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The Nook Resources Overview
The Nook is dedicated to assisting parents and families in providing healthy, safe and enriching experiences for their school age children. We can provide information and referrals when possible on subjects such as the following: Understanding your rights and the rights of your children within the pubic school system; Letter Writing & Phone Calling Assistance related to accessing child-centred services or information where a language barrier exists; Advocacy and Support during meetings with schools or healthcare providers; Donations of child-related items; and access to Food Banks. Please contact us for further information and know that you are not alone in the struggles you face as a caregiver in our community.
Resources for Parents with Children who have Special Needs:
This link from the City of Toronto provides information on issues such as:
- physical health
- emotional health
- behaviour
- development
- mental health
http://www.gov.on.ca/children/english/programs/needs/index.html
Geneva Centre for Autism
Geneva Centre for Autism is an international leader in the development and delivery of clinical intervention services and training. We offer a wide range of clinical services which are determined individually for each person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). All of our clinical services are supported by a multi-disciplinary team of trained, experienced and empathic professionals including speech-language pathologists, behaviour analysts, therapists, early childhood educators, occupational therapists, developmental paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. In addition, our staffing team is supported by a Professional Advisory Council which is composed of world-renowned clinicians, blending their expertise with ours. Consequently, Geneva Centre for Autism is able to provide the highest quality of clinical service to our clients.
Programs for Parents include: Counselling, Parent Support and Parent Training.
Mailing address: 112 Merton Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M4S 2Z8 Tel: (416) 322-7877 Fax: (416) 322-5894
Resources for Parents on Behavioural, Emotional, and Physical Development of children:
Published by the YMCA of Toronto these books are a great source of information.
"Facilitating the Healthy Development of Children’s behaviours and activities grow and change with them. Discovery Books are created as guidelines to assist you understand your child’s behaviour and suggest activities that promote healthy development of children. To help you become the best parent the books provide practical information on children’s" Social development, Emotional development, Physical development, and Intellectual development.
Whether your child is a newborn or entering high school, there is a Discovery Book for you:
Ages 0-6 http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/files/PDF/DiscoveryBookAges0-6.pdf
Ages 7-11 http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/files/PDF/DiscoveryBookAges7-11.pdf
Ages 12-15 http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/files/PDF/DiscoveryBookAges7-11.pdf
Parenting Support:
Healthy Beginnings and Family Support
Healthy Beginnings and Family Support is a pre-and post-natal nutrition and support program for pregnant women living on low incomes. Healthy Beginnings offers participants the opportunity to talk about pregnancy and parenting with other women, as well as food demonstrations, information about healthy eating, free daycare, a food hamper, food vouchers and a visit with a Public Health nurse.
Hours: Wednesday: 9:30 am to 1 pm
Contact: Tamara at 416-652-7867 ext. 221
Planned Parenthood Toronto
Women’s Services: For your reproductive and sexual health, we offer peer education on birth control, parenting options, STI testing and lots more for women throughout their reproductive years. We provide workshops on healthy sexuality issues, and, coming soon, new services for women who have sex with women. Planned Parenthood Toronto, 36B Prince Arthur Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1A9 Phone: (416) 961-0113 Fax: (416) 961-2512 Email:
Ontario Early Years Centres
http://www.gov.on.ca/children/oeyc/en/index.html
Ontario Early Years Centres are places where parents and caregivers can: take part with their children in a range of programs and activities with their children, get answers to questions, get information about programs and services that are available for young children and their families, talk to early years professionals, as well as other parents and caregivers in the community.
Children’s Aid Society
Community Education Child welfare is a community responsibility. We educate the public about our services and their role by publishing promotional materials, appearing in media and staging events during October’s Child Abuse Prevention month. We have an active speakers bureau, which makes presentations about our work and the community’s role to a large variety of organizations, and groups. Topics include our agency’s work, child abuse, adoption, foster care, effective parenting techniques and other issues of social concern.
June Callwood Centre
The June Callwood Centre for Women and Families was founded in 1982 as Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers. We were one of North America’s first centres for teen parents and their children. Today we offer 30 services for pregnant teenagers, teenage parents and their children. We are here to meet the needs and dreams of both generations. We offer health services, counselling, education, housing, prenatal classes and parenting groups and many types of practical support. June's Centre is an empowering centre for teens and for young children. June Callwood Centre for Women and Families, 205 Parliament Street Toronto, ON M5A 2Z4 Phone: (416) 365-1888 Fax: (416) 365-1944 . If you are age 18 or younger and are pregnant, or have a child, call (416) 365-1888 and ask to speak to a counsellor.
Affordable Childcare:
St. Stephen’s Community House
St. Stephen’s Community House offers subsidized child care for children ranging in age from three months to twelve years from four different locations in the city. They have a multi-lungual staff and provide a nutritious hot lunch, plus two snacks.
Children from 2 1/2 to 10 years: St. Stephen's Community House, 91 Bellevue Avenue
Toronto, ON M5T 2N8 Phone: 416-925-2103 ext. 242
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Children from 3 months to 10 years: St. Stephen's King Edward Child Care Centre, King
Edward School, Room 1 112 Lippincott St.
Phone: 416-922-8705
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Children from3 3/4 to 6 years: St. Stephen's Waterfront Child Care Centre,
Waterfront Public School 635 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON M5V 3G3
Phone: 416-260-9442
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Children from 3 months to 4 years: Harbourfront Child Care Centre, 650 Queens Quay
West, Suite 101 Toronto, ON M5V 3N2
Phone: 416-203-1300
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families
This program gives eligible working families tax-free money every month to help with child care costs. To qualify, your family must have children under the age of seven. For more information, visit: http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/credit/occs/
Housing:
Sistering
Sistering has been supporting homeless, underhoused and low-income women in the Toronto community since 1981. Sistering is a community-based agency that has struggled with the reality of women’s homelessness, poverty and marginalization for over 20 years. Our programs, services and advocacy work in concert to provide women with as much support as possible while they take greater control over their own lives. We offer a Drop-In Centre and Outreach Program.
Sistering – A Woman’s Place Administration office: 962 Bloor St West Toronto ON M6H 1L6 Tel: 416-926-9762 Fax: 416-926-1932
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:30pm Closed: weekends, statutory holidays
Nellie’s
Nellie's is a non-profit women's organization helping women and children in crisis locate safe affordable housing, support services and a bridge to a better future. We operate a 36 bed emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless and women and children leaving violence. The Community Support Program provides aftercare and follow-up support and service to women and children who have left the shelter and are now living in the community.
Food Resources:
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Food Access and Food Bank
http://www.conccommunity.org/index.php/drop/programs/food_access_food_bank/
The Stop Community Food Centre
The Stop’s Food Bank provides a three-day supply of food once a month to individuals and families who live in The Stop’s catchment area (north of Bloor, south of St. Clair, west of Dovercourt and east of Keele). The Stop’s food bank places a priority on providing a dignified environment and as high quality food as possible. In order to register with the food bank, you must show ID with your name and address and ID for anyone else who will be sharing your food. Once you are registered, you will be given a food bank membership card.
The Stop Community Food Centre 1884 Davenport Rd. Toronto, Ontario | 416.652.7867
The Stop's Green Barn 601 Christie Street, Barn #4, Toronto, Ontario | 416.651.7867
Food Bank Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 12 pm to 3 pm Contact: Cliff at 416-652-7867 ext 227
Employment:
St. Stephen's Community House Employment Resource Centre
Our Employment Resource Centre (ERC) is open to all members of the community, and offers services that will lead to success in your search for employment and training.
1415 Bathurst Street, Ground Floor Toronto, ON M5R 3H8 Phone: 416-537-5477 Fax: 416-537-4469
Hours: Monday and Thursday, 9:15 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Fun Ideas for Families:
Resource website for city activities, party ideas, educational ideas, parenting tips, outings, etc. For parents around Toronto.
http://www.kiddingaroundtoronto.com/
Bob Abate Community Recreation Centre
http://www.toronto.com/sports_recreation/listing/507996
485 Montrose Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6G3H2
Dufferin Grove Park
Parent Zone
http://www.parentzone.com/canada/ontario/toronto
Welcome to the best resource for parents living in the Toronto area! Consider this your go-to guide for kid-friendly events and family-friendly services whether you're looking for restaurants in Scarborough, daycare in Markham, or kids’ dance classes in Oakville. Our local directory help you find everything from doulas to daycare. Click on our events calendar for family-friendly happenings in your area. Toronto, we’ve got you covered!
Young Women & Girls Programming:
The YWCA runs a series of young women and girls programs, though there is a cost, here is a link to some of the services they offer:
http://www.ywcatoronto.org/girls_family/girlscentre.htm
Children's Health and Well-being:
KidsHealth
If you're looking for information you can trust about kids and teens that's free of "doctor speak," you've come to the right place. KidsHealth is the most-visited site on the Web for information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years. KidsHealth is more than just the facts about health. As part of The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth also provides families with perspective, advice, and comfort about a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that affect children and teens.