During these uncertain and challenging times, I hope that you, your families, and your teams are safe and doing well. We know that the families in our community are experiencing additional stress at this time, and we are deeply committed to responding and supporting families as needed through telephone Read more
My 6-year-old seems to feel anxious in different situations. What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety in young children and as a parent, how do I manage it from day to day? Anxiety is a common mental health concern in children. Symptoms may occur as headaches, tummy aches, restlessness, 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
When Lena* and her family first came to Canada as refugees two years ago, they found it challenging to restart their lives. Mom and Dad both had strong educational backgrounds from their home country, but their degrees were not recognized in Canada. Living on Vancouver Island, they also struggled to Read more
Check it out! Our Closer to Home Foster Parents gave us their best advice on fostering: “Be compassionate with these kids, who don’t have their parents at their side, and give them so much love because that’s what they are hungry for.” “Don’t be afraid to fail. Closer to Home Read more
Did the movie Instant Family inspire you to explore becoming a Foster Parent? Closer to Home is looking for more loving foster families to provide temporary homes to the more than 7,000 foster children in Alberta. Anyone can become a foster parent, but there are a few things you need Read more
At my child’s parent/teacher interview at school, I received some information that I wasn’t expecting. How can I be an effective advocate for my child during the next parent/teacher interview? As a parent and foster parent myself, I understand how it can be surprising to hear information about your child Read more
As mental health continues to be an important and popular topic in the media and popular culture, the staff in our Viewpoints program hope to continue connecting with youth in Airdrie to facilitate discussions about self-care and developing positive behaviours that support mental health. Jodie Moffatt, Community Outreach Worker for Read more
It seems like my child has not reached milestones like other children her age. How do I know she is ready and how do I know she is developing on par? This is a question that we hear a lot from parents. All parents want to ensure that their children Read more
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