The 519 Church Street Community Centre

Archive for September, 2009

SOMEWHERE TO TURN

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

If you were struggling with issues in your life, where would you turn? Who would you talk to? Brian Konik shares his experience as a volunteer counsellor at The 519 Community Centre.

For hundreds of people in Toronto’s downtown communities, the Counselling Program at The 519 holds an answer. A free service which offers short-term counselling support, the program is coordinated by a member of The 519 staff and facilitated by 22 volunteer counsellors.

Brian Konik is one such counsellor. A Registered Social Worker, Brian volunteers with the Counselling Program one to two days a week and provides support to 4-5 individuals or couples. Participants receive up to six sessions of counselling.

In 2008, 52 people received over 240 hours of counselling.  Since January of this year,  22 counsellors have provided over 300 hours of free counselling

“I see all kinds of people at The 519” shared Brian, “some are looking for support during the immigration process and others want to talk about drug use. I’ve worked with couples and individuals affected by relationship violence or who want to communicate better.
Some want to talk about coming out, others about anxiety.”

As a Masters student, Brian worked with Family Services Toronto to research and evaluate the “Growing Up Healthy Downtown”, project, which is a partnership with The 519 and 7 other agencies. During that time he learned more about the work of the Centre and now that he is working full-time as a social worker he has joined The 519 as a volunteer. Brian volunteers with The 519 “because of the Centre’s reputation, its community-focus and its commitment to the LGBT community.” Brian also sees it as a good opportunity to refine his skills as a counsellor and to gain valuable experience. Most of all however, he enjoys the experience of supporting and giving back to the community.

The Counselling Program at The 519 is graciously supported by:

Tags: Brian Konik, Free Counselling, The 519, The 519 Church Street Community Centre
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Monthly Parent’s Book Review: The Transgender Child

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

THE TRANSGENDER CHILD:

A Handbook for Families and Professionals

Written By Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper ISBN 978-1-57344-318-0

“MOM, I’VE ALREADY TOLD YOU, I’m a girl, so stop saying HE!”

More families are seeking support for their transgender children who may have said something like the above line from the opening of this book.  Many feel isolated as they face their child’s gender identity variance, and are often looking for support to address their fears and to protect and celebrate their child.  Stephanie Brill, author of “The New Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception Pregnancy and Birth,” and Rachel Pepper have created this thorough and much needed resource to help us affirm our gender-nonconforming children.  Inside you’ll find an informed and practical guide to such topics as: Is My Child Transgender?; Family Acceptance: From Crisis To Empowerment; Developmental Stages and the Transgender Child; Start Where You Are: Moving from Damaging to Effective Parenting Practices; Transition Decisions: When Should I Let My Child Live as Their Preferred Gender?; Disclosure: Whom to Tell, How, Why and When; The Educational System and Your Family; Medical Issues for Transgender Children; Legal Issues to Consider; Who Will Be Role Models for Our Children?; and Sample Doctor’s Letters.  The Transgender Child will help readers understand and celebrate our gender variations, raise healthy children, and create social spaces where our children can thrive.  A must read for any parent, caregiver, family member, and family service provider in any field.

~ Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programs Coordinator

Tags: Families, Queer Parenting, Rachel Pepper, Stephanie Brill, Trans, Transgender
Posted in Book Review, Children, Queer Parenting | No Comments »

Monthly Children’s Book Review: ABC - A Family Alphabet Book

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

A B C

A Family Alphabet Book

Written by Bobbie Combs | Illustrated by Desiree Keane & Brian Rappa
ISBN 0-9674468-103

This is a charming beginner’s alphabet book concise enough to hold a little one’s attention from beginning to end. Featuring queer parents in lots of everyday parenting scenarios and mindful of racial diversity (among other kinds of diversity), kids in LGBTQ families can surely find someone they will relate to within its pages. There is a potentially problematic dress-up costume on the B page, but this is otherwise a really lovely read both aesthetically and in words.

Excerpt:  C is for cookies. Both of my dads know how to make great chocolate chip cookies.

ABC: A Family Alphabet book is available to read in The 519’s Family Resource Centre.
For more information about our Child and Family Programs, click here.

Tags: Bobbie Combs, Book Review, Brian Rappa, Desiree Keane, family resource centre, Queer Parenting
Posted in Book Review, Children, Queer Parenting | No Comments »