Arthur Murray has seen it all from one end of the spectrum to another, having worked with youth for his entire adult life. For 23 years, he worked in junior hockey, supporting youth from ages 15 to 20. “I heard all kinds of stories and all kinds of situations,” he Read more
Written by: Jen Head, Fund Development Manager The first time I met Kevin Haughton was years ago at Closer to Home’s Report to the Community Meeting. I was a new employee at Closer to Home, and had the pleasure of sitting with Kevin and learning about him, his family and Read more
Written by: Bessie Dudu As a young child growing up in Lethbridge, Susan enjoyed spending time with her family. She has fond memories of family trips and experiencing different cultures. For the past four decades, she has called Calgary home and has a strong sense of giving back to the Read more
As a Registered Psychologist who worked with Alberta Children’s Hospital’s Child Abuse Service for more than nine years, Dr. Daniel Garfinkel has seen many children and youth facing heartbreaking struggles. Specializing in supporting children who have been impacted by maltreatments, Daniel has helped kids who have experienced abuse – both Read more
When Cristina* had her first child, Colton, she was worried about how she would handle it. As a young, single mother with limited social supports in Calgary, she was determined to find a way to succeed. Colton’s father is not able to be in their lives, due to his own Read more
As adults, we should teach children to use basic skills such as how to follow instructions, accept feedback, raise concerns or disagree appropriately. By practicing these skills with your child regularly, they learn to listen more and argue less. 1. From an early age, teach your child what your expectations Read more
Watch Asha's story. Sitting down with a drum can be a spiritual experience, says Darcy Turning Robe, who teaches the drumming circle every Tuesday as part of Closer to Home’s Ee-Des-Spoom- Ooh-Soop program. “The drum itself has its own spirit,” he continues. “Every drum speaks to a person.” That was Read more
1. I can’t be a foster parent, because I don’t have parenting experience. Truth: No parenting experience is needed to become a foster parent. Many people with various backgrounds choose fostering. Although parenting experience is not necessary, you will need to meet certain criteria and participate in screening and assessment for Read more
Minoush Rafie (above left), Coordinator of the West Central Community Resource Centre, says it takes time and trust for people to feel comfortable opening up, especially about mental health concerns. (Photo Courtesy: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald) “If you don’t address the root of the problem, it will just Read more
Are you feeling blue? It’s common to feel low at this time of year, with around one in three Canadians experiencing the “winter blues.” Another 10 to 15 percent suffer from a mild form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression most common in the fall or winter. Read more
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