Wood's Homes Blog

Tis the season for sweet treats, Santa, colorful lights, carols, and joy. Tis also the season for burnout, fatigue, sickness, and overstimulation. As special of a time as it is, there is a lot going on during the holidays that can bring major stress to your life. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid getting stressed out so that you can embrace the joys of the season. Combat the holiday hustle and bustle by establishing these four key routines to keep your season stress-free.

The latest statistics show that approximately 1.2 million children in Canada have some kind of mental health condition. From depression to anxiety, the Canadian Mental Health Association says that “genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors” can all lead to the development of a mental illness.

I was recently asked by some friends, “Why do you do what you do?”

I always find this question a difficult one to answer, especially when I’m asked by someone who isn’t from my field. I always joke that ‘I could write a book’ about the things I’ve seen, but my answer is always about how I’m passionate about helping children.

As of October 17, 2018, cannabis for recreational consumption will be legal in Canada.

And, whether you like it or not, your teen (and their friends) will probably try it.

While the minimum age for buying, using, possessing and growing recreational cannabis in Alberta is 18 (the same minimum age for the sale of alcohol and tobacco), it’s very likely that your teen will be exposed to the drug before that age. 

Getting outside is good for kids. In fact, it’s good for everyone – children, adults and families together.

Science tells us that spending time outdoors – whether hiking in the mountains, losing ourselves in the reflections of crystal clear lakes, visiting local parks, or walking or biking community trails– helps both our bodies and brains.

To truly share my first impression of Wood’s Homes, I have to step back ten years. In September 2008, I was 14 years old, and I tagged along with my dad for a Day of Caring at the Parkdale Campus to re-paint the rooms in the cottages. At the time, I had no concept of what Wood’s Homes was, or the work that the agency was doing, but throughout the day I learned, quite quickly, that the experiences I had growing up were very different than the experiences of the clients.

With my backpack tight and my walking shoes on…

During EXIT Outreach’s transition to its new home in Inglewood, the EXIT team has been on the streets talking with homeless and at-risk youth. Street outreach could mean many things, depending on who you ask. It could mean handing out sandwiches or coffee. It could mean speaking about available resources or providing water on a hot day. It could mean, simply, giving somebody a hug and providing a listening ear – a brief escape from the daunting reality of life on the streets. For EXIT, street outreach embodies all of these things.

Calgary Pride will be hosting its 28th annual Pride Parade this weekend, the final celebration following a week full of Pride-related activities and events (including the rainbow flag raising at City Hall). Calgary will also be hosting the Dyke and Trans March on Sept. 1, where those who identify as lesbian, gender neutral and transgender march to celebrate, empower and educate society at large.

This is the last post in this series about instilling a sense of home in children and youth, even when they are no longer living with us. Last month, we talked about temporary separations like summer camp. But as the long weekend approaches, many of us won’t just be preparing for our kids for back to school; rather, we’ll be preparing for them to move away from us for the first year. 

It’s that time of year again! From shopping for school supplies and new indoor shoes, to squeezing in those last few summer adventures before the fall routine sets in, parents are busy getting their children ready for the upcoming school year.

Although going back to school is a very exciting time, we also know it can be a time of increased stress, anxiety and behavioural concerns for both students and their families.