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Eastside Family Place Weekly Update
Fall is suddenly upon us, school is coming for many, and there are still a lot of unknowns. We at Family Place commiserate with you on all the ups and downs of the past number of months. ESFP is very pleased to announce that we have arranged for weekly private counselling at no cost to parents. In addition, outdoor play in the community garden is being offered along with new fall workshops and programs. For more information on all of the above, read on!
Occasional Care and Registered Backyard Play Time continue with registration on Wednesday or Thursday for the following week - refer to our website. Finally, please set aside time to attend our virtual Annual General Meeting on Thurs Oct 1 at 7 pm. Whether virtually or in person, we looking forward to connecting with you this fall. In the meantime, stay safe and stay well! |
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We are Family Support Workers and we are here to help!
During the first part of the shutdown, our family support workers stayed in contact with members, offering phone support and referrals, and just being there to listen. We continue to be here to offer you support and help you find resources. Contact us via email to request a call-back. And, at the registered programs, you can connect with various staff there too. We are here to help! |
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Outdoor Programs
Backyard Play Time
Join us in our backyard play space Mon and Wed from 11 am -12 pm. Enjoy activities and connect with staff and other young families in a stimulating and safe environment. Register on our website every Wed & Thurs and on the Fri we'll confirm with you. Our safety plan can be found in our Registered Backyard Play Time Policies.
Kids Yoga class will meet at least 2 more times: Tues, Sept 8 and 15, at 10 am in the usual spot under the big tree in Grandview Park. Bring a yoga mat or something to sit on. If it's a bit chilly we will do more standing and active poses! Email to RSVP.
Garden Playtime starting Sept 10, every Thurs morning 10 -11:15 am we will meet in the Britannia Community Garden to play, do nature crafts and explore the garden and all it has to offer. (While the weather cooperates). Email to RSVP.
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Exciting News! We are now offering private counselling sessions!
We are excited to announce that Krystle Sivorot, MC, RCC, will be offering her counselling services to ESFP members on Wednesdays.
With a warm presence and passionate energy, Krystle brings an attachment-based, strength-based, and client-centered approach to her counselling practice. Offering strong ethics rooted in an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens, Krystle believes healing and liberation are intertwined.
Krystle holds a Master’s degree in Counselling from City University with additional training in Dance/Movement Therapy and Synergetic Play Therapy. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Assoc. of Clinical Counsellors. Her work experience includes working with substance use issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and emotional regulation. She currently works as a Clinical Counsellor at SHARE in the Tri-City area and Harbourside Family Counselling in Vancouver. You may recall that she facilitated our popular Calming the Self program last year at ESFP.
Her practice supports children, youth, and adults struggling with emotional challenges and encourages cultivating the wisdom of the body and mind. Krystle looks at supporting the whole family system to find new ways of deepening the relationship to self and others in the community. Her practice uses breath, movement, and mindfulness to deepen a connection to the body as a resource for wellbeing and nurturing joy. Krystle is thrilled to be walking alongside families in their journey to find healing and growth at Eastside Family Place.
We will offer 50 minute counselling appointments on Wednesdays. To find out more or to book a session, email Krystle. No cost for ESFP members ($20 per year/family).
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New Workshops and Programs to Enjoy!
We've been busy planning our fall programming - here's a look at what's coming up. Watch this space in the coming weeks for even more!
WORKSHOPS:
Let's Make Art Together - family creativity workshop for preschoolers and their parents/caregivers on Zoom. Led by local artist and educator, Paddi McGraff who has facilitated art workshops for the very young to the very old for over twenty years, and is a founding member of East Van's Magpie’s Nest Community Art Space. We will have fun together making Crazy Combination Creatures - only supplies needed are 81/2 x 11 paper and markers. This is a great activity that can become a favourite way to connect with your children. We hope to offer craft sessions with Paddi monthly.
Friday, Sept 25, 11 am-12 pm, on Zoom. Registration is open, click here!
Cooking Skills with Andrea Potter of Rooted Nutrition, on Zoom. Andrea is back expanding our culinary expertise by helping us learn to make nutritious and yummy meals for our growing families. The plan is to offer the classes in the early evening, so you can cook along for your evening meal. We are still working on the exact dates and times, but here's a sneak peek at what she has in store for us. Email to get on the list ~
- Busy Weeknight Dinners - Scrambling to cobble together dinner for the family on busy nights? Learn satisfying, healthy recipes that take 30 min or less to make Uses pantry staples - no running out to get specialty ingredients at the store!
- Versatile Sauces from Scratch - Tired of the same weekly meals? Does your cooking need some new flavours, vibrancy, pizzaz? The secret is in the sauce! Learn how to make healthy sauces, marinades and dressings from scratch what will liven up your tastebuds.
- Better Snacks - Ditch the unhealthy ingredients, wasteful packaging and extra cost of store-bought snacks by learning how to whip up some healthier versions of your kid's (new or current) favourites.
PROGRAMS:
Family Rhythm, Rhyme + Movement, on Zoom. Join Nuri and Dawn Zoe as they lead you in our Saturday morning early literacy program with songs, rhymes, stories and creative movement.
Saturdays, starting Oct 17, 10-11:30 am for 6 sessions. Email to register.
Circle of Security parenting program, on Zoom. Explore child development, needs and behaviours from the lens of attachment. By being more in tune with your children's attachment needs, you can develop strategies to more positively respond to them, and create a closer connection. Limited to 6 participants on Zoom.
Fridays, starting on October 23, 1-2:30, for 8 sessions. Email to register.
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We made many great memories this summer! And the fun will continue in the garden into the fall season!
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Help us out- take our survey!
Your feedback will help us evaluate and plan future programs. And it will only take 2-3 minutes per survey. Thanks! Since there are two outdoor programs, please fill in both if you attended both - Backyard Playtime & Summer Time Fun. Thank you very much, we appreciate your input!
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Click on the image to download this free mini ebook for children to help them adjust to encountering people wearing face masks. Click here for more tips to help introduce face masks to young children.
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Community Expressions - The Rock Project, Know Their Names
Along Garden Drive near 4th Ave can be found the Rock Project in the front yard of a neighbour's home. Messages of hope and inspiration can be found on many of the brightly painted river rocks, as well as this more recent addition - Know Their Names - an invitation for passersby to stop and read & reflect on the names of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour who have lost their lives due to police violence.
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Save the Date! ESFP AGM Oct 1, 7 pm
Join Eastside Family Place for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) being held on Zoom on October 1 - more information coming soon!
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COVID-19 testing info and list of testing sites can be found here on the VCH website.
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FUN STUFF:
SELF-CARE:
MENTAL HEALTH:
- Free Counseling Service. If you are struggling and would like to speak with a Registered Clinical Counselor, please email us for a confidential referral
- From Canada.ca - access support workers/social workers/ psychologists for confidential chat sessions or phone calls by texting "WELLNESS" to 741741. If you are a frontline worker, text "FRONTLINE" to same number. The Wellness Together Canada mental wellness portal- wide range of free resources
- Pacific Post Partum Support Society, 10am-3pm, phone / text support for new or expecting parents. 604-255-7999
PARENTING SUPPORT:
- Cathryn McPhee is an East Van parenting consultant from Information Children, and can help with ages 0-12 years. CALL 778-782-3548 for a confidential call-back, or go online for more info on their free services
- Dr. Vanessa Lapointe - parenting author, online classes, blog
- The Neufeld Institute - resources on the pandemic and its effects on children, from an attachment-based, developmental approach
- Hand in Hand Parenting Special Playtime experts/videos/live
- Elevating Childcare RIE based, respectful parenting podcast/newsletter
- Susan Stiffelman Parenting Without Power Struggles
JUST FOR DADS:
ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES:
FINANCIAL AND LEGAL INFO:
- The Vancouver Rent Bank supports individuals and families who need access to a temporary loan to maintain their housing stability/avoid homelessness
- Family Services of Greater Vancouver help with financial benefits, emergency budget planning CALL: 604-368-2469 or e: moneyskills@fsgv.ca
- Helping Women Now, from Dress for Success. Helps women affected by job reduction/loss
- Provincial hotline dedicated to answering NON-MEDICAL questions, CALL 1-888-COVID19 or 1-888-268-4319
- Corona Virus: Your Legal Questions Answered, People's Law School
FOOD:
- Britannia Community Centre runs a weekly farmers market featuring local produce from Fractal Farms and different arts, crafts, and food vendors every week. Tuesdays 2-7 pm in the plaza.
- Map Showing free/low-cost food in Vancouver
- Better Together BC, recipes, inspiration for eating more family meals together
- Choices Market free online nutrition seminars + recipes
- Support BC Food Producers! order from BCLocalRoot
- East Van Cares, by Grandview Woodland Food Connection. Free food boxes to seniors and families with young children
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNAL FOR HELP
The social isolation measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic are making it more difficult for those who are at risk of abuse or violence to safely reach out for help. “Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed sign someone can use on a video call. It can help a person silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way. For more information on the Signal for Help, including tips on how to help someone if you see it on a call, please go to the Canadian Women's Foundation page. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
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Follow Us!
Stay in the loop and don't miss a thing. Check us out on Facebook (@eastsidefamilyplacesociety) & Instagram (@familyplaceprograms) or at eastsidefamilyplace.org
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Eastside Family Place is proud of being the Grandview-Woodland community’s 'home away from home' for over 40 years.
Please renew your membership to help us continue our work. Thanks!
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We wish to acknowledge we are on the unceded, traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) , Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
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