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Family Ties-Carrefour Famille New Carlisle is a community resource whose aim is to support
anglophone families in New Carlisle. Already in operation 10 years we offer an array of services to improve the well-being
of families and children. The actions follow three main lines, developement of parenting skills, support of the learning
experiences of children, and support for families. Our intervention has allowed the creation of a social atmosphere where
families can develop mutual help and fellowship.
MISSION
The mission of Family Ties New Carlisle is to improve the well-being of anglophone families
of New Carlisle.
HISTORY
In the fall of 1994, the CLSC Chaleurs applied to the Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine
Public Heath department for financial support under a Concerted Action Program. The intervenors of the CLSC and other organizations
realized that they needed support adapted to their conditions. The aim was to prepare the children for school develop parenting
skills and support the families. When the grant from Public Heath was received, the CLSC and other community groups set up
a Daycare Centre, Munchkin Mansion named by the parents. It became a meeting place for the families.
In September 1995, Munchkin Mansion hired a full time animator. She was supported in her work
by the mothers of the children who were enrolled. The main purpose was to allow parents to develop their skills by becoming
involved. All the parents agreed to give a half-day of their time to help with the animation. In return they benefit from
three half days of respite as their children take part four half days a week. By making the parents responsible for a group
of children, we also involve them in an active project. Contrary to other programs where the parents are relating only to
their own child, Munchkin Mansion generates an attitude of participation and sharing instead of a passive attitude.
Noting the positive results of this intervention, the CLSC Chaleurs submitted a new request
for financial support within the Concerted Action Program. The Public Health Department gave a second grant, which assured
the continuation of activities for 1996-1997. The results of this second year of activities proved to be even more positive
than the first. To assure the continuation of the project, the Public Health Department decided to grand, as an exception,
a third year of financing still under the Concerted Action Program. At the same time, the project obtained a three year recurring
grant from the Quebec Family Secretariat through the Family Fund. The Munchkin Mansion was part of a group of 27 projects
accepted in a total of 300 applications. In June 1997 the CLSC Chaleurs won the Andre-Tetreault prize given by the Ferderation
of Quebec CLSC. This prize recognizes the excellence of the Munchkin Mansion project, which is a increasingly making an impact
on the New Carlisle community.
Aiming to have the community take charge of the project, a temporary committee applied for
incorporation leading to the formation of Family Ties. The group was given its charter in November 1996 becoming a legally
corporate non-profit organization. In September 1997, the founding meeting elected its first board of directors made up mostly
of participating parents and other people from the community. In May 1998, the organization acquired the building in which
activities had been carried on since 1995. The real estate project will help strengthen some services and allow us to add
new family activities. In May 2000 Family Ties won another prize, called Hommage Benevole-Quebec, given by the Government
of Quebec to recognize the exceptional participation of volunteers within our community organization. We continue to work
with our public and community partners. We have the services of three and one half employees, two and one half paid by the
organization, and one by a government project. Finally, our organization is the only English group reconized and subsidized
by the Regie Regional Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine through the program of aid to community organizations. Also, we are the
only English organization receiving a grant from Centraide Gaspesie (United Way Gaspesie)
The Problem and the Community Characteristics
In order to explain the origin of our organization, we must describe the problem
observed in 1994. It's this report, which prompted the community and the intervenors to form a resource for families.
In 1994, in Bonaventure MRC (16 municipalities for a total population of 20,000 habitants)
the population had a high incidence of poverty, unemployment and psychosocial risks. Some English families of New Carlisle
are among the poorest in the whole region.
The following gives some of the social-economic characteristics of the New Carlisle population:
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61% of the total population of New Carlisle is Anglophone, 938 habitants on a population of
1538 habitants.
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55.8% are unilingual English
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18.6% of families are single parents (2nd highest in the MRC)
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68.5% of the women with children under 6 years of age are unemployed (the highest rate)
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46.2% of the population are unemployed
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48.1% of the population don't have a high school leaving certificate
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24.1% of families are considered to be very poor (2nd highest)
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28.2% of the families are tenants (2nd highest)
The average revenue of families is among the lowest at
$34,154 (11th)
The average cost of rent is $677.00, the 2nd highest
rate.
These figures show the economic poverty in New Carlilse, especially among the women. This situation
particularly affects the unilingual English majorities who have difficulty entering the job market in a region that is mostly
francophone. Besides the poverty, New Carlilse's English community has no structure able to provide support for low-income
familie in difficulty. Some children live in a family and social atmosphere with little stimulation. Besides individual poverty,
there's a collective poverty, which bankrupts the community.
The organization in the Health and Social Services network(CLSC, Youth Centre, and Rehabilitation
Centre) agree that the New Carlisle Enlgish community is one of the most deprived in the whole territory. The effects on the
development and health of the children are numerous: slow development, language troubles, learning problems, problems adapting,
psychological distress, etc. At New Carlisle High School about 61% of pupils need special education as soon as they begin
school.
This economic uncertainty and the difficult social conditions also increase the risk of child
neglect. It's agreed that something has to be done to reduce the risk of negligence. This concern is even greater because
New Carlisle anglophones are a closed society and families seldom use the services of the Health and Social Services network.
Also, the traditional intervention toward negligent families doesn't always produce the desired
results. Only 25% of abusive families significantly improve their behavior as parents. These interventions,sometimes only
partial, don't affect the parents` behavior as much as the influence of many sources in the community. The use of a systmatic
approach is the key because the physical and socio-economic environment in which a person lives determines his or her behavior.
A new structure must replace the deficient one, the determing factors of health being the target.
By promoting community involvement with the help of professional resources, the group decided
to unite their efforts to prevent child neglect problems.
Several success factors are essential to assure the effectiveness of such intervention:
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taking into consideration the global environment of these youngsters and their families
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the recognition of the fundemental role of parents and re-enforcing their abilities
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community participation and the use of its resources
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use of different intervention strategies
The context just described in that of 1994. Following the report, the community and the public
partners began to establish a structure of support for families. After that, the events followed as described in this history.
TARGET GROUP
Family Ties is for New Carlisle anglophone families targeting mainly those in difficulty
(economic, social, etc.). We also support young people who wish to develop initiatives to create a network of social and academic
support.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES
During the past ten years several types of activites were developed wiht the cooperation
of participating parents, volunteers, social clubs and public and community partners (CLSC, Rehabilitation Centre, CASA, School
Board). Family Ties organizes more than 25 activities. Besides the stimulating workshops there are the following programs:
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Family Ties Community Tree
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General Assembly of Members
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Children
8-10 children between
18 months and 4 years
old
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Parents
6-8 parents who have
children in daycare
and who are involved
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Collective Cooking
7 participants volunteering
with the everyday
activities of Family Ties.
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Youth Council
8 Students, Grades 8-11
meet twice a week.
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Student Volunteer
8 Students grades 7-8
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Trading Post
Clothing, Shoes, Coats etc.
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Daycare Service
4 days a week
From 8:45am-11:30am
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Parent Involvement
Half day/week parents
help the animator by
supervising and stimulating
the children.
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Ladies Night
All parents involved
in daycare and cooking
meet 4-6 times per year
to participate in
an activity.
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Homework Program
10 children grades 1-3
2 times a week for 1
hour per time.
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Buddies
40-45 students from
grades1-5 and 6-11.
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Library
Service of the Library
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Daily Routine
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Circle Time
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Music
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Arts and Crafts
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Free Play
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Story Time
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Chores and Snacks
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Outdoor Play
Fine and Gros Motor Activites
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Parent Workshops
Once a month a workshop
is given on topics of interest.
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Dance
Every Wednesday at
the local school. There
are three categories
grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-11.
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HIPE(Science Program)
Every Thursday students
in grades 2-6 come to do
hands-on experiments
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Born To Read
Service offered to
Anglophone:
Bag full of books for new borns.
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Fun in the Gym
Once or twice a month
the children will visit
the local school's
gym to exercise
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Parent Week
Several times per year parents
invited to share their skills
and abilities with children.
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Drama
Every Monday students
from grades 6-11. They make
up their own skits, learn and
practice them. When completed they
perform a public presentation.
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ATWL
Around The World Literature
Tuesday's after school grades 2-5
this program will be given
in 3-week units. Understanding
a different culture completely in each unit.
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Outings/Special Activities
Monthly parents and
children take part in a field
trip or special activity
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Fundraising
Parents raise money
in order to have activities
and buy equipment
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INNOVATION
Our organization is an innovator in several ways. First, the formula for the workshops
prompts the mothers to be involved in their children's development. They get together to provide services. With workshops
supervised by the animator for 40 weeks, the mothers benefit from support in developing parenting skills, a more intense experience
than other, similar projects.
The diversity of our services is an innovative strength. Our approach takes into account the globality of
the families and recommends intervention intergrated to the level of action. This permits intervention for the young people
at different levels of their development, as much for academic abilities as for their social structures. (Youth Council).
We also meet the essential needs for the well-being of the families. (Collective kitchen and garden, clothing exchange).
Our availability and our flexibility are also strengths. Children with intellectual handicaps, slow development
or behavior problems take part in our services and benefit from services adapted to their needs. Whether it's by individual
intervention, the support of professionals, or building an access ramp, we always look for ways to reduce the differences.
Also, we show flexibility in allowing parents and children to use our services. For example, through our stimulating workshops
are for children 2 to 5 we accept younger children (18 months) in order to make our services more widely available according
to the parents' situation.
We are also innovators because we hope to include the mothers' partners in our activities. So they take
part in group activities, help fix up the playground, make articles to sell for fund raising and occasionally baby-sit when
the mothers are at a meeting.
Finally, we believe our intervention is innovative because it has created a network of mutual help in our
community and because it has allowed families to improve their parental situation while providing a solid base for future
development of the next generation.
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