The conference offered a unique opportunity to hear from a distinguished group of writers, clinical practitioners, researchers, advocates and activists who are foremost in their fields of critical psychiatry, psychology, education, journalism, community development and activism. Below are links to some downloads from the presentations.

Alisha Ali – The Pathogenesis of Oppression
Shery Mead – Intentional Peer Support – a Personal Retrospective
Joanna Moncrieff – The Psychopharmaceutical Complex
Sandra Escher – Accepting and Making Sense of Voices
Robert Whitaker – Anatomy of an Epidemic
Michaela Amering – Trialogue
Julie Repper – A Rights Based Approach to Recovery
Hearing Voices Groups using CBT for Psychosis Tools & Principles w. CRCT
Joe Goodbread – Process Work with Extreme States of Consciousness

The Next Best Thing To A Golf Tournament!
A Golf Par-Tee

Tuesday November 8th, 6pm -10pm

The Century Room
580 King Street West
Toronto, ON, M5V 1M1

Dinner opens at 7pm
Silent Auction closes at 9pm.

To RSVP and purchase advance tickets ($45) contact Karyn 416-535-8501 ext 7852 or Karyn_baker@familymentalhealthrecovery.org

If you can’t make it but still want to donate you can always donate by clicking here!

Click on the image above to download the PDF flyer or click here.

Alexander Graham Bell wrote “When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones that open for us.”

My hope for all of us as we enter this upcoming year is that we do focus on all the doors that may be open to us as the CAMH door closes.

Since I arrived at FOR almost 15 years ago, we have always been housed under the CAMH umbrella. I have appreciated the generosity of CAMH in providing our rent, phones and computer access. And I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank them for this support.

Come April 2012, we will be opening another door at FOR and I wish I knew with all certainty where this door may be, but for now, we are exploring all the possibilities. It will need to be space that is conducive to our family work, accessible to families who come from all over the Toronto area and affordable. The likely reality is that our funding from the Toronto LHINS will not increase which means either more fundraising or creative use of shared space with other organizations. I am grateful to our sponsor Community Resources Connections of Toronto and David Lemire their Executive Director for supporting us through this process.

We will be reaching out to our families and community partners to brainstorm with us all doors that may open up for us.

This year, we have also had to say good bye, for now, to Krista McKinnon who left to have a baby. Emily has also left family work to lead TTYL full-time. These changes have led to hiring 2 new employees – Elly Litvak and Jessica Bush. We have worked with Elly on community development activities and are so pleased to have her with us. Jessica was a student with us 4 years ago and I am thrilled to welcome her back.

FOR has made a commitment to have as many student placements as possible so these students have the opportunity to learn about recovery. This year we welcome 3 new students and I would like to thank the students from last year – Nadeen, Jenessa, Alyssa and Michael. Hopefully, they will continue the recovery work and perhaps one day they will also come back to FOR.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the FOR staff, Emily, Linda, Calista, Marian and Shirley for all their hard work with families, TTYL or behind the scenes. We continue to try to offer innovative and effective programming for our youth and families. This year, the staff have also focused on our accountability procedures to ensure that we are meeting the standards, targets and guidelines of our funders.

Advocacy and community development initiatives are important to the FOR community and this past year we established Families for Recovery an advocacy group of both family members and people with the lived experience. This group developed the first Trialogue in the Toronto area. I would like to also thank all those involved in this for their commitment to recovery work.

I would also like to give a big thank you to our board members. This year, FOR has needed them more than ever as we try to navigate the closure of the CAMH door; increase our accountability mechanisms and raise even more money. It is not glamorous work but it is so necessary and I appreciate it tremendously.

In closing, I would like to thank our families and youth who come to FOR. You are the ones that make it all worthwhile. We admire your strength, determination and resilience. Without you, we would not work so hard to make sure that FOR looks to open all doors and keep growing this amazing program. Thank you.

Karyn Baker

Chairperson’s Report

This year has been filled with the unexpected. We have experienced tremendous growth in our Talk to Youth Lately program. This was possible due to a large donation from the Christina Hendrie Foundation and a two year grant from the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. We also ran our most successful golf tournament in 2010. With these funds, we have been able to enhance our staff capacity and the number of youth that participate in this program. The young people in TTYL had a busy year with a number of public performances culminating in grand performance earlier this year called Minds Matter which you can now check out on You Tube.

Another unexpected development was that CAMH has informed us that we will not be moving into their new space on Queen Street. We have been told that they can no longer afford to pay for space of their many partner agencies. CAMH kindly gave us space for another year at Pape and Danforth. At the end of April 2012, we will be again moving and for the first time ever, it will not be under the home of CAMH.

The staff, board and our sponsor organization, Community Resources Connections of Toronto (CRCT) have been exploring what options are available to us. Our problem is that our budget, as is, will not be sufficient for rent. Our options include program cutbacks to pay for rent, increasing our fundraising revenue or sharing space with existing organizations or amalgamating with a larger mental health organization. The conversations will continue and we welcome input especially from the families that we support.

We have also had some unexpected change with our board, particularly the resignation of Steve McIntyre. Steve felt the need to resign as his personal commitments did not give him the time required to fulfill his role on the board. Steve did a great job as our treasurer and we will miss him.

At this time, I would like to express my gratitude to the board members – Sue, Mike, Deanna, Nisa, Stella and Ganga for not only their time but also the dedication that they have shown to growing FOR.

To Karyn, Marian, Krista, Emily, Calista, Linda, Shirley, Conor, Michael, Alyssa, Janessa and Nadeen thank you for your hard work and commitment to our families, our youth and for making recovery a possibility for many.

To those of you who have given of your money or volunteered your time to FOR, we also thank you. In the past, I too needed FOR as a family member and I know how difficult it can be. I am especially grateful to our families who trust us to support you in your recovery. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Rebekah Tsingos
Chairperson

You can enter through the Jones Street where there is parking. Our Talk to Youth Lately Group will be performing Minds Matter followed by the business portion of meeting. If you want a taste of what TTYL performances are like check out this.

Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Karyn Baker at 416-535-8501 ext. 7852.

View Larger Map

DOWNLOAD YOUR REGISTRATION PACKAGE!

Golf for Good time! GGG is a fundraising initiative of the Family Outreach and Response Program (FOR). FOR supports and educates families and friends during the mental health recovery process. Last year, over 400 families used our services. Now in its 7th year, this charity golf event continues to build in popularity and is a key platform to the charity, providing essential services not covered by base funding.

One Spectacular Club!
The Masters course at Lionhead Golf and Country Club was recently voted best hidden gem in the city by the Toronto Star. Sloped at 146, a more traditional design harmonizing with the natural surroundings of forest and rolling hills. A solid mixture of over 100 well placed bunkers, 9 ponds and 2 rivers make each hole distinctive and an unforgettable experience. This course designed by Architect Ted Baker requires distance off the tee with a premium on accuracy, your approach to large inviting greens are always guarded extremely well by water or bunkers. The traditions of golf have been uniquely captured in this layout and will provide a test to every level of golfer.

2011 Golf for Good proceeds will help to fund our Youth Engagement Initiative: Talk To Youth Lately (TTYL)

Since our inception in April 2008 TTYL has:

- Educated more than 2500 youth about mental health through a formal partnership with the Toronto District School Board
- Developed innovative mental health recovery programs for youth
- Has been chosen to be a research site for the Mental Health Commission
- Created a Theatre and Cirque Project

Come and Join The Fun!

Family Outreach and Response Program
7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Lionhead Golf and Country Club
8525 Mississauga Road
Brampton, Ontario

Agenda:

Registration & Lunch 11:30 AM
Shotgun Start 1:00 PM
Cocktails & Silent Auction 5:30 PM
Dinner 6:30 PM

Player Fees:

$350.00 Per Player
$1,400.00 Four Players
$100.00 Dinner and Auction only
$1,700.00 Corporate Foursome plus Hole Sponsor

FROM DOWNTOWN TORONTO:

• Take the QEW to Highway 427 North
• From Highway 427 take Highway 401 Westbound
• Exit at Mississauga Road (North)
• Continue on Mississauga Road 5 kilometers (3 miles)
• Lionhead Golf & Country Club is just north of Steeles Avenue on the right side.

For your $350.00 registration fee you will receive the following:

1. Round of golf with cart at a challenging and scenic golf course
2. Lunch
3. On Course events with prizes to be won
4. Cocktail Reception
5. Silent Auction
6. Marche Dinner
7. FREE Golfer Gift Giveaway of Your Choice! Valued at $120.00!
8. A warm fuzzy feeling that you have supported a very worthy charity!

Golfer Gift Giveaway Options

Option One – Men’s and Ladies FootJoy Shoes
Option Two – Men’s and Ladies Soft-Shell Jackets
Option Three – Titleist Travel Bag

PREMIER SPONSORSHIP ($ 10,000.00)

- Company Logo and listing as title sponsor in all promotional material
- Logo, acknowledgment and link to corporate website on the FOR website
- Corporate recognition at dinner
- Full page ad (back cover) in Tournament Program
- Banner on display at the event
- Signage at the registration table
- Distribution of promotional materials in gift bags
- One foursome for Golf, cocktails and dinner

DINNER SPONSORSHIP ($ 5,000.00)

- Official designation as the Dinner Sponsor in all promotional material
- Signage at the dinner
- Logo and acknowledgements on printed materials
- Corporate recognition at dinner
- Half page ad in Tournament Program
- Two players for Golf, cocktails and dinner

PUTTING CONTEST SPONSORSHIP ($ 2,000.00)

- Official designation as the Putting Contest Sponsor in all promotional material
- Signage at the Putting Green (halfway point on the course)
- Logo and acknowledgement on printed materials
- Corporate recognition at the dinner
- Half page ad in Tournament Program
- One Player for Golf, cocktails and dinner

18 HOLE SPONSORSHIP ($ 300.00 per hole)

- Signage at each Hole sponsored
- Official designation as a Hole Sponsor in all promotional material
- Acknowledgement in the Tournament Program
- Corporate recognition at dinner

DOWNLOAD & COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION PACKAGE BY CLICKING HERE and please return to:

Karyn Baker
Family Outreach & Response Program
658 Danforth Avenue
Suite 402
Toronto, Ontario
M4J 5B9
Fax # 416-583-4335

Tax receipts will be issued for in-kind donations as per the guidelines of Canada Revenue Agency

Mark Your Calendar
November 3 & 4, 2011
University of Toronto, Hart House
Registration and conference details to follow.
Sponsored by INTAR and The Leadership Project.

This conference offers a unique opportunity to hear from a distinguished group of writers, clinical practitioners, researchers, advocates and activists who are foremost in their fields of critical psychiatry, psychology, education, journalism, community development and activism. Their inspiring work on psychosis, depression and recovery puts them in the vanguard of the push to transform mental health care. Join them as they present the case for a new perspective on psychosis, and humanistic, community-based alternatives for recovery.

Our Guests:

Robert Whitaker, “Anatomy of an Epidemic”
Richard Bentall, Ph.D. Deconstructing Schizophrenia
Sandra Escher, Ph.D. Hearing Voices
Dr. Philip Thomas, Critical Psychiatry
Rufus May, Ph.D Unusual Beliefs
Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, Psycho-Pharma Complex
Alisha Ali, Ph.D. Oppression/Depression
Dr. Michaela Amering Trialogue
Joe Goodbread PhD. Process Oriented Psychology
Julie Repper, Ph.D. Social Inclusion
Will Hall MAPW Psychiatric Drugs/Harm Reduction
Maria Haarmans CBT for Psychosis
Dr. Peter Stastny “Crisis or Opportunity”
Ron Bassman, Ph.D. “Inspiration, Hope & Possibility”
and others

Download the preliminary flyer for the event here.

Download Conference Registration form here.

Download Conference Registration package here.

For information: Brian McKinnon at 416 285 7996, ex. 227 bmckinnon@alternativestoronto.org

Who: For relatives and friends of young adults in recovery who have already completed a group at Family Outreach previously.

What: A course designed to improve communication skills by learning how to incorporate the wisdom of Solution Focused Counselling in everyday conversations.

When: Wednesday nights from 6:30 -8:30pm, June 8th – July 13th.

Where: At our new location: 658 Danforth Ave. Suite 402 (@ Pape Subway Station)

Why: To enhance your ability to be helpful to people you love, and to give and get peer support.

Contact: To register, please contact Krista MacKinnon, 416-535-8501 ext 1935 or krista_mackinnon@familymentalhealthrecovery.org

The pilot is being funded by CRCT and at the end of this time we will be interested in partnering with another organization to support the on-going funding of the group.

The Hearing Voices Network meets regularly on the last Thursday of every month at CRCT from 10 to 12. Some of the tasks we are working on include:

developing a pre-post survey to measure outcomes in order to ensure that we are meeting the needs of participants
developing a hearing voices resource list and exploring web-site possibilities
organizing a planning event soon to help clarify our short term and longer terms goals for the Network.

If anyone is interested in joining the network to help give the Hearing Voices Movement in Toronto some momentum they can be in touch with Leslie Morris at 416-482-4103  ex. 227.

The new location is convenient (right at the Pape subway station) and is also spacious with private spaces for sessions.

Our address is now:

658 Danforth Ave,
Suite 402
Toronto, ON
M4J5B9

Fax Number:
416-466-7001

Emily Collette: 416-535-8501 ext 7853
Karyn Baker: 416-535-8501 ext 7852