Wood's Homes Blog

Every year on November 20^th, Canada celebrates the rights of children on what is called National Child Day.

This year’s theme is ‘The Right to Participate'.

At Wood’s Homes, we value a child’s right to participate. Working from a client and person-centered approach, we listen to and value the feedback of the children we serve. By giving children the right to participate in their treatment and care, we give them a voice and teach them the skills they need to advocate for themselves as they grow into youth and journey into adulthood.

February is....Psychology Month.

This year’s theme is ‘The Value of Choosing a Psychologist’.

The goal of Psychology Month is to raise awareness of the role that psychology plays in our lives, our schools, our communities and our employment. It provides a good opportunity for public education and promotion of the profession.

Mental health professionals come in all shapes and sizes. At Wood’s Homes, treatment and support teams include a range of interdisciplinary professionals - social workers, psychologists, counsellors, youth and family counsellors, pediatricians, psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, creative arts therapists and on and on.

As our new year began, there were a lot of grumblings about how the clock was moving forward but we were all still locked in time.

Sayings like, ‘2022 = 2020, too’, were both true and a little demoralizing. I have written before that Blue Monday isn’t real, but if you are feeling a little less excited about 2022, I think that it is worth talking about.

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.  

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.

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.

For nearly a decade, Wood’s Homes has been recognizing Children’s Mental Health Day (CMHD) as a way to bring attention to - and break down the stigma - attached to mental health challenges faced by young people. This year, Mental Health Week takes place May 3 – 9 with Children’s Mental Health Day falling on May 7.

Wood’s Homes has celebrated Children’s Mental Health Day in a number of ways, ranging from staff and client-focused campaigns/activities, to far-reaching events involving the community, donors, media, noted Calgarians and even a large-scale march through the heart of downtown.

This year, we decided TO GO BIG… but wait… first, we thought we’d take a look back at how we’ve been able to shine the spotlight on child and youth mental health over the years.

I am one of those volunteers who has been blessed to have the opportunity to serve as a Board Member at Wood’s Homes! 

I first became involved with Wood’s Homes, in support of a fundraising effort to replace the ‘old’ EXIT Community Outreach van. This was during a time in the past before the technology, (tablets, social media, etc.) changed our outreach abilities.