. We will discuss:

Teen developmental stages and challenges
Internet and video games
Drugs and alcohol
Sexuality
Peer pressure

Facilitator: Lynne Mitchell M.E.S., M.Ed., R.S.W. Lynne is a registered social worker in private practice in the area of individuals, relationships and families with a special interest in adolescents and young adults.

UTSC Parenting: Encouragement and Self-Esteem (U of T Scarborough)

Some children navigate life with confidence and ease, while others are anxious, full of self-doubt. In this workshop you will learn:

How to assess the state of your child’s resilience, and gain ways to improve it.
Learn why not to say ‘good job’ and what to say instead.
Everyday tools that will help equip your child to withstand peer pressure, cliques, and bullying, while laying the groundwork for self-confidence, resilience and success.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Video Gaming and Internet Gambling: How much is too much? Understanding and identifying the issues in your family and friends.

This seminar is for those who are concerned that someone close to them has a gaming or a gambling problem. A lot of teens, adolescents and adults play video games online and gamble online. Is playing a lot of video games a problem? When does it become a problem?

Learning Outcomes:

Identify the difference between regular gaming and problem gaming behaviour by asking the right questions and recognizing common signs.
Understand the treatment options and approaches.
Learn about resources available in the community.

Note:
Although anyone can attend, the content of this seminar will primarily focus on youth under 24.

Who should attend?

University of Toronto staff, faculty and students concerned about their family member or a friend
University of Toronto educators and students interested in adolescent and/or addiction issues

Speakers: Dr. Bruce Ballon and Lisa Pont

Dr. Bruce Ballon is a psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor for the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Ballon is also the section Chair of Innovation in Teaching Methods for the Association of Academic Psychiatry. Dr. Ballon is the Director of the Psychiatry Simulation Innovation (P.S.I.) Centre for the University of Toronto based at the Mount Sinai Hospital. He is also the Head and developer of the new initiative Adolescent Clinical and Educational Services (ACES) from Problem Gambling, Gaming and Internet Addiction at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Lisa Pont has a Bachelor of Social Work from Ryerson University and a Master of Social Work from York University. She has worked for the Problem Gambling Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as the Older Adult Specialist since January 2007. Prior to that, she coordinated the Telephone Support Line at CAMH since its inception in 2003. In all of her professional roles, she has been a strong advocate for people living with mental health and/or addiction issues. Her experience in counseling, outreach, community work and training led her to her position as a Trainer/Therapist with the Problem Gambling Project and Problem Gambling Service at CAMH.

This workshop is sponsored by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto Family Care Office.

Walk with Strollers

Dates: Fall 2018

Friday, October 26 – Riverdale Farm

Time: 10:00 am (meet at the Hart House Reading Room)

Explore the city with other parents and kids! Monthly walking excursions to parks, museums, and local neighbourhoods. Find new places to play while connecting with other parents of young children.

Presented by Hart House and the Family Care Office.

U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and their partner are welcome to attend. Registration required.

Webinar: Managing Finances during the Pandemic and Planning for Afterwards (Evening Session for Students and Student Partners)

Date:  Monday, April 6, 2020
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Have you or your family been impacted financially by Covid-19? Are you worried that your income may be impacted in the near future? Worrying about our health along with our finances can be scary, stressful and can create a lot of stress on us and our families. Join us for a practical webinar on how to plan for emergency reduced income, deal with your bills as well as your creditors. You are not alone and we are here to help you!

Registration Required. U of T students and their partners are welcome to attend.

If you are registering from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday, April 6th please email family.care@utoronto.ca to receive access instructions.

What to Eat When You’re Expecting (or plan to expect!)

Confused by advice given by friends and family about caffeine, folate, sushi, iron, dairy and eggs during pregnancy? Worried about not gaining enough weight, or gaining too much?

Join us for a talk on healthy eating during pregnancy. Planning or expecting U of T students, staff, faculty and their partner are invited to learn about the essential nutrients during pregnancy and how to get them, and about some potentially risky foods you might want to avoid.

Facilitator: Robert Smith, Registered Dietitian, U of T Health and Wellness Centre

U of T students, staff, faculty, and their partner/spouse are welcome to attend.

What to Expect on Your Birth Partner Journey: a workshop for non-birth parents and birth partners

Date: Monday, March 6, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The Family Care Office is excited to present this new workshop for non-birth parents and/or chosen family who will be supporting the birth parent in the birthing process. We’ll discuss:

some things the non-birthing partner can expect during the birthing process and beyond
ways to care and support the birth parent during pregnancy, the birthing process and beyond
self-care when caring for others in the family
ways to bond with the new baby

Facilitators:

The workshop will be an informal conversation between Natasja VanderBerg (a Family Care Advisor and non-birth parent to one child) and Kelly Carrington, Registered Massage Therapist and a Certified Birth Doula. Kelly is the first male doula certified through DONA International in Canada in 2014. Kelly is a father of three boys and a partner. Read about why he became a doula.

Why Do I Keep Spinning my Wheels since my Divorce?

Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This introductory webinar will explore how adults get stuck in negative emotional cycles and how they can get traction on the right path by dealing, feeling and healing from the separation and divorce. A question and answer period will then provide participants with the opportunity to ask non-case specific questions.

Facilitator: Michael Saini is a Professor, holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is the Co-Director of the Combined J.D. and M.S.W. Program with the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He conducts custody evaluations, he is a parent coach for separated families and he provides parent education workshops on issues related to separation and divorce.

Why do I keep spinning my wheels since my divorce?

Date: Thursday, January 13, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This introductory webinar will explore how adults get stuck in negative emotional cycles and how they can get traction on the right path by dealing, feeling and healing from the separation and divorce. The webinar will then be followed with a question and discussion period

Will My Child Be Negatively Impacted by my Divorce?

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

While divorce has been found to be an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), parents can buffer their children from negative conflict. This webinar will provide parents with tools and strategies to protect their children from long term consequences of separation and divorce. A question and answer period will then provide participants with the opportunity to ask non-case specific questions.

Facilitator: Michael Saini is a Professor, holds the endowed Chair in Law and Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and is the Co-Director of the Combined J.D. and M.S.W. Program with the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He conducts custody evaluations, he is a parent coach for separated families and he provides parent education workshops on issues related to separation and divorce.

Will my child be negatively impacted by my divorce?

Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This introductory webinar will explore how parents can effectively cope with the separation and divorce process while buffering their children from conflict. The webinar will then be followed with a question and discussion period.

Winter Crafts & Watch Party: Santa Claus Parade

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join Hart House and the Family Care Office for a winter celebration! We will be making season-related crafts and watch the online Santa Claus Parade together on CTV or CTV2.

All U of T students, staff and faculty families are welcome to attend. Please register at family.care@utoronto.ca with your name and children’s names.

Women’s Wellness – Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Women’s Wellness is open to all women – trans and cis – and nonbinary people who want to participate in programming that centers women’s experience who live in 30 or 35 Charles Street, University Family Housing.

Take time out of your busy schedule just for you! Enjoy a breakfast and a weekly interactive session with on-site childminding provided. Raffle prizes each week! The Women’s Wellness series is an opportunity to pause and pay attention to your physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.

The 2023 series weekly interactive sessions will be:

Thursday February 16 Connecting with Others and Ourselves
Thursday February 23 Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop
Thursday March 2 Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence
Thursday March 9 Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

To register, please email family.care@utoronto.ca and include the sessions you are registering for, your name, U of T status (or status of your partner), and the names and ages of your children if you require free childminding.

Organized by the Family Care Office, in collaboration with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, University Family Housing, and the Community Safety Office.

Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Date: Thursday, March 9
Time: Breakfast begins at 9:30, childminding drop-off at 9:45 am and the workshop will run from 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Activity room at 30 Charles Street West

While stress is a regular part of our lives, being overwhelmed can get in the way of us understanding our needs and boundaries. This workshop will provide frameworks to understand one’s needs and to better equip participants in learning how to express them.

This workshop with be an introduction into:

stress and our nervous system
what our nervous systems tells us about our boundaries
communicating our needs
learning grounding techniques

Facilitator:

Ninotchka (she/her) is a registered social worker providing therapy in private practice in Toronto. With a B.Ed and a MSW, she believes in the power of social change through education, when growth, development, justice and wellbeing are nurtured intentionally with skill, integrity and support. She has focused her work on supporting people who have experienced marginalization and harm through systemic barriers and oppression. Combining her clinical and educational skills, Ninotchka aims to disrupt systems of harm and contribute to building a just society and relationships founded in support and skills in care, responsibility, consent, well-being and joy.

Women’s Wellness – Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop

The 2023 series weekly interactive sessions will be:

Thursday February 16 Connecting with Others and Ourselves
Thursday February 23 Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop
Thursday March 2 Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence
Thursday March 9 Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Organized by the Family Care Office, in collaboration with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, University Family Housing, and the Community Safety Office.

Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop

Date: Thursday, February 23
Time: Breakfast begins at 9:30 am, childminding drop-off at 9:45 am and the workshop will run from 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Activity room at 30 Charles Street West

Let’s slow down together as we sip tea and turn to the page for this slow-paced, gentle writing workshop. Through a series of open writing prompts, you’ll hone in on your personal vision for slowness, perhaps within a busy life of parenting and studies. All writing levels are welcome. Participants are most welcome to write in the language of their choice. Sharing your writing is always optional.

Facilitators:

Nina K Moore (MEd) thinks coziness is important and going slow has value. Nina leads writing workshops. For Nina, writing is an important part of managing, and living, with anxiety. Nina is a mama and was a primary teacher for over 12 years.

Women’s Wellness – Wen Do Women’s Self Defence

The 2023 series weekly interactive sessions will be:

Thursday February 16 Connecting with Others and Ourselves
Thursday February 23 Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop
Thursday March 2 Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence
Thursday March 9 Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Organized by the Family Care Office, in collaboration with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, University Family Housing, and the Community Safety Office.

Wen Do Women’s Self Defence

Date: Thursday, March 2
Time: Breakfast begins at 9:30 am, childminding drop-off at 9:45 am and the workshop will run from 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Activity room at 30 Charles Street West

This Wen-Do workshop is for women (cis, trans, and anyone who identifies as a woman). In this class, participants will learn simple, powerful physical self-defence skills, explore effective verbal self-defence strategies, develop their ability to recognize and deal with threatening situations, increase their confidence, and have fun!

Facilitators:

Leslie Allin loves teaching Wen-Do because working at the intersection of practice (learning effective physical techniques) and theory (dismantling stereotypes surrounding violence against women, knowledge about self-defense, and naming women’s experience) profoundly empowers women. She continues to be inspired by her students’ insights, energy, and determination. She also volunteers on the Wen-Do phone line. Leslie holds a PhD in Literature and lectures on representations of empire, race, and gender.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Building Resilience Through Mindfulness

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Mindfulness is about being present and compassionate in the moment. In this workshop, you will learn practices on how to quiet your mind and focus on your breath, become more self-aware and aware of your surroundings and how to respond effectively to difficult situations rather than reacting to or avoiding them.

Facilitator: Marie Masse was introduced to an 8-week Mindfulness-based stress reduction program that changed her life. She completed her Mindfulness Studies at the University of Toronto and is currently devoting her time to teaching Mindfulness and Mindfulness Meditation to U of T students through Mindful Moments. She’s also working at A Mindful Society, the Canadian gateway into the national and international community.

TO REGISTER: Call us at 416-978-0951 or email family.care@utoronto.ca and include the sessions you are registering for, your name, U of T status (or status of your partner/spouse), the names and ages of your children if you require free childminding.
Registration is open to all female identified students and student partners/spouses living in Student Family Housing.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Communication and Healthy Relationships

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Healthy relationships and families are key to our well-being. We look to our partners and families as a place of refuge and support, but they can also be a place of stress, especially if we are not communicating well. In this interactive workshop we will discuss how to:

Identify the ways that stress impacts our relationships and families;
Communicate clearly to promote understanding and teamwork;
Develop a plan to nurture your own self-care, which benefits your whole family.

Facilitator: Dr. Angela Koh is a passionate Solution Focused Brief Coaching practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience in education and leading learner-centred curriculum and workshops. Dr. Koh participated in designing the Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching’s flagship coaching certificate program and has delivered it worldwide.

TO REGISTER: Call us at 416-978-0951 or email family.care@utoronto.ca with your name, U of T status (or status of your partner/spouse), the names and ages of your children if you require childminding. We strongly encourage participants to register for all sessions in order to receive the full benefits of this series. Registration is open to all female identified students and female identified student partners/spouses residing in Student Family Housing.

*You will be entered to win a raffle prize at the end of each session.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Communication and Healthy Relationships

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Identify the ways that stress impacts our relationships and families;
Communicate clearly to promote understanding and teamwork;
Develop a plan to nurture your own self-care, which benefits your whole family.

Facilitator: Dr. Angela Koh is a passionate Solution Focused Brief Coaching practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience in education and leading learner-centred curriculum and workshops. Dr. Koh participated in designing the Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching’s flagship coaching certificate program and has delivered it worldwide.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Financial Literacy

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Does looking at financial statements make you anxious or confused? Join us for a session on money management strategies that will ease your worries and help you achieve your financial goals. This workshop will offer budgeting tips for families, information on government student grants and bursaries, and advice on setting realistic financial goals.

*You will be entered to win a raffle prize at the end of each session.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Healthy Eating

Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Join Food Share in a community food workshop where the focus is on healthy eating within a budget due to an expected rise in food prices. You will be introduced to Canada’s new Food Guide, mindful eating, how to plan meals for the week, how to change recipes to increase nutrition and decrease cost, how to store meals and prepare leftovers safely.

Facilitator: Courtney South, Food Share, is a Registered Dietitian and food justice advocate who is determined to increase food literacy within the community. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food at Ryerson University and completed a dietetic internship at Sick Kids Hospital. During her internship, she worked with families from around the world to provide paediatric nutrition counselling, and education.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Self-Care: Challenges and Strategies

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Practicing self-care enhances our health and well-being, supports success in our work/studies, and improves our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. This workshop will explore the following topics and discuss positive coping strategies to address each challenge:

- Time constraints
- Juggling multiple responsibilities

Compassion fatigue and overwhelm
Expectations
Disconnection and isolation

TO REGISTER: Call us at 416-978-0951 or email family.care@utoronto.ca with your name, U of T status (or status of your partner/spouse), the names and ages of your children if you require childminding. We strongly encourage participants to register for all sessions in order to receive the full benefits of this series. Registration is open to all female identified students and female identified student partners/spouses residing in Student Family Housing.

*You will be entered to win a raffle prize at the end of each session.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence is a program for girls and women to heighten their sense of self-trust and awareness of their environment. This workshop offers information, resources and an opportunity to discuss and learn physical techniques around safety, including responses to the most common assaults. Attendees will learn effective blocks, strikes, body language and verbal self-defence.

Facilitator: Deb Parent has taught Wen Do to thousands of girls and women since 1987. She pioneered Dyke and Trans self-defence courses and is a senior instructor and board member with Wen-Do. Deb was on staff with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre from 1980 – 2001. She is also the recipient of the 2007 City of Toronto Pride award and the 2016 Inspire lifetime achievement award.

Women’s Wellness @ Student Family Housing: Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am
Location: Student Family Housing

Facilitator: Deb Parent has taught Wen Do to thousands of girls and women since 1987. She pioneered Dyke and Trans self-defence courses and is a senior instructor and board member with Wen-Do. Deb was on staff with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre from 1980 – 2001. She is also the recipient of the 2007 City of Toronto Pride award and the 2016 Inspire lifetime achievement award.

*You will be entered to win a raffle prize at the end of each session.

Women’s Wellness – Connecting with Others and Ourselves

The 2023 series weekly interactive sessions will be:

Thursday February 16 Connecting with Others and Ourselves
Thursday February 23 Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop
Thursday March 2 Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence
Thursday March 9 Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Organized by the Family Care Office, in collaboration with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, University Family Housing, and the Community Safety Office.

Connecting with Ourselves and Others

Date: Thursday, February 16
Time: Breakfast begins at 9:30 am, childminding drop-off at 9:45 am and the workshop will run from 10 am – 11:30 am
Location: Activity room at 30 Charles Street West

This opening session will begin with yoga. Yoga will be followed by an opportunity to meet one another as well as some Family Care Office’s peer mentors (upper-year student caregivers and parents). Peer mentors will share their experiences of:

Meeting others and forming community at U of T and in Toronto
Living in Toronto and supporting a family on a budget
Navigating Toronto’s childcare, schools and children’s programs

Bring your questions! If your questions are not answered during the session, FCO advisors will gather the questions and will address them over the weeks of the series.

Facilitators:

Mindful Moments yoga instructor and Family Care Office peer mentors. Mindful Moments works to support students’ holistic wellbeing: body, mind, spirit and heart. Through mindfulness meditation and yoga classes, Mindful Moments aims to provide programming where students can learn new skills, develop life-long healthy habits and learn about themselves.

Working and/or Studying while being a Sole Support Parent: Panel Discussion

In this panel discussion we weill discuss studying and/or working while being a sole support parent. Being a lone parent has its challenges for career development as well as your approach to academic studies. Current staff and students will discuss how they approach trying to balance studies/work with parenting on their own. The panellists will also share some strategies they used to assist with their academic studies and/or move their career forward.

Facilitator and panelist: Liza Arnason, Director, Student Life and International Student Centre (UTSC)

Panelists: Malkia Mpamuki, Undergraduate student, Holly Andrews, Educational AV Coordinator, Discovery Commons, Faculty of Medicine and recent graduate, and TBD

Working With Your Child’s School

Are you concerned about how your child is doing in school?
Are you unsure about how to approach a parent-teacher conference?
Join experienced parent volunteers Joanne Pauli & James Barrass to discuss topics including: choice of schools, parent -teacher relationship, and parent involvement.

Worrying? Anxiety in Children

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Everyone, including children, experiences anxiety from time to time. Anxiety becomes a problem when it interrupts our lives and stops us from doing things we want or need to do. In this interactive webinar, parents and caregivers will learn more about the topic of anxiety in children. We will explore how anxiety feels, physically and emotionally. Parents and caregivers will learn how anxiety can impact thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.  As well, they will learn how to recognize anxiety and how to support kids who may be experiencing it. We will discuss signs, strategies, and options to gain additional support and share supplementary resources. Participants will have opportunity to ask questions and learn from each other’s experience.

Facilitator: Rebecca Higgins has a background in social work, specializing in mental health education since 2011. Prior to starting her own business in 2018, Rebecca worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She has designed and facilitated workshops and webinars for a wide range of groups including early childhood educators, caregivers, faculty, and parents. She has been working with the Family Care Office providing workshops and webinars since 2018.

Writing in The Spirit of Connection (or, When You Meet the Stranger, Say Hello)

Who is the stranger? Mostly we think of people we don’t know, those new to us, as strangers. But the stranger is also myself when I do something out of character; I say ‘that’s not me.’ How do you encounter what’s unfamiliar where you find it? Fear? Curiousity? In this series, use writing to explore coming up against the other who is both within and without, and saying hello. No experience necessary.

Young Carers: Self Care for Care Partners

Date: Thursday, April 7, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Young carers (18 to 40 years old) play an important role in the lives of family members living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. This interactive workshop is designed to help care partners/family members caring for people living with dementia discuss the concept of Self Care and the important role it plays in managing the day-to-day stress

The following topics will be covered:

What is self-care?
Common barriers preventing caregivers from practicing self-care
The benefits of self-care habits
Strategies, approaches and ideas on incorporating self-care into our daily schedule
Emotional hygiene and how to practice it
Creating a self-care plan and sticking to it

For care partners or family member of a person living with dementia.

Facilitator: Curtis Larade, Social Worker with the Alzheimer Society Toronto

Zoom Drawing Workshop – P.A. Day event

Date: Friday, January 14^th, 2022
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: The link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Let’s Draw Together! Join artist Donna Akrey for a fun and interactive zoom drawing session. Using simple materials and objects you have around the house, Donna will guide us through making a series of collaborative, kinetic drawings using the Zoom grid as the canvas.
Children all ages (and adults too!) of U of T students, staff and faculty are welcome. Email family.care@utoronto.ca with children’ name and age, your name and status with U of T.

If participants have any access needs to ensure their full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Past Events

What is the U Can Move program?

Varsity Blues Hockey

Upcoming Family Sundays

Family Ballet Workshop View Poster

Teaching Children, Tweens, and Teens Consent – with Dr. Nadine Thornhill

Boundaries, Nervous Systems and Communication 101

Find Your Slow: A Gentle Writing Workshop

Wen Do Women’s Self Defence

Connecting with Ourselves and Others