Family Transition Place News spring 2016
Family Transition Place Achieves Accreditation In line with our 2013-2016 strategic plan for supporting service excellence, we have achieved our goal of becoming a fully accredited agency.
Every HOPE charm bracelet sale helps FTP deliver essential services and programs to our community.
FOCUS Accreditation requires a vigourous process of meeting a total of 184 ‘best practice’ standards to achieve accreditation. Standards include all facets of the agency ranging from client services, human resources, fundraising, policies, financial practices etc., and the entire process takes approximately three years. FOCUS Accreditation sent a team of three people to review Family Transition Place’s (FTP’s) services onsite, for three days. The team observed how services were provided, reviewed data, and collected input from various people who have a stake in the services being provided.
community connections encompassing both the private and the public sectors.
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FTP demonstrates significant strength in the area of advocacy. Advocacy is noted in all programs both at the client level and at the community level. The organization works with many other organizations to promote awareness. FTP participates in formal research and demonstrates their willingness to have a greater understanding of the clients they serve.
Cheryl Whiteman, Executive Director of FOCUS, comments, “Congratulations to Family Transition Place on being awarded the FOCUS 4-year Accreditation. This is the first organization within
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Family Transition Place 905.584.4357 519.942.4122 familytransitionplace.ca 24 Hour Info/Crisis Line 519.941.4357 905.584.4357 1.800.265.9178 TTY: 519.942.1651
Save the date for the 2016 HOPE project Sept 29, 2016
Throughout the on-site validation process, the validators identified many strengths at FTP such as: •
Family Transition Place is dedicated to ensuring appropriate services are available to their clients. This is reflected in the expansion of their core services to include service to men, the homeless population, people with mental health and those with addictions.
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Family Transition Place demonstrates a strong commitment to flexible, diverse services through a variety of methods including evening and weekend services, satellite offices for ease of access and assisting with transportation.
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Organizational learning and improvement is an overall strength of Family Transition Place. Learning is seen at all levels and in every facet of the agency.
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Family Transition Place has created and nurtured excellent comprehensive and cohesive
FOCUS Accreditation to receive 100% in meeting all standards, this is no small feat and the organization can be applauded for ensuring that the organization is achieving high levels of operations. The organization and the community it services can be proud of FTP’s progressive and forward thinking processes and initiatives. The culture of FTP can be attributed to the leadership of the agency and a team that clearly demonstrates passion for the clients they serve, advocacy of violence prevention strategies and at the heart of the organization is compassion and understanding for those who are impacted by domestic violence. Family Transition Place is elite in the delivery of their services.” “The accreditation process with FOCUS Accreditation was a positive experience from beginning to end. The three years of work to prepare became a great team building and learning opportunity for FTP. I am so proud of the FTP Staff and Board – we not only received our Accreditation Certificate, but to do so with an achievement of 100% was so exciting – and affirming!” Norah Kennedy, Executive Director
“If we can “teach” people to love, and give them the skills and attitudes they need to do that, while they are young, not only may we help create a generation of leaders who will run the world differently, but we will have a lot fewer of their partners ending up needing services like ours.” Norah Kennedy, ED
Family Transition Place’s values embrace Safety, Support and Hope. These three concepts are woven throughout all our programs and services, all across this agency. However, while our values are absolutely fundamental to all our programs, when I think of Hope specifically, I can’t help but think of our Youth Education programs. These programs, which have now been running in Dufferin and Caledon schools for well over 10 years is, for me, the definition of Hope. Over a couple of lovely spring mornings this week, I made the time to go out and observe our Education team in action in the schools. In one class, I watched high school age students respond strongly and enthusiastically to the concepts of fairness, equality, and respect. In another, I watched elementary school students open up and talk about what made them angry, and then learn and practice “healthy” ways to express it. To quote Nelson Mandela, “No one is born hating another
person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Watching the students this week made me realize just how much our world is changing – and despite all the moaning about the short-comings of the upcoming generation, (usually by members of my generation), make no mistake – it is these young people who are driving the change. Happily, they already look at things in a different way – the youth in the High School class didn’t even notice that the couple on the commercial they were shown was bi-racial. They accept and take for granted things, that at their age my generation would have found unusual and disturbing. If we believe Mr. Mandela, if people (children) can learn to hate, then it stands to reason that with the right messages, support, love and resources in place, they can also learn to love – to be kind, accepting of themselves and those around them. They can learn that there are healthy ways of expressing feelings like anger, rejection, hurt, that can honour their feelings without being destructive or harmful to themselves or others. These are the lessons that they will take with them into their adulthood, as they become our teachers, politicians and world leaders. The women and children who come to FTP for Safety and Support are here as the result of being involved with people who grew up not knowing how to love, argue, fight or communicate without resorting to unhealthy actions – controlling, yelling, throwing, hitting, belittling…. If we can “teach” the children and youth of today to love and respect one another, and give them the skills and attitudes they need to do that, while they are still young, not only may we help create a generation of leaders who will run the world differently, but we will have a lot fewer of their partners ending up needing services like ours. And if that isn’t Hope, I don’t know what is.
By telling her story, Lucy hopes to help change minds, hearts and public policies on sexual violence and its impact on survivors to help create a hopeful future for us all.
The MENtors are a mens volunteer committee of Family Transition Place taking a stand to end violence against women. The group participates in ending woman abuse awareness activities all year long. Their major initiative is the Walk In HER Shoes fundraiser this year. Two events will be held; the first in Caledon on June 12 at the Caledon Community Complex, and the second in Orangeville on June 18 at Alexandra Park. They invite boys and men of all ages to participate. Registration is $20 (use of pink high heels are included, but you can wear your own) and participants are encouraged to collect online pledges.
Registration NOW OPEN Join us in Caledon (June 12) • Orangeville (June 18) info/register at: familytransitionplace.ca
to end violence against women and girls Register online at www.familytransitionplace.ca. The MENtors are hoping to raise $10,000 this year. These funds will be used for various education initiatives to help promote healthier relationships and build a safer community. Come out and support this fun and important cause. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
fundraiser and awareness initiative to support
Welcome Lisa Goodison - Manager of Business Operations Lisa is a Certified Management Accountant (CPA, CMA) and has extensive experience in financial reporting, planning/ budgeting and analysis. Welcome Celine WilliamsTracey - our Sexual Assault Clinical Counsellor Celine comes with a wealth of experience in sexual assault counselling and advocacy work with the Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic.
Our friends at Parsons’ Florist are doing a donation drive in support of FTP. With any floral order, make your pledge at the same time to help support FTP. All funds will be used to support programming to help break the cycle of violence.
This spring marked a milestone in Family Transition Place’s history. Our long-time colleague and friend, Janice Hansen, Manager of Finance and HR, finally decided the time had come for her to turn the reins of the Finance Department over to someone else and take a well-deserved rest. As Janice remarked in her beautiful farewell speech, “To Everything there is a Season” and for her, the season to retire is now. On March 31st, FTP held a small and intimate gathering (at Janice’s request) of current staff, Board and Finance Committee members, to express our good wishes and to
reminisce about all the good things Janice has brought to the agency over her 21 years here. There was much talk about her big heart, about her loyalty, her work ethic and her “impeccable” financial practices. As I commented in my goodbye to Janice, “… of all the things you have given me over the years, the most important thing was the gift of confidence. Our reputation with our funders, our auditors and our community, as a well-run, fiscally responsible and financially healthy organization, is all because of you”. But in the end, after all is said and done,
May is Sexual Assault Awareness Month FTP offers free individual counselling in Orangeville, Bolton, and Shelburne for women and men 16 years of age and older for recent or historical sexual abuse. Through counselling, you can begin to let go of the guilt, anger, and shame that many victims of sexual assault experience and begin to feel empowered, stronger and hopeful about your future.
Mark your calendars – Sunday, September 25 for the 5th Annual Ferguson Memorial Walk. Collect pledges and join us at this inspiring fundraiser in memory of Heidi Ferguson who lost her life due to a tragic domestic dispute with her estranged husband. The walk takes place at Island Lake on September 25th. More info at fergusonmemorialwalk.com.
it is Janice – our friend and co-worker – we will miss. Janice leaves with a clear conscience, knowing she has left the agency in an excellent financial position and that she is leaving the agency’s finances in good hands, as Lisa Goodison, the new Manager of Business Operations, learns the ropes and leads the Financial and Business elements of the agency into the future. We all wish Janice the very best for a long, healthy and happy retirement, with no looming deadlines to stress about. ~ Norah Kennedy
FTP celebrated its loyal volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week with a Tea Party. Celebrating milestone achievements: 5 years: Mary Maw, Kemi Palmer & Adriana Roche (shown here); and Blair Russell for 10 years. Thank you to all of our volunteers. We appreciate you!
$45,000 raised at the FTP International Women’s Day Celebration Luncheon.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, vendors, and the 300+ guests that joined us at the Best Western PLUS Orangeville Inn & Suites in March. We were delighted that the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community & Social Services was also in attendance.
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