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Colour coded health care

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:30:42 +0000

Written by Sheryl Nestel. Published by Wellesley Institute. 2012.

This report explores the effect of racism on the health outcomes of non-Aboriginal racialized Canadians. Using data found in online databases and print journals from 1990-2011, this research is conducted with two main challenges present: the severe lack of research on racialized people's health experiences, and the inconsistent use of terminology (like race, ethnicity, immigrant, visible minority) in health care research.

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Can I see your ID?

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:31:39 +0000

Written by Bill O�Grady, Stephen Gaetz and Kristy Buccieri. Published by Justice for Children and Youth and Homeless Hub Press, 2011.

This report highlights the day-to-day reality of homeless youth in Toronto in the context of the implementation of the Ontario Safe Streets Act (O.S.S.A). This legislation criminalizes panhandling, squeegeeing and other behavior labeled undesirable. The authors contend that ticketing homeless youth for loitering, public drinking, squeegeeing and panhandling is a form of social profiling which not only creates a nearly insurmountable financial burden on an already impoverished group, but also punishes the homeless for their behavior in public spaces when it is, in fact, their lack of a private space (i.e. their homelessness) which forces them to occupy such public spaces.

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Housing First

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:42:23 +0000

Written by Jeanette Waegemakers Schiff and John Rook (University of Calgary), 2012.

Given the increasing use of Housing First as a public policy strategy to eradicate homelessness, the authors of this study outline current and emerging evidence of Housing First�s effectiveness. The focus of the report is to catalogue and categorize literature pertaining to Housing First, rather than summarize the findings of the literature. The report concludes that a gap exists in academic research regarding the effectiveness of Housing First, especially in a Canadian context.

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Delivery matters

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:20:05 +0000

Written by Diana Gibson (Parkland Institute) and Jill Clements, (Institute for Development Studies (UK)). Published by Parkland Institute. 2012.

This report compares for-profit and not-for-profit models of clinical service delivery to determine the benefits of using for-profit health service providers within the public health care system to solve problems it faces, including long wait times and the increasing cost to fund the health-care system. This report, the second in a series on this topic, investigates the delivery of hip and knee replacement surgeries. It compares the privately owned Health Resource Centre (HRC) in Calgary and the new Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project (AHKRP) initiated by the publicly owned Alberta Bone and Joint Institute. Both providers are paid by the Alberta health care system.

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Kids Help Phone: Kids Talking, Chatting and Posting for Better Mental Health

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:48:26 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Vanessa Zembal, Volunteer Writer

The Kids Help Phone was established in Canada in 1989. As child and youth mental health awareness has increased over the years, this service has proven to be an important resource that assists Canadian youth as they struggle with life challenges. In Alberta, the provincial government is continually working towards promoting mental health awareness and developing collaborative methods to reducing the impacts of mental stress on children and youth. In 2006, the Government of Alberta presented �Positive Futures � Optimizing Mental Health for Alberta�s Children and Youth�, which sets up a 10-year strategy for supporting a �common and integrated approach [between agencies, resources, schools and parents] to optimize mental health of children and youth� (Government of Alberta, 2006). The Kids Help Phone�s anonymous service provides Albertan children and youth with the opportunity to access correct information from professional counsellors (Kids Help Phone, 2012). As the government and general public understand the facets of mental and emotional wellbeing better, this service will continue to answer all the questions that children and youth cannot answer alone.

Kids Help Phone is focused on the mission of �improving the well-being of children and youth in Canada by providing them with anonymous and confidential professional counselling, referrals and information through technologically-based communications media� (2006). Kids Help Phone�s statistics prove that the services they provide are valuable. The professional counsellors at Kids Help Phone receive over 1,000 callers a day from all across Canada. Kids ask for advice about issues with their friends, their future, homework, their parents, body, puberty issues and any other life related topics. As well, the services Kids Help Phone provides to Canadian youth in distress are highly accessible. Youth are able to speak to a Kids Help Phone counsellor 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Through the help of corporate sponsors, this not for profit organization continues to expand its services to meet the communication needs of children and youth. In 2006, the support service began responding to questions that were being posted to their website by youth. (Kids Help Phone, 2012). The online posting allowed kids to ask their questions anonymously and read other questions and responses. However, this meant that youth had to wait for counsellors to respond to the questions they posted online. In 2011, Kids Help Phone launched an online chat service, which decreases the amount of time it takes for their questions to be answered by counsellors. Sherrie Cameron from the Edmonton office of Kids Help Phone believes that this service also gives youth more privacy (personal communication, 2012). The private, and quiet, chat line reduces the likelihood that they will be overheard or emotionally overwhelmed while talking on the phone (Cameron, 2012). Ms. Cameron said that youth are telling Kids Help Phone counsellors that they would never have accessed the service before the chat line. She also believes that this increased level of privacy encourages youth to ask more serious questions (Cameron, 2012).

As an anonymous, confidential resource for youth, there are many misconceptions about the services that Kids Help Phone offers and the types of youth that rely on them (Cameron, 2012). Contrary to popular belief, the majority of kids using the Kids Help Phone are not high risk with life threatening questions. While this group does account for about 30%, the other 70% of users are well-functioning kids dealing with normal issues of growing up or dealing with a crisis (Kids Help Phone, 2012). The topics these kids are asking include dating, sexual development, struggles with parents and school concerns to severe bullying, feeling isolated, bereavement or friends being involved in high risk behaviours (Kids Help Phone, 2012). The remaining 30% ask questions regarding addictive behaviours, self harming behaviours, lack of emotional control, suicidal behaviours, eating disorders and depression (Kids Help Phone, 2012).

This anonymous, confidential factor is also an issue when collecting valid statistics. Kids may be uncomfortable providing their age or location, prank calling is an issue and conversation topics are interpreted by the counsellor and caller differently (Cameron, 2012). However, the facts do reveal that over 1,000 calls are taken a day and the website is visited an average of 20,000 times per month (Kids Help Phone, 2012). Also, 47% of kids posting questions online post more than once (Kids Help Phone, 2012). The organization values the input of kids through every step of their development process (Cameron, 2012). All the information is voluntary and collected by kids answering questions after visiting a particular page of the site or using one of their services (Cameron, 2012). The information collected guides the process of future development to ensure that kids have the best access and feel like they can contribute (Cameron, 2012).

Parents, teachers, counsellors and other people involved with children have a responsibility to recognize the range of issues that may influence kids. And while parents may not be able to understand what exactly their child is dealing with, the Kids Help Phone can provide information on helping your child cope with issues and begin to understand part of the issues that may affect your child (Cameron, 2012). The information online, especially the online posts, can be a valuable resource to read about real questions from kids and the counsellor responses.

Although �kids� is identified as anyone under 20 years old, the Kids Help Phone services are available to anyone. Their services do not have access restrictions and can be particularly helpful for anyone involved with kids, such as parents, teachers, counsellors or youth group leaders (Cameron, 2012). For example, parents who are uncomfortable with the topic or lack the knowledge of a particular topic can access these services, such as related online posts. They can also read how the counsellor responded to better understand their child�s situation (Cameron, 2012). This includes phone counselling, online posting counselling, live chat counselling, community referral databases, interactive clinical games and other resources. These resources do not have access restrictions and are freely accessible to the public (Kids Help Phone, 2012).

Mental health isn�t only an adult problem and doesn�t only affect people in high risk situations. Sometimes �kids just being kids� isn�t always the whole story. When kids don�t have anyone to talk to about the problems they face as they grow up, the results can be scary. Kids Help Phone has people who will listen and chat without judgement and provide professional, factual advice. Make sure that both you and your children know the Kids Help Phone number and web address so you can access these essential services.

Works Cited

Cameron, S. (2012, April 24). (V. Zembal, Interviewer).

Government of Alberta. (2006). Positive Futures: Optimizing Mental Health for Alberta's Children and Youth. Edmonton: Alberta Health and Wellness.

Kids Help Phone. (2012). Kids Help Phone 2012 Report. [Powerpoint slides]

Islamic Family Social Services Association

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:43:41 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Lubna Umar Sami, Volunteer Writer

History

In 1992, the Islamic Family Social Services Association was established as a registered charitable organization after some dedicated community members came to the realization that many unskilled, low income and refugee status immigrants were having difficulty satisfying their needs for food, clothing and household items. They also found that this cross-section of the community needs guidance and counselling for various issues that arise because of poverty and living in a culture that is different from their own. IFSSA started a program that aimed to meet both the physical and emotional needs of the community. Under this program it started providing food, clothing and household items free of cost to needy immigrants and counselling via a registered clinical psychology counsellor.

After identifying the need to help immigrant youth develop and to reduce family violence in immigrant communities, IFSSA started the Youth Development and Parental Education program in 2002 and the Fostering Healthy Families program in 2009. Currently, IFSSA is managed by twelve volunteer board members, four paid staff, and many dedicated volunteers.

IFSSA's vision is to help foster and support Muslim families and seeks out to meet the basic physical and emotional needs of the community within an Islamic context (Islamic Family Social Services Association, 2012). It offers several programs that serve the Edmonton Muslim community:

Essential Needs Program (Food Bank, Clothing and Household Items)

Muslims must observe specific dietary criterion. As a result, Muslims need to be concerned about the food they eat and how it is prepared. For instance, meat products must be slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines and food must be free of alcohol and pork products and by products. Food that is prepared following these guidelines is considered to be Halal. The fact that there wasn�t a Halal food bank in Edmonton was a major reason why the IFSSA was established. It is is the only social service organization in the city of Edmonton that provides a completely Halal food bank for all of its clients. IFSSA offers its food bank services to anyone who is in need regardless of religion, race or gender affiliation.

The association�s Food bank service is provided by a client services administrator and program chair. This is a community sponsored program that is entirely dependent on community donations and volunteering. In addition to regular food hampers, IFSSA also provides special supplements and Eid-ul-Fitr Celebration gift cards during the month of Ramadan.

In 2010-2011 this program provided 1176 food hampers and special supplements to 275 needy families. 175 families were given Eid Celebration gift cards to celebrate and enjoy the event.

Clothing and household items are also donated by community members. It includes both new and slightly used good conditioned items.

Fostering Healthy Families (FHF) Program

In 2009, Government of Alberta�s Safe Community Initiative program funded IFSSA to develop the Fostering Healthy Families program to prevent and support victims of family violence in the immigrant community of Edmonton. Currently program has two trained and competent paid staff and six volunteers to deliver the required services. Staff and volunteers are committed to meeting the needs of the community in an efficient and culturally sensitive manner. Services under this program include:

Family Violence Education
This program conducts at least two big educational events on family violence in a year. In addition to face to face prevention and intervention education it also arranges different workshops by a registered clinical psychologist on different topics of family violence. In November 2010, an educational event �No Peace in the Home, No Peace in the Heart� was held at the University of Alberta. Over thirty participants attended this educational program.

Monthly Serenity Support Group/Sisters Helping Sisters
This monthly support group for the victims of family violence is conducted by a registered social worker with the collaboration of The Today Family Violence Help Centre. The uniqueness of this group is not only to empower the participants to deal with their challenging situations bravely but also to network and support each other. From July 2010 to March 2011, sixty five people attended the group. Participants increased their knowledge about issues relating to family violence, types of abuse, cycle of abuse, self-care, and safety planning.

Counselling Services
FHF program also provides a subsidized counselling program for the victims of family violence. Since the start of the program, 19 families have enjoyed therapy facilitation by a registered clinical psychologist.

Transportation and Essential Needs Services
Essential Needs services are provided through Essential Need Program of IFSSA. Transportation is also provided in case of need either by taxi or FHF�s reliable volunteers. During 2010 and 2011 it provided transportation to 144 clients for different types of appointments.

Referral Services
FHF program provides client needs appropriate referrals to family violence victims. Outreach worker accompanies clients for their appointments to various needed community serving agencies and advocates on behalf of the clients. From March 2010 to March-2011, this program served 771 families, 1004 adults, 1471 children (0 to 12 years), and youth (13 to 17 years).

Youth Development and Parenting Education Program

This program started in 2002. It provides services to the youth in the Islamic community through the following programs.

Homework Club
Homework club is provided in collaboration with Edmonton Mennonite Center for Newcomers at Saint Francis School from 3:00 to 4:30 every Monday.

Female Identity
This program is provided at J. Percy Page High School from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm every Wednesday. It provides information about teen violence and other teens relevant topics.

Parenting
This program is provided by a registered clinical psychologist on every other Friday at MAC Rahma Mosque (6102-172 Street) for two hours after sunset. Everyone is invited to attend this session. Next two sessions will be on May 25 and June 8, 2012.

Mothers Group
Its sessions are also held at MAC Rahma Mosque located at 6102-172 St on Wednesdays every week for six weeks from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Sessions are facilitated by a provisional psychologist. Anyone who wants to attend is invited.

Male Mentorship
This program is for male youth (ages 12+) at Common Wealth Stadium every Sunday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This program provides teenagers an opportunity to network, build friendship, play different games, peer leadership talks and other activities. This is drop in program.

What makes this agency different from others?

All of its services are culturally sensitive provided by culturally competent staff or volunteer.Confidentiality of clients is maintained at all levels and especially for Essential Needs program.

It works through close relationship with the community members. Knowing community well enables the service providers to assess the needs easily and be able to provide better services.All of IFSSA�s programs are designed around not only the community needs but the way community operates itself.

Works Cited

Islamic Family Social Services Edmonton. (2012). About Us. Retrieved from: http://www.ifssa.ca/about/

Bissell Centre: Supportive Services

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:23:52 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Lindsey Graham, ESPC Board Member

The presence of Bissell Centre as a vital thread in Edmonton�s social safety net dates back to 1910. With the experience of over a century of helping Edmontonians, the Centre has served countless individuals and families in need of social supports.In 2005, construction began on Bissell Centre West, which now houses the Drop-In, adult programs, mental health support, employment programs, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services, and a housing program. Today, the Centre is guided by a vision to �eliminate poverty in our community.�

Bissell Centre has an acute awareness of what poverty means in the lives of those who access their services. Beyond the quantitative data, they weave the stories of people into their programming to provide program outcomes of empowerment, equity and justice. The core values of Bissell Centre reflect the collective capacity of the community. Their philosophy is one of �hope for human potential and social justice; of trust in the power of community through relationships and inclusiveness; and of resourcefulness with strength and capacity.�

Current Programming

The Provincial 10-year plan to end homelessness, Edmonton�s own plan to end homelessness, and Premier Redford�s recent commitment to develop a poverty reduction strategy will be contingent on the operations and programming of local service providers. Bissell Centre serves as a link between these broader policy goals and on-the-ground service delivery. By collaborating with other service providers in Edmonton, they are working to put words and policies into action.

The programs delivered through Bissell Centre celebrate the diversity of the community and respect the challenges that community members face. They are reflective of the complexity of community issues and acknowledge that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.

To achieve the goal to eliminate poverty, they focus on five service areas: core services, health & wellness, financial stability, safe & affordable housing, and learning & development. The following summary of programs provides a snapshot of the extensive suite of services offered:

Child and Family Resources include accredited childcare, family support services, parenting classes, advocacy and referral services, and essential care items such as infant formula.

Employment Services to assist participants looking to re-enter the workforce or enhance their job skills and readiness through training and assessments and connecting them with casual labour opportunities.Essential Community Support Services provides non-judgmental supports and advocacy to participants who may have chronic physical or mental illnesses, are living in poverty, are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless, and have little or no support systems.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services enhances the community�s capacity to understand and prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and support the individuals and families affected by FASD through advocacy and community education campaigns.

Homeless to Homes aligns with the Housing First approach championed in the Provincial plan to end homelessness. Using an Intensive Case Management approach, barriers are eased so that individuals are able to access permanent and secure housing with wraparound supports tailored to their needs.

Inner City Victim Services provides non-police based access to programs and services to victims of crime to reduce the difficulties of navigating the criminal justice system. This may include court support, case management, crisis intervention and additional social supports.

The Centre also offers recreational activities and outings to help people form and strengthen social networks, learn new skills and enjoy life in healthy ways. Programming includes a broad range of activities, including individual and team sports, visits to cultural events and facilities, and outdoor pursuits.

The Bissell Thrift Shoppe is a social enterprise of Bissell Centre providing low-income families and individuals a venue for purchasing high-quality products at very affordable prices. All products sold at the Thrift Shoppe are generously donated by the citizens of Edmonton and surrounding communities and all revenue goes back to Bissell to fund the Community Closet. The Closet is a voucher-based system assisting low income families and individuals by providing basic essentials of clothing and household goods at no charge every season.

iHuman: Helping Our Youth

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:52:44 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Esther Steeves, Volunteer Writer

Labels such as �at-risk�, "high-risk", �troublemaker�, �hoodlum�, �drug addict�, and �criminal� are some of the labels that the youth who visit iHuman are given in our society.

In many cases, these youth have either turned away or been turned away from other service providers, feeling alienated by a judgmental system of supports, and have nowhere left to turn.

Many of these youth have criminal records, a file with Alberta Human Services, ongoing addictions, and conditions such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and other brain injuries. Without intervention, they are vulnerable to a path of gang involvement, crime, poverty, and homelessness.

As a consequence of the risks and challenges individual youths bear, society as a whole is vulnerable to losing the capacity and value of these individuals. Not to mention the increased costs to society for providing life-long social supports to individuals who become incarcerated or dependent on social support systems.

At iHuman, youth deconstruct the labels place upon them by society and develop a new, positive, sense of identity through artistic expression. Founded by two artists in 1997, iHuman provides space, supplies, and mentorship for youth interested in various forms of artistic expression. Programs include music, fashion, art and design, dance and drama, and written word. These creative outlets provides youth with opportunities to create representations of their lived experiences, while also building their self knowledge and trust in the process.

The experience of exploring identity through art builds resilience and supports youth to create new, workable life paths that resonate with individuals� emerging sense of self awareness and personal goals. iHuman Executive Director Catherine Broomfield writes,

�Exploring binary factors such as �what I am� and �where I want to be� or their �good side� and their �dark side� in mediums that resonate with the youth allows them to truly explore their individuality. In discovering who they are, a youth discovers that they can express openly issues and pain that otherwise has no outlets to be vented safely.�

In addition to art programs, iHuman also provides a variety of supportive outreach services to youth accessing the agency�s art programs. Youth can access a variety of services provided directly through the agency or through partner organizations to meet their immediate needs for shelter, food, clothes, child care, and more.

Several outreach workers are employed at iHuman, working one-on-one with each youth to facilitate connections and provide seamless system navigation and advocacy. iHuman also runs programs, like Woven Journey, to provide targeted assistance and encouragement for specific groups, like new mothers.

iHuman was recently recognized for their program High Risk Youth Uncensored program through receipt of a 2011 Gold Laurel Award from law firm, Duncan and Craig, which seeks to raise the profile of innovative community agencies. This program is a collaborative project between iHuman, Alberta Children's Services (Region 6) High Risk Youth Unit and the University of Alberta in which youth train community workers in dealing with clients respectfully and non-judgmentally.

The organization works with approximately 500 youth aged 12 to 24 each year. Between 90 and 95 per cent of these clients are from Aboriginal backgrounds, having been referred by an aunt, a sister, a cousin, or other relation, who themselves benefited from iHuman�s program. Referrals also come from the court, probation officers and other professionals or social service agencies.

In some ways iHuman�s approach is to take on a role similar to that of a family, providing a safe, stable, neutral environment that nurtures each individual to better understand themselves through creativity. iHuman helps equip clients with the self-understanding to take control of their lives and make deliberate choices about their futures.

Success for iHuman�s clients depends on each individual�s goals and strengths, and does not necessarily entail becoming an established artist. Some youth have achieved high levels of advanced education and professional success, including international recognition for excellence in their fields of study. Others have established leadership roles within the community, working to address local social problems that they were affected by. For others, success is about meeting personal short-term goals, such as staying clean and sober for a period of time or living independently.

Based on provincial data and the high birthrate in Aboriginal communities, iHuman projects that over half of Edmonton�s youth population will be from Aboriginal backgrounds within the next five to 10 years. This trend is expected to increase the demand for iHuman�s services significantly.

Currently, iHuman�s studio space is housed in a temporary location in Edmonton�s downtown east side. Broomfield envisions a larger, permanent facility that can meet growing demand as well as providing a more stable environment for clients. Location permanence, notes Broomfield, is critical to providing an environment conducive to building trust.

iHuman is a key part of Edmonton�s social safety net. It is often the shelter of last resort for clients with no other options, but it is far from the bottom of the barrel. Rather, iHuman intentionally creates an atmosphere to attract youth with the highest needs and - in many cases - the greatest potential. Through its culture of openness and acceptance, hundreds of Edmonton�s youth have found a place to call home, and new ways of relating constructively to mainstream society and the broader community in order to meet their personal goals.

Works Cited

Broomfield, C. (2012). (E. Steeves, Interviewer)

Terra Centre: Aiding Young Parents

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:21:26 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Brittany Christiani, Grant MacEwan Social Work Practicum Student

The Terra Centre is a not-for-profit organization in Edmonton that assists teenagers who are pregnant or parenting. The organization was established in 1971, with the mission of empowering teen parents to succeed and the vision that pregnant and parenting teens will be successful individuals raising healthy, resilient children. Terra �supports and encourages teen moms and dads to recognize their potential as nurturing parents and successful members of the community,� (Terra Association, 2012). The organization serves young women up to age nineteen and men up to twenty four years old who are raising children or are pregnant.

The Terra Centre values a good work-life balance by encouraging its teenage clients to achieve their educational goals, while still being able to successfully raise their young family. They have partnered with Braemar School in Edmonton to educate pregnant and parenting teens exclusively, while also providing on-site childcare in order to give them time to attend classes and study. The childcare centre offers individual and group parenting information and support, along with assistance in accessing funding to help the teens with their child care fees.

Another helpful service Terra provides is supportive housing for their clients through their projects Hope Terrace, Braemar House, and Housing Works. Hope Terrace offers thirteen suites for up to three years to those who face the different adversities that comes along with living independently at a young age. What makes this project unique is that �a full time Family Housing Worker is on site at Hope Terrace to provide tenants with one on one support, focused goal planning, group programming and access to community resources� (Terra Association, 2012). This provides their teenage clients with the support they need to grow as independent individuals and be successful as parents and as part of their community. Housing Works also partners with Capital Region Housing and its teen-parent tenants to support them �in setting goals, overcoming barriers to employment and education and planning for the future� (Terra Association, 2012).

The Terra Centre offers a variety of group supports and classes that provide young parents with information and opportunities to learn skills that are required to raise a child. They include prenatal classes supported by a public health nurse, and support groups that teach them how to take on parental responsibilities and maintain their own social network. As well, Terra offers individual support with relationship issues, advocacy and social support, free baby and infant clothing through the local clothing donation program Klothes Kloset, parenting education, in-home parenting support, assistance in securing child care and financial support, and referrals to other community agencies or health centres if needed. One program in particular, called the Nobody�s Perfect Parenting Program, focuses on working with teens to develop healthy parenting skills in the areas of body, behavior, mind and safety and positive discipline. This program is not specific to Terra clients only; it is open to the community on a voluntary basis. Nobody�s Perfect runs a span of eight weeks which consists of two hour sessions with a meal provided; clients will receive a certificate from the program after attending six sessions.

According to Lindsay Sylvester, Terra Centre�s communications coordinator, it is important for Edmontonians to know that in addition to serving pregnant and parenting mothers, the agency also serves parenting fathers as well as men that are about to become parents (Sylvester, 2012). The services for young fathers include personal support, individual or group supports on developing parental skills, monthly group activities, advocating issues, community resource referrals and a drop-in resource centre. These services offered to new and soon-to-be teenage fathers could help teach them how to play an active role in parenting their child.

Although they have a sister organization at the Louise Dean School in Calgary, Terra Centre is the only organization dedicated solely to the success of teen parenting in Edmonton. This, as Lindsay mentions, has advantages and disadvantages in that they can differentiate themselves from other organizations for funding, but there is a large demand for their services in which the centre can only accommodate so many at a time. (Sylvester, 2012). However, Lindsay stressed that the teens on wait lists are not forgotten, giving them access to emergency items such as diapers and bus tickets to help teen parents as much as they can.

Terra is currently in year two of a program titled the Teen Parent Service Network. This program allows for joint work between the different agencies around Edmonton and Terra Centre in order to better serve teen parents. The center is also planning on strengthening their Peers Educating Peers program, which creates opportunities for clients of the Terra Center to educate teens about the adversities of becoming parents at a young age, such as giving presentations in high schools around Edmonton. The program has been successful thus far, and Terra Center hopes to make the program even more client-driven in order to empower their teens.

Terra Centre is a strong organization that is making great strides in Edmonton, helping teens reach their goals and develop healthy parenting techniques. They are located at 9930 106 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB and can be reached at (780) 428 -3772. For more information on the services Terra Centre provides, or to find out how to volunteer with Terra, you can visit their website at http://terracentre.ca.

Works Cited

Sylvester, L. (2012, April 4). Communications Coordinator at Terra Centre . (B. Christiani, Interviewer)

Terra Association. (2012, March 26). Terra Centre . Retrieved April 13, 2012, from Terra Centre : http://terracentre.ca/

Edmonton's Food Bank

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:07:02 +0000

From the Factivist, Spring 2012

By Adrian Pook, Volunteer Writer

My worst eating habit is snacking more often than I should. Without thinking, I'll grab something to eat before sitting down at my desk and nibble mindlessly while doing something else, like writing this article. I know I'm not the only one with this tendency. You might also share this habit, and maybe you're even eating while you're reading this article. If not, then I admire - and slightly envy - your restraint.

What separates snacking from eating is the purpose and usefulness of these acts. While food is a necessary part of life, snack food goes beyond being a source of nutrition Snacking is more like a leisurely activity or form of entertainment. It implies a surplus of food: if you aren't eating for the nutritional value, then the requirement must have already been met. It hardly seems fair that so many of us would have more food than we need, while others struggle to keep their kitchen stocked. Whatever the case, we can all relate to feeling hungry.

Now, can you imagine feeling hungry, without knowing when you will eat your next meal, or where you will be eating it? Unfortunately, too many Canadians struggle with this reality. Food Banks Canada (2011) claims that Canadian food banks have been assisting over 700,000 separate individuals in Canada per month for most of the last decade (Food Banks Canada, 2, 2011).

In Edmonton, a group actively involved in the community decided to make food more accessible to individuals that struggle to access nutritious meals. They realized if they could connect those with extra food to those with little food, then the effects of hunger in their community could be substantially reduced. Thus beginning the Edmonton Food Bank (EFB), originally the Edmonton Gleaners Association, on January 16th 1981; the first of its kind in Canada.

The EFB operates by collecting food donations and distributing them to 190 organizations throughout Edmonton. They include social agencies, churches, food depots, emergency shelters and soup kitchens that give food directly to those who need it most.

It is no small effort to feed those unable to provide for themselves. The role of the EFB is a demanding one, and they are regularly recognized for going above and beyond in meeting these demands. In 2011, the EFB was awarded a Human Rights Award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights.

Marjorie Bencz, the Executive Director, offered her own insights into what makes the food bank such a successful service provider:

"...you have to be collaborative and inclusive. And when we're working with 190 agencies, we're hoping we can take the best of everyone's programming and work towards some goals that reduce the effects of poverty in our community."

Their primary focus is on helping the community of Edmonton. Only with the support of the community could the EFB achieve its results. Receiving no government funding whatsoever, the organization is entirely dependent on donations and their loyal volunteers to facilitate the distribution of food to organizations in the city.

A huge component of the organization is filled by volunteers. In just about every facet of the operation, there is a role for a volunteer to take on. Volunteers could be doing anything from directly assisting the clients by providing information about the emergency food services available, to managing any number of warehouse activities like sorting food and assembling hampers, or representing the EFB at various special events to raise-funds and awareness.

The EFB staff and volunteers are always working tirelessly, and there's no indication they will have a chance to slowdown any time soon. Every single month, 15 000 Edmonton citizens are given hampers, as well as over 300 000 meals through various affiliates. While there has been a recent 1 per cent decline in the number of Albertans that access the food bank, that number is still nearly 75 per cent higher than it was in 2008 as our economy was in a recession (Food Banks Canada, 2011).

Since opening its doors over thirty years ago, the number of Edmontonians that have been helped by the EFB is enormous. It also appears that there will be many more to come. Despite the magnitude of work that still needs to be done, and help that still needs to be given, you can't help but feel optimistic about the future for Edmonton. With organizations like the EFB doing everything they can to help the less-fortunate among us, it isn't hard to imagine what the positive effects will be on the community.

It�s possible that someday, there won�t be a need for a food bank in Edmonton. The only way for us to reach that goal will be through sustained community support for the EFB and its 190 organizations. If you share the same enthusiasm for making a tangible difference in your community, you can in a number of ways: by giving whatever food you can spare, or time to help out. I plan on it, or at the very least, feeling very guilty the next time I help myself to a snack I don't need.

Works Cited

Food Banks Canada (2011). Hunger Count 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/getmedia/dc2aa860-4c33-4929-ac36-fb5d40f0b7e7/HungerCount-2011.pdf.aspx