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August 2011 |
Volume 1. Issue no. 2. |
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SUMMER UPDATE Our LGBTQ Counselor, Megan, is 6 months in! I came to work in the Around the Rainbow (ATR) program, where I work as a counsellor and community developer, in January, 2011. I do individual and couples counselling with folks that identify as LGBTQ who are over the age of 18. My position with Around the Rainbow was developed out of a partnership between Family Services Ottawa and Family Service Toronto’s David Kelley Services (DKS). DKS is an LGBTQ and HIV/AIDs counselling program that has been in operation since 1996. DKS began an internship project to support and partner with agencies to help expand their capacities to work with the LGBTQ communities. Their first partnership was with Family Services Ottawa. Before starting with Around the Rainbow, I went to David Kelley to train intensely for a year I have been really excited about participating in this opportunity! I am passionate about serving the LGBTQ communities and feel this job is an essential service option for folks that are LGBTQ and seeking counselling. While not everyone that identifies as LGBTQ has a preference to seek an LGBTQ identified and out counsellor, I feel this option is crucial. While some organizations and agencies have worked hard to increase their capacity to be LGBTQ positive, homophobia and transphobia still exist within the social service sector. The nature of the position allows me to support individuals while also being an agent of change on the community level. My sense of Ottawa is that change is in process in LGBTQ service provision. My counselling practice is building up steadily. If you’re looking to book an appointment please get in touch with our intake worker at: (613) 725 3601 ext 117. If you’re a service provider and you’d like to connect with me and find out more about ATR counselling, please call: (613) 725 3601.
Pride Family Picnic! WHEN: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, 4:00-7:30pm We are pleased to announce that we are involved in the Pride Family Picnic again this year, during the week of Pride. Games and activities will be organized by Family Service Ottawa, the Ten Oaks Project, Pink Triangle Services, CAS, and Pride Volunteers! We have also booked a room in the community centre for video games and in case of rain. Bring your suits for the splash pad and your appetite for a BBQ! All are welcome! The Pride Parade and Info Fair will be on Sunday, August 28th. Family Services and Around the Rainbow will be walking in the Parade and will also have a table set up at the Info Fair. Come say hi! Please email us if you want to receive information on upcoming events and programming. info@aroundtherainbow.org
Rainbow Families Comes to an End…. It is with mixed feelings that we announce that after more than 7 years, the Rainbow Families group is no longer part of the Around the Rainbow program. Since the group started, there have been many changes in the face of rainbow families and their service expectations and needs. The end of the monthly support group is a reflection of these changes. We were very proud to have been involved in this group for the last few years with Centretown Community Health Centre and were lucky to have such amazing volunteers and programmers over the years.
Thank you to all the families who were involved since the group was started in 2004.
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HELP US WITH YOUR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS We are planning to organize parenting workshops and a community conversation series – and we want your feedback! Do you have ideas for different topics? If so, please contact us at info@aroundtherainbow.org. PROGRAM EXPANSION FOR FAMILIES Stay in the Loop Of course, Family Services and the Around the Rainbow program will continue offering services and programming for LGBTTQ families. We have been talking to families and our community partners to learn what services and programs they would like to have available. We have received requests for continued and more frequent family-based events. As such, we are pleased to announce we will be hosting a broader range of family friendly events and parent focused information sharing events this year. One of our big projects this year is to run two PD day events for our families. The first date is November 18th. We will send out further details as they come up! Please email us if you want to be added to the information list to receive information on upcoming events and programming. REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS Back-to-school Newsletter The theme of our fall newsletter will be school and family. We would like your submissions! We are looking for short contributions about how the first month of school went, what you are doing for fun family time and thoughts/experiences from your children. Submissions are welcome from children and parents. Feel free to include pictures or drawings. Please email submissions to info@aroundtherainbow.org by October 15th. Current and Upcoming Programming Around the Rainbow staff continue to provide talks, advocacy and workshops to service providers, teachers and educators in schools, daycares and preschools, as well as the broader community. Our goal is to create inclusive spaces for children in LGBTQ families. For more information or to book a workshop at your school, or in your community, please contact us at info@aroundtherainbow.org You are invited to attend one of our city-wide Around the Rainbow workshops aimed at a broad range of service providers, students and community individuals. The date of the fall session is November 15th; from 2-5pm. The workshop is free of charge for all participants. Contact us at info@aroundtherainbow.org to register with us.
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