Parenting Beyond the Toddler Years

Parents, think back to the moment you found out that you/your partner was pregnant. Feelings of joy, excitement and fear of the responsibility and unknown permeated your life for awhile. You probably dealt with these feelings by picking up 'What to Expect When You're Expecting', or 'Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care' and promptly signed up for prenatal classes. Learning about pregnancy, infants and toddlers was a way to feel better prepared for your new adventure in parenting. Somewhere along the way though, you and your little one outgrew parent infant drop in and toddler time groups and at that point you may have stopped seeking information about your growing child since the basics were covered. 
The tween and teen years bring about a new need for information and your changing children require you to continue to take an active role in learning about parenting. With that in mind, please have a look at two amazing opportunities outlined below.

Join us for an evening with Dr. Gabor Mate Physician, Author, TED Talk
Presenter & Public Speaker on September 23, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Whistler Secondary School.
Peer Orientation: Why Children are Stressed, Why Parents and Teachers are Disempowered and How to Restore the Healthy Balance in Adult-Child Relationships 

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online here. To learn more about Dr. Gabor Mate or to listen to his most current TED Talk please visit www.drgabormate.com
Presented by Squamish Savings, District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) & Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS)

                        Connect Parent Group
Do you want to learn more about your child’s behaviour? Connect is coming to Whistler!

Connect is an attachment-based program for parents and caregivers of children/youth (8-18) who are struggling to understand and respond to difficult behaviour. Parents meet in small groups with 2 trained group leaders for 10 weeks, 1 hour each week. Each session provides parents with new information about parent-child relationships and adolescent development.

Parents watch role-plays and try exercises that offer new choices for responding to their child’s behaviour. Connect understands that each child, and each parent, is different, and that change is part of development. Rather than teach only one way of parenting, Connect helps parents see choices that support healthy relationships, including setting limits and helping their child to
move forward. 

If you would like to register for the program, or if you require more information, please call 604-902-0809, or email Leanne.Toews@gov.bc.ca.

Dates: October 6 – December 15
Day: Monday
Time: 5 – 6 p.m.
Age: Parents
Fee: Free
Location: Myrtle Philip Community Centre

Taxi Saver Program

Lee VonBerg with her 'Hot Wheels'

Recently I was away visiting a family friend who is in her 80’s living in a retirement village. This friend has mobility challenges that do not allow her to walk very far. As a result, she has a motorized scooter to enable her to get down to the dining room and participate in activities outside of her apartment. After a few days of observing her use of the scooter, I decided that it would be beneficial for me have some product knowledge and a test drive was in order. Test-driving which took on the form of me racing my dad down the hall brought the neighbors out to check out what all the ruckus was about. This experience not only showed me how the technology of motorized scooter can turn on a dime but how important it is to have a tool to assist in your mobility which opens your world to new experiences.

Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) Volunteer Driving program under the umbrella of the existing program “Helping Hand” is a tool that can come in handy for many people in need of mobility support. The program offers individuals who are unable to get to appointments or do essential errands due to injury or limited mobility a door to door ride with a friendly volunteer. This is an excellent program that uses local resources to solve a big challenge for an individual who is unable to manage local transit due to mobility challenges. Unfortunately there are times that volunteer match cannot be made and that individual in need misses their appointment. After advocating to the RMOW to have a safety net in place to support the individuals that can’t be matched to volunteers due to scheduling conflicts, Emma DalSanto (RMOW) and myself (WCSS) were able to create a pilot project called “Taxi Saver Program”. This program will be co-funded as a pilot project for one year by WCSS and RMOW and the cost will be split 50/50. The Taxi Saver Program will be coordinated by WCSS in the following manner:

The individual will request a Helping Hand volunteer driver and the WCSS coordinator will put a call out to the Helping Hand volunteers. If the individual in need is unable to use the public transit and is financially restricted (their MSP is paid for) the coordinator will then contact Resort Cabs to set up a taxi to drive the individual to their appointment and back home. An example of a situation that would warrant accessing this support is during the winter an elderly person who uses a walker is unable to get to the bus stop six blocks from her door and therefore stops attending important medical appointments. After calling the Helping Hand Coordinator and going through a simple intake process, the coordinator discovers that the senior is financially restricted so paying a taxi fare is not an option. After putting out a request to the list of volunteers, the coordinator is unable to make a match. The alternative is to use the Taxi Saver Program and the senior is able to access a medical appointment. There are many other applicable situations and anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to contact Melissa Deller, 604-902-0865, helpinghand@mywcss.org. After coordinating the Helping Hand program for 6 years WCSS is proud to have an alternative option for individuals who risk missing important appointments due to lack of transportation and are thankful for the RMOW’s cooperation on the project.

Whistler Multicultural Festival Fun!

Thank you to the Whistler Public Library and the Whistler Multicultural Network for holding a great event last Friday. The evening featured music, art, food and culture. The weather was awesome, and everyone had a great time. WCSS was happy to participate, and take in all the activities including some high energy performers. To learn more about the Whistler Multicultural Network visit www.whistlermulticulturalnetwork.com.

FARM FRESH PRODUCE TO BE FEATURED ON MORE PLATES THIS SUMMER

For some families and seniors it can be difficult to add healthy options to their daily meals. Lack of finances can often be a barrier for those who would otherwise love to shop at the Whistler Farmers Market. This summer, Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) has partnered with the Whistler Farmers Market to make healthy options accessible to more Whistler families. The Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, an initiative of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, will provide participants with the resources to purchase BC products such as fruits, vegetables, fresh cut herbs, nuts dairy and meat.

WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

“Social responsibility is embedded in the corporate culture of the Whistler Farmers Market. We fully acknowledge that our success is due in a large part to the support of our partners and the community we are so proud to serve.” says Chris Quinlan, Market Manager. Program participants receive farm-fresh food; they meet farmers, pick up new recipes and learn how to include the market in their meal planning strategy. The farmer’s family benefits as well and funds stay in the region and support local economy. Participants take part in a series of workshops like canning and preserving, food demos, and nutrition info sessions organized by Whistler Community Services Society. “These workshops will be interactive and focus on the produce available at the Whistler Farmers market. WCSS will invite any interested community members to attend as learning about healthy eating and farm-fresh produce is for everyone and not just for those who are part of the Nutrition Coupon Program” says Claire Mozes, Outreach Program Manager for WCSS.

“Our objective is to encourage participants to try new foods and explore the diverse amount of produce available in their own community,” explains Peter Leblanc, Farmer Market Nutrition Coupon Program Manager. Shopping at farmers’ markets is an experience that should be inclusive to all and Whistler Community Services Society and the Whistler Farmers Market are working towards making that a possibility. Funding for this program is provided by Healthy Families BC.

This program is funded for people who are financially restricted. In order to participate you must also fit the demographic of: pregnant women, families or seniors. Please contact Jackie jackie@mywcss.org or Ashlin ashlin@mywcss.org or if you are 55+ please contact Melissa snap@mywcss.org.