Wood's Homes Blog

It's National Addictions Awareness Week.

This year’s theme, Driving Change Together, encourages everyone to reassess the way they think about substance use.

Through Wood’s Homes, I was able to connect with a group of people my age who wanted a future free from addiction and felt excited about process of Driving Change Together.

Who is the expert in the field of addictions?

It has been a dream to lead an Addictions Program that recognizes past clients of the program as experts. The Addictions Peer Mentor role allows for lived experience to be front and centre. Their involvement in the work of addictions is critical to evidence-informed activities.

Having an Addictions Peer Mentor is empowering because they deeply understand the youth we serve. They apply an alternative approach to addictions and act as a confidant who motivates our clients and inspires change.

National Child Day is November 20 and this year’s celebration marks the 30^th anniversary of Canada’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Wood’s Homes, as an agency, has many ties to this day through its work in the 40+ programs and services we provide.

Recently, I paid my first visit to Capitol Hill, a program that works with children under 12. This home in the community is a short-term safe refuge for these little ones who are behaviourally at-risk and have broken down or are at risk of breaking down their current caregiver placements.

November is Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta.  According to the province of Alberta, we have the third highest self-reported spousal abuse rate in the country. Family violence is a crime and it can happen to anyone - within all ages - from children to the elderly - and within all cultural backgrounds and all gender identities. When your home is no longer safe or when trusted family members hurt you physically or emotionally, talk to someone.  

Thanksgiving is a time when many of us reflect on what we’re most thankful for. It reminds us of how special and beautiful our lives are even when we are faced with challenging and stressful situations. We often look for coping tools to get through tough times, and being thankful is especially important in the midst of a pandemic when the world around us is unpredictable. At Wood’s Homes, the joy of working with children, youth and families, the support we receive from our loyal and generous community tops our list.

In the spirit of the season, we asked our clients and staff what they are thankful for.

Entering the Inglewood Opportunity Hub for the first time was a relief. I looked around, hoping to find someone like me. Being gay within the homeless population is terrifying and you are always searching for an ally. On the wall, I noticed a flag that showed me that this is a safe place for all.

The place had a different feeling for me. I was welcomed here.

As the Addictions Specialist at Wood's Homes, I continue to see the impact of opioids within the vulnerable youth and families we serve.

How do we support our clients to reduce the impact that it will have on their families?

How can I give support to my friends, family, and adults and youth in my life?

These are the questions that I am often asked in private by caregivers, foster parents, teachers, and co-workers.

My answer to these questions is to continually educate ourselves. Ask the hard questions. Be open to hearing another person’s truth with compassion. Do not judge.

Parents experience tremendous amounts of stress when their children are facing mental health challenges and are often unclear on where to start or who to talk to. Although we are fortunate to have a number of mental health support services available, families continue to struggle alone as the fragmented nature of the mental health system makes it challenging to obtain the information and supports needed.

The past year has brought tremendous obstacles and challenges for all us. Working within the Emergency department of the Alberta Children’s Hospital has been no exception.

As we entered the new world of COVID-19 in March 2020, we, as a community, did so with caution and uncertainty. This was evident in the Emergency department; the hustle and bustle we once knew became a solemn void. We witnessed a collective apprehension towards attending the hospital.

Where did all the mental health concerns go? For us, this was the calm before the storm, and we were patiently waiting and preparing.

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns and restrictions have been hard on all of us. We’ve all experienced increased stress and previously unforeseen challenges in our personal and work lives. But through all of it, Wood’s Homes and its staff have come together to support one another and find new and innovative ways to complete our work and continue serving our clients.