A Message from the President and the Executive Director

For a year that started with such promise in April 2008, the ensuing 12 month period has been incredibly turbulent. The individuals, families and communities we serve experienced these upheavals in their own lives in very personal ways. We saw economies implode on a scale not experienced before, creating havoc and mistrust on a world scale, and here in Ottawa we felt the impact and worried about our lives and our jobs. We witnessed a major change in leadership in the United States and we talked about the impact of new words and ideas on the way we view the world and in our everyday lives. We saw our city go through an extended transportation strike which caused visible hardship in a harsh winter and made us all realize the importance of mobility in our daily lives. A thread through all of these adventures was the realization that while the vulnerable are the first to experience problems, we all suffer when some of us suffer.

For some there was a profound change in their lives resulting from these forces and for many the impact was an increase in stress and anxiety in lives already running too fast. We saw this amongst the people who came to Family Services for help. And as through so many upheavals over the last 95 years we were able to offer help. Approximately 6,000 individuals and families received counselling, attended educational events and obtained support druing the past year.

In spite of the conditions swirling around us, Family Services posted another strong year of service to the community. While the numbers remain constant the issues and problems they brought seemed more difficult and complicated. Our measures of success indicated that the vast majority received assistance that made their lives better in important ways. Many people in our community still do not have access to services such as we provide and the number waiting for services is far too high for a community such as Ottawa.

The skill and expterise of the staff at FSFO remains its most critical strength. Helping people through crisis, trauma and distress is demanding work and the 100 or so part time and full time staff working at Family Services make a real difference in the lives of the people they touch. The staff team is multi-talented with specialized skills in a veriety of specific issues; most have been working with our organization for more than 15 years and many have over 20 years experience in their area of expertise. Comparative studies using standardized measures were released in the last year and show substantially better outcomes for community based conselling such as provided at FSFO when compared to other forms of counselling.

While people can come to FSFO confident that they will receive the same quality and type of service we have provided for decades, they can also be assured the we are continuously developing new and innovative approaches to better deal with the issues they face. Staff consistenly explore new and exciting ways to help individuals and families; supporting GLBTTQ parents raising their children, finding artistic outlets for individuals coping with mental illness, supporting alternative dispute resolution services, and developing new systems to help recent immigrants.

The year also saw a lot accomplished at the leadership and organizational level. During the past year the Board concluded a multi-year strategic plan, seeking to expand the impact of our services and social action, and building a capacity to raise funds to expand services. The plan is ambitious and builds on the considerable strengths of the organization and staff who will be working actively to achieve these objectives for the next few years. This plan was made possible because of the sound financial base the organization has. While funding is always less than needed we manage the resources we have with efficiency and good returns on investment. Financially, we had a positive year achieving greater returns on our fundraising and social enterprise than expected and acquiring new funds and funding sources for our programs.

An organization such as Family Services à la famille Ottawa is as strong as the people who work and volunteer there and any success we enjoy as an organization must be shared across the entire organization. And finally, recongnition must be made to the thousands of clients and participants who place their faith in our services, make sacrifices and invest time and energy to get stronger; it's from their efforts that our communities become better places to live, work and play.

President of the Board       Executive Director
Ian Sterling                        Tim Simboli

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Our Mission and Values

Our Mission

Family Services à la famille Ottawa is a community agency, grounded in a history of responding to the needs of people in our community. We work with individuals, communities, and families in all their forms who are currently in distress or at risk. We assist people to build on their strengths and move forward by providing counseling, education, and advocacy within a context of systemic change.

Our Values

Family Services à la famille Ottawa commits to working in ways that demonstrate:

Humanity
We respect and show compassion for our clients, staff and volunteers.

Diversity
We are inclusive and responsive to a diverse cross-section of the population.

Accessibility
We make special efforts to ensure access to services for people who face societal barriers.

Effectiveness
We are innovative and use our resources well.

Relevance
We pro-actively identify client/community concerns and address emerging issues.

Collaboration
We work together with our clients, our colleagues and our community.

Accountability
We strive towards a continual evaluation and improvement of our work and maintain ethical standards.

Social Justice
We advocate healthy, safe and just environments free from violence, neglect and prejudice.

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Our Team

Officers and  Board of  Directors:

President	Ian Sterling
Vice President	Peter Crosby
Secretary	Alix Hector
Treasurer	Jamie Oxley
Past President	Rosemary Laurin
Directors:
Christine Jackson	Elizabeth Lamarch*
Brian Cornelius	Hamid Mousa
Alan Ludlow	Sherwin Soloman
Debra Frazer
Cindy Moriarty
Mimi Marrello

Staff:

Executive Director	Dr. Timothy T. Simboli
Executive Assistant	Zoi Coucopoulos
Accountants	Julie Schryburt Adva Cohen HolgerRidder* Catherine Morriset
Program Directors
General Counselling &      Mental Health	Jan Christensen
Business Development &      Fundraising	Mark Arnold
Anti-Violence Program	Linda Merali
Community Programs	Laurie Rektor
Administrative Staff Monika Grosser Nathalie Godard Jeronimo Ramirez Jennifer Greer Robyn Blacquiere* Samantha Henrickson*
Counselling & Program Staff
Maggy Antebi-Wilson Irene Cherner Margo Sargent Kathi Kalil Margaret Kelly Maureen Parker Kevin Pickles Stephanie Piovesan Esther Cesaire Marnie Potter Phyllis O'Neil Lucille Smeltzer-Legault Dianne Beska Shar Chowdhury Julianna Foster Kathryn Owens Merelie Kemp Mark Patton Donna Johnson* Alasdair Gillis Theresa Willoughby Jennifer Shaw-Read Melanie Winwood Terri Biggs Tim Deslippe Pam Johnston Bonney Elliott Sandy Milne Emily Troy Peggy Vogan Kathryn Wilson Eoanna Nantsios Wendy Ireland* Brianne Luckasavitch
Casual/Contract Staff and Group Leaders
Sandra Knapp Anne Valcov Jean Murray Kate Partridge John Geldart* Sarah Lapier Rebecca Ross Melanie Coyle Diana Devlin Leanne Given Tim Paquette Juanita Sauve Chitra Sekhar Sarah Palmer Antoine Quenneville Sawsan Hanhan Leanne Given Alison McBratney Joanne Boyd Randee Greco Catherine Gagne Chapman Uko Irina Balabonova Gus Fraser Rachel Crowder Steve Rose* Dave Honsberger Catherine Gagne Sian Neilson Lisa Coy Katjana Biljan Susan Duke Sue Harrocks
* Left/On Leave 2008/09

Our Clients...

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Their Stories...

Names and some details in these stories have been changed to protect our clients confidentiality.

A Couple's Journey

Nancy and Bob, a professional couple with two school aged children, contacted FSFO in severe marital distress. For many months they participated in joint counselling. Through their counselling sessions they were able to develop healthier patterns of communication and problem solving skills. They became more comfortable with the differences between them and learned how to work on and resolve their issues together. They are continuinng to do well and in a note to their counsellor wrote "Just thought this would be a good time to... thank you for all your help over the past year. We're a happier family and better individuals as a result."

Finding Independance

Mark, an outgoing young man with a mild developmental delay was referred to FSFO by a service provider for assistance in dealing with his anxiety and explosive outbursts. His initial counselling sessions helped him to develop concrete relaxation strategies to calm his anxiety. Counselling then focused on the difficult situations in which he found himself, helping him to understand both the event and his reaction to it. As a result, he learned to manage his anxiety, developed greater confidence and the ability to deal with a variety of situations. Mark is now more able to accurately interpret the nuances of his interactions with others and to choose an appropriate response. He has futher developed his independence and now successfully manages both employment and his own home.

The General Counselling Program provides counselling and group services for individuals, couples, and families. Counselling services can help with a variety of issues, such as: relationship difficulties; trauma and abuse; anxiety and depression; separation, divorce, blended families; grief and loss.

 

Starting Over

A mother and her two children were referred to the Anti-Violence Program by Catholic Family Services. Having fled their homeland they were now trying to adapt to life in Canada while healing from the abuse they had suffered. As a result of this abuse the eleven year old daughter has physical and significant cognitive impairment. Through the Anti-Violence program this family was involved in individual and family counselling, received advocacy services and was connected to resources. A speciall connection for the daughter was to a dance troupe of diverse young women with a broad range of abilities. The young women in the troupe all bring issues about which they are passionate and want to share with their community. Thus year the troupe danced the story of this young girl and her family - how they suffered incredible violence, came to Canada and created a new life. Advocating on behalf of the family FSFO staff wrote a letter which supported the grandparents in receiving permission to come to Canada for a visit. They arrived on the day of the performance.

A Stitch in Time

The Common Thread Quilt Guild has been donating quilts for women in the Anti-Violence Program over the past two years as their community outreach effort. They have donated almost 150 quilts. The women who receive the quilts are very appreciative and feel that someone cares about them, as reflected in one, of several, thank you notes "Your quilt will warm me inside and out."

Our Anti-Vilence Program has been a leader in the Ottawa community, offering services to Abused Women since 1987, and service to children who have witnessed abuse, and to their mothers since 1991. Thousands of women and children have received counselling since that time.

A Counsellor's Perspective

Imagine, if only for a second that you were born with an imperfect body. Imagine growing up with a body that required numberous adjustments and surgical corrections. Imagine a child enduring this for years. This is Ellen's story.

The wear and tear of living this life took its toll on her. After years of trying to maintain a level of functioning she was no longer able to work; on disability she became increasingly isolated and slowly became anxious and depressed - all of which compounded her situation. When there was nothing else that the medical system could do to help, her doctor referred to the Mental Health Program for long-term counselling.

Her challenges were recognizing the role that fatigue and pain played and discovering that sometimes even with resources you may not have the capacity to do it alone. Counselling has been an outlet for her to share her hopes, fears and concerns with someone who isn't afraid to hear her story. She no longer has to walk this difficult path alone. She can now begin to plan and cope with her disability so that each day is a search for new possibilities. "Being heard is such a relief. Being able to sit with someone who believes you feel pain even if it's not visible. Feeling like you are not crazy even if it feels sometimes like you are."

There is comfort in being able to talk, to be understood and accepted. It doesn't have to be fixed. As Counsellors as much as we'd like to work miracles we can't change the reality of some situations. Being able to sit with the pain and lessen the struggle in some strange way does help. We work to find the times when things are different and each time we meet, more of thos periods seem to come to the surface. Soemtimes it seems like there is only pain but through counselling we find there is so much more. My client's greatest compliment is that her body seems to relax as soon as she walks in the door, something she feels so rarely in her daily life and being relaxed is where we begin the rest of this journey.

The Mental Health Program offers counselling services to adults who are living with mental health problems. Services are offered thorugh individual, couple and/or family counselling, workshops and group programs. Our program works from the perspective that mental health exists along a continuum and that everyone struggles with mental health at different times in their lives.

Caring for the Caregivers

Our Employee Assistance Program received a call from a well know charity which provides comfort and support to many in our community. Focused on working with their clients to improve their quality of life, it was shocking and distressing to find a well known participant in one of their programs had died in his sleep. He was discovered by the night staff. The staff now had to deal with the practical aspects of this difficult situation while attending to the needs, concerns and fears of the other residents. Whith dedication and compassion they completed their work. A trauma counsellor from our EAP met with them to provide support, information and to help these "caregivers" to care for themselves. EAP's assistance in dealing with this traumatic workplace incident helped these employees to continue helping others.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) works with employers to ensure their employees and family members have access to confidential counselling, information and support to deal with a variety of situations that impact their lives and affect their health and well being in an effort to develop healthier employees and healthier workplaces.

Working Together

Bill and Joan, both with unaddressed substance abuse issues, have two children under the age of 7. CAS has been involved with the family several times related to these issues, as well as domestic violence and conflict among family members and felt a more permanent plan was needed for the well-being of the children. A Family Group Conference was held with 28 people in attendance where a plan for the children was developed; the children would live with their grandparents while the parents addressed their issues. The plan also clearly identified pick up and drop off plans for the children to have access to their parents, school and day care attendance, as well as health care plans, and financial support from extended family members. The plan was accepted by CAS and put into action.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program provided clients of child welfare agencies alternatives to the court system. It provides families with the opportunity to actively participate in creating solutions to the issues identified by the child welfare agency. There are 2 specific services offered through the ADR Program; Family Group Conferencing and Mediation.

Parenting Together

Brenda called the Family Life Education (FLE) Program. In tears, she described feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of parenting her three children. She worried about how often she was yelling at them and felt that she had tried everything but nothing seems to work and that her realtionships with her partner and her children were being negatively affected. After discussing our different parenting courses and options she and her husband decided to participate in Anger Management...especially for parents. After completing the course Brenda felt it had been a lifeline for them and that they were now using many of the techniques they learned. She feels more confident, less alone and more able to manage stress and anger. "Most importantly" she said "my home is now a pleasant place to be."

The Family Life Education Program brings people together to learn practical strategies that help them get along better in family relationships. FLE offers a range of services and styles, so that there is something that meets everyone's needs.

Rainbow around the River

Last spring Around the Rainbow (ATR) held the first ever Family Fun Day. Over 120 children, youth, parents, service providers and supporters attended in celebration of the project. Art projects created were on display, and speakers included families, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, day care staff, and ATR staff members. There was a BBQ, entertainment by the Herb Girls, The Puppet Tamer, face painting, crafts and activities. All in all, a sunny day by the River.

The Around the Rainbow Program supports the inclusion of diverse families in our childcare and early childhood educational systems, as well as within schools, and the community. Project resources, including comprehensive parent and teacher toolkits, community trainings and art projects are available.

Art Therapy

Four artists from the Art Studio had pieces shown in Vancouver at the Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference's "Blank Canvas" event which highlighted work produced by artists living with mental illness; These pieces were also shown at the National Gallery of Canada Gala event as part of Mental Health Awareness Week in October. The event was attended by over 320 members of the mental health community, politicians, senior government officials, business leaders and other stakeholders.

The Art Studio is a unique partnerhips between artists who live with mental illness, mental health professionals, and the arts community which offers a safe creative space where artists can pursue their art, which otherwise might be limited by their illness or the poverty with which mental illness is often associated.

These stories provide a snapshot of the work that we do at Family Services à la famille Ottawa.

Our other programs and services include:

Family Advocacy Program

In Love and In Danger

Families and Schools Together (F&ST)

Supervised Access

Alternative Dispute Resolution

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Financial Statements

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Operations

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Juke Box Mania - "Sweeping" the Nation

In Ottawa this special event is entering its 7th year. With over 600 participants and more corporate sponsors than ever, we raised $31,000 for Family Services à la famille Ottawa. Aside from running our signature event in Ottawa we have marketed and "sold" the event to Family Service agencies across the country, who have adopted JBM as their "must-attend" event. To date Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, Guelph, Peterborough, Halifax and Charlottetown have all joined in the Juke Box mania! We were invited to a National Conference as the entertainment and now have charities in new Brunswick and Northern Alberta expressing interest in the game. Visit our new web site at www.jukeboxmania.org for more information about this fantastic event!

Thank you to the following individuals, businesses and companies for their generosity to Family Services à la famille Ottawa. Your donations and sponsorships are greatly appreciated.