Family events: workshops, parent talks, and information fairs
The Grocery Foundation Family Resource Centre is proud to present our family events this year. Please click on the topics below for details about our upcoming workshops and to reserve a spot. Please make sure to specify which workshop or event you are coming to if you are registering by email.
All family events will take place at Holland Bloorview and specific locations will be listed in the lobby on the day of the event. Should you require child care, please scroll down for more information on booking at the Ronald McDonald Playroom. We hope to see you there.
All workshops and events are also posted on our events calendar.
For more information about our Family Workshops and Parent Support Network, please contact Meghan Toswell, Family Support Specialist, at mtoswell@hollandbloorview.ca or 416-425-6220 ext. 3106
BLOOM speakers
People who think deeply about disability and parenting share their stories at BLOOM speaker nights. For more information, call Louise Kinross at 416-424-3866.
Family Advisory Committee (FAC) events
Our Family Advisory Committee hosts fun events like movie nights for the whole family. For more information, call Jean Hammond at 416-425-6220, ext. 3319.
Family education workshops
Family education workshops provide information and support to parents of children with disabilities. Topics include parenting, education, recreation, respite and how to access funding. All workshops are held at Holland Bloorview. Please see the postings below for topics and details on the workshops available this year.
For more information, call a Family Support Specialist at 416-425-6220, ext. 6348 or email resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca. To be added to our newsletter email list which lets you know of our upcoming workshops and events, please send an email to: resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca.
All workshops and events are also posted on our events calendar.
Inpatient Parent Talk
Our inpatient parents meet Wednesday mornings in the Family Resource Centre from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. to share information, tips and stories, or simply to take a break. A family support specialist and family mentor are able to provide information and lead discussion and networking. The monthly inpatient parent talk schedule is posted on the e-screens on the third floor, and flyers are also distributed monthly to each room. We hope to see you there!
Caregiver Yoga
This free yoga class is for family caregivers of all levels of experience. No registration is required and equipment is supplied. A great chance for some self-care and to connect with other caregivers. This hour long class takes place on Thursdays from 10am – 11am in the Centre for the Arts across from the Conference Centre. Please see details in the flyer. For more information contact Jean Hammond, jhammond@hollandbloorview.ca
Family Events Brochure for October 2019 to June 2020
Download Family Events Brochure 2019 - 2020
Receive email alerts for Family Events
Please email a Family Support Specialist at resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca to be added to the email distribution list to be alerted for Family Workshops, Parent Support Network, Paperwork Parties, Solution-Focused Coaching, and the Sibling Support Program.
Registration Information
- All family events are held at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
- Family events listed in this brochure are free of charge.
- Each family event requires an individual registration as flyers get released.
- Anyone can attend these family events; however parents and caregivers who have children with disabilities have priority for registration.
- Please see family event descriptions online for details.
- Supervised on-site childcare is available for a limited number of children who are 30 months old and over. Please see the section "Child care at the Ronald McDonald Playroom" below for details.
The following Family Workshops are listed by date:
Tuesday October 29 2019 | 6-8pm | |
Tuesday November 26 2019 | 6-8pm | |
Monday December 2 2019 | 6-8pm | |
Saturday January 11 2020 | 10am-2pm | |
Care for the Caregiver | Monday February 3 2020 | 6-8pm |
RDSP, Wills and Estates | Tuesday March 3 2020 | 6-8:30pm |
Transitions and Planning for the Future | Saturday April 11 2020 | 9:30am-12pm |
Siblings and Parents | Thursday May 14 2020 | 6-8pm |
Guardianship, Consent and Privacy | Monday June 15 2020 | 6-8pm |
*NEW* Paperwork Parties are working sessions where staff and family leaders will share tips and resources to help you fill out applications like SSAH, ACSD, and more. Paperwork Parties are a great chance to connect with other caregivers and cross something off your to-do list.
They occur on the third Tuesday of each month with the exception of March 2020. Please see the dates, times and locations below:
- Sept. 17, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100 | Workshop Flyer
- Oct. 15, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
- Nov. 19, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | 2W625
- Jan. 21, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
- Feb. 18, 2020 | 6pm-9pm | 5E100 (Special session on infographics)
- Mar. 24, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
- Apr. 21, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
- May 19, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
- June 16, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | 5E100
The Parent Support Network is a unique series of daytime and evening events for parents and caregivers to engage in open discussion and provide mutual support. It is created by and for parents, invites childhood disability experts as guest speakers, and is open to all caregivers of children and youth living with a disability.
Daytime Tea & Talk: Back to School
Thursday, September 19, 2019 | 1pm-2:30pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Register for this workshop
Evening Expert Discussion: Care for the Caregiver
Guest speaker: Jean Hammond (Client and Family Integrated Care)
Thursday, October 3, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Register for this workshop
Evening Expert Discussion: Sibling Support
Guest speaker: Victoria Rombos (Client and Family Integrated Care)
Thursday, November 7, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Register for this workshop
Evening Expert Discussion: Toddler Communications
Guest speaker: Dr. Jessica Brian (Bloorview Research Institute)
Thursday, December 5, 2019 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Register for this workshop
Daytime Tea & Talk: Holidays
Thursday, January 16, 2020 | 1pm-2:30pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Evening Expert Discussion: Autism Research Centre Update
Guest speaker: Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou (Bloorview Research Institute)
Thursday, February 6, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Evening Expert Discussion: Pathways to Employment
Guest speaker: Radha MacCulloch (Ready, Willing, & Able)
Thursday, March 5, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Evening Expert Discussion: Approaches to Picky Eating in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Guest speaker: Yulia Khayat (Registered Dietitian)
Thursday, April 2, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 1st floor conference centre
Evening Expert Discussion: From Surviving to Thriving
Guest speaker: Fabiana Bacchini
Thursday, May 7, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 5E100
Evening Expert Discussion: Advocacy for the Family
Guest speaker: Susan Cosgrove
Thursday, June 4, 2020 | 6pm-8pm | Room: 5E100
Daytime Tea & Talk: Summer Fun
Thursday, July 16, 2020 | 1pm-2:30pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Holland Bloorview’s Sibling Support Program will give siblings, ages 7-18, the opportunity to relax, unwind, meet peers who might share lived experiences. It will provide a safe space to talk about what it’s like to be a sibling of someone with a disability. The program is open to any child who has a sibling with a disability, complex medical needs and/or dual diagnosis.
Program Information
Holland Bloorview’s Sibling Support Program will be held once a month, at the same date and time as the scheduled Family Education Workshop, on the following dates:
- Tuesday October 29th, 2019 from 6-8pm
- Tuesday November 26th, 2019 from 6-8pm
- Tuesday December 2nd, 2019 from 6-8pm
- Monday February 3rd, 2020 from 6-8pm
- Thursday March 3rd, 2020 from 6-8:30pm
- Saturday April 11th, 2020 from 9:30am-12pm
- Thursday May 14th, 2020 from 6-8pm
- Monday June 15th, 2020 from 6-8pm
Registration
Registration for the Sibling Support Program will open 2 weeks and 2 days before the listed program date. Registration closes 48 hours prior to the program date.
- To register Parents/Guardians/Members of your child’s care team/Clinicians can submit a referral form through Google Forms using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/OQbmL3J8Ykykmic52
- Once the form is complete and has been submitted, the Sibling Support Program Coordinator will call families to follow up and complete a profile about the Sibling attending the program and confirm their spot. Full intakes will only need to be done once. Please call to request a spot for each month individually.
Contact Us
If you require special accommodations or have questions, please contact Victoria Rombos at siblingsupport@hollandbloorview.ca or 416-425-6220 ext. 6082
The Solution-Focused Communication for Families workshops are a series designed to help parents enhance their communication skills by highlighting their family strengths and resources. For more information, contact Elaine Cook at ecook@hollandbloorview.ca.
Part 1: Fundamentals
In the initial and mandatory workshop, participants will learn the fundamental principles and skills of solution-focused communication. All fundamentals workshops will take place from 9am to 11:30am in 2W625 (2nd floor).
- September 28, 2019
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- October 26, 2019
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- November 23, 2019
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- January 25, 2020
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- February 22, 2020
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- March 28, 2020
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- April 25, 2020
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- May 30, 2020
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Part 2: Advanced Solutions
A series of workshops that complement and enhance skills learned in the Fundamentals workshop. Please note that you must attend a Fundamentals workshop before attending an Advanced workshop.
Topic: Advocacy
Participants will learn how to more effectively advocate for their child, using solution-focused communication principles.
- October 26, 2019 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Register for this workshop
- April 25, 2020 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 1st floor, conference centre
Register for this workshop
Topic: Conflict Reconciliation
Participants will learn how to manage conflict in ways that emphasize mindfulness, strengths and resources, dignity and respect.
- November 23, 2019 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Register for this workshop
- March 28, 2020 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 1st floor, conference centre
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Topic: Reframing
Participants will learn to reframe their child’s behaviours and thought processes in a manner that amplifies positive development.
- September 28, 2019 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Register for this workshop
- February 29, 2020 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 1st floor, conference centre
Register for this workshop
Topic: Self-Care
Continued enhancement of solution-focused communication skills with an emphasis on self-care: positive self-talk, controlling rumination, and finding peace and personal wisdom.
- January 25, 2020 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 2nd floor, 2W625
Register for this workshop
- May 30, 2020 | 1pm-3pm | Room: 1st floor, conference centre
Register for this workshop
You are invited to a Holland Bloorview Information Session!
We are offering our new outpatient families a free information session so that you can learn about helpful resources and be prepared for your first appointment. At this information session, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs), including:
- What can I do while my child is on the waitlist?
- What other services in the community can I access?
- What other services at Holland Bloorview can I access?
- How can I get ready for our first appointment at Holland Bloorview?
- How can I meet other parents or family members who might be in the same position as me?
- What are some tips from other parents or families who have been to appointments at Holland Bloorview?
- What are some tips from clinicians?
- What tools are available to help organize all of my child’s information?
This information session will feature an optional tour of Holland Bloorview at the end. Attendees will receive a resource booklet with the answers to the questions above.
Please note:
Families can access this orientation by invitation only as this is a pilot program. Eligibility to attend this orientation:
- If you have a child who is accepted and on the waitlist for Holland Bloorview's main site Neuromotor Clinic or Communication, Learning and Behaviour Clinic AND
- You received an invitation letter from us in the mail, along with your acceptance letter
This is not your first clinical appointment, but an information session on how to prepare for it. It is one hour long, and the optional tour is an additional 15-30 minutes. Sessions are offered twice per month. If you have any questions or require additional or special supports, please contact a Family Support Specialist at 416-425-6220 x6348 or resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca.
Sign up for a spot!
Attendees must register for a spot to confirm registration. To register, please email resourcecentre@hollandbloorview.ca.
Child Care Information
Ronald McDonald Playroom
Supervised on-site childcare is available for a limited number of children who are 30 months old and over.
Playroom registration opens 2 weeks and 2 days before the date of each event, and closes 48 hours before each event.
Playroom spaces are confirmed only after an intake call is completed over the phone. (Intake is required for every event and unregistered children cannot be accommodated).
At this time, children under 30 months old cannot be accommodated in our Playroom or at events.
Please call Daniel Scott at 416-425-6220 ext. 3438 to discuss your child’s needs and register for a Playroom spot.