Parents, grandparents and caregivers of young children can reach out to their counterparts at the Family Resource Centre, located in the Promenade Mall in Thornhill.
A joint program of Jewish Family & Child, the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the centre runs on a drop-in basis, and children up to age five can take part in story time, music, and art and crafts.
Fran Chodak, a social worker who has supervised the centre for 10 years, said it gives parents a chance to talk to other parents and share ideas and concerns. “It helps them feel less isolated when they see there are other parents out there facing the same issues.”
The centre also offers programs that include workshops for parents and caregivers in collaboration with Ontario Early Years, as well as a conversation cafe in partnership with JIAS, an after-school homework club, and dental screening.
A unique workshop is available to caregivers living and working in Jewish homes, Chodak said. “We teach them about keeping kosher, the holidays and Jewish traditions. We recognize that caregivers have needs, and we want them to know what to expect in a Jewish home.”
In another workshop, parents talk about preserving their native language while the family learns English. “We had about 20 people at this workshop who spoke about seven or eight languages. It was a cross section of the Jewish community. It is rare to have that in one room.”
A favourite weekly event is the Shabbat program, Chodak said. “We spend about 30 minutes in a circle singing songs and celebrating Shabbat.”
Supported by the Trillium Foundation – the FRC has received three back-to-back grants – as well as United Way and York Region, the centre is also a source of information and referrals for a network of family services in York Region and the Greater Toronto Area, she said.
During these difficult economic times, the FRC has seen an increase in families using it, Chodak said, because “we charge a nominal fee, and many see it as an alternative to pre-school.”
She called the FRC “a beautiful model that we would love to see duplicated. Instead of responding to a crisis, we are putting together programs that build a healthy community and reduce isolation. We’ve had a big impact on so many people.”
To contact the centre, call 905-882-8509.