What’s News
In and around Family Service Association of Toronto
On the Front Lines report garners national media attention
On the Front Lines of Toronto’s Community Service Sector, a report released this summer by Family Service Association of Toronto and the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, revealed that Toronto's community service sector is being starved of funding while demand for services has grown following major funding cuts to welfare, social housing, child care, health and education programs.
The report, which prompted a number of articles in The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, shows how Toronto's community service sector is facing a crisis of growing demand, inadequate funding and persistently low wages. At the same time, Canada's non-profit sector is a major economic contributor worth $62 billion. As community organizations struggle to provide such critical services as employment and training, in-home elderly care, shelters for abused women, immigrant settlement, and early learning and child care, the consequences of these pressures extend beyond their workforces to the health and well-being of Toronto residents, particularly vulnerable and at-risk populations. Agencies serving immigrants are also being hard hit, as revealed in an accompanying report, On the Front Lines of Toronto's Immigrant- and Refugee-Serving Sector.
"The non-profit community service sector is a sector that everyone relies on, that is huge in relation to the economy and has been punching above its weight for more than a decade," says Laurel Rothman, FSA Toronto's Director of Social Reform. "Yet, the woefully inadequate level of funding does not recognize the sector's critical role in our economic and social well-being. Agencies are struggling now in our booming economic times. If we continue along this path of chronic underfunding and hit a downturn in the economy, community needs will escalate. Yet the sector will not be in a strong position to respond. Inevitably there will be serious consequences for the safety and well-being of many people."
If you would like to read the On the Front Lines report, go to www.familyservicetoronto.org and click on What's New.
FSA Toronto has its day in court in support of third-parent case
In September, FSA Toronto took part in a groundbreaking legal case at the Ontario Court of Appeal which could see a child's three parents legally recognized for the first time in Canadian history.
In this case, the appellant is the non-biological mother within a same-sex couple who have a child. The couple became parents through the help of a friend and sperm donor. The couple are the primary custodial and decision-making parents while the biological father is also plays an active and participatory role in the child's upbringing.
The two biological parents are recognized legally as the child's parents and the appellant, with the support of her partner and the biological father, has asked the court to legally recognize her as the child's mother as well, without terminating the parental relationship of either of the child's biological parents.
A lower court judge agreed that the appellant has fulfilled the role of parent to this child in every way imaginable and that it would be in the best interest of the child to declare her to be his mother. The judge nevertheless denied the request concluding that the Children's Law Reform Act only allows for two parents.
FSA Toronto participated in the case as an Intervener based on our expertise in the areas of effective parenting, strengthening families and issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. In all, five parties presented arguments in support of the appellant, offering the judges a number of grounds on which to support the appeal. On the opposing side was counsel for the Alliance of Marriage and Family, a coalition of five special interest groups.
The issues of this case speak directly to FSA Toronto's definition of family and our commitment to take a leadership role to support same-sex marriage among Family Service Associations across Canada. The three judges in the case are now deliberating and a written decision was expected within four months of the case. No decision had been announced at press time.
If you would like to read an editorial about the case by Laurel Rothman, FSA's Director of Social Reform, go to www.familyservicetoronto.org and click on What's New.
FSA Toronto wins inaugural Immigrant Success Award
FSA Toronto has been honoured as a best employer of new immigrants by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). FSA Toronto won the inaugural Immigrant Success (IS) Award in the mid-size employer category (100 to 500 employees).
The IS Awards are open to employers in all sectors and recognize those that best create opportunities for new immigrants to use their skills and experience in the workplace. "This year's winners represent a cross-section of society and industry," said Ratna Omidvar, Executive Director of TRIEC and the Maytree Foundation. "They show that immigrant labour market integration is an issue that transcends all types of workplaces, and they show that there are great things to be done."
TRIEC's award panel, comprised of HR leaders from a variety of businesses, looked for leadership in areas such as planning and recruitment practices; how an organization creates an inclusive environment; and, how we build awareness of and leadership in the process of integrating newcomers to the workforce.
"This award speaks directly to FSA's commitment to anti-oppression, the culture of respect and inclusiveness that thrives within our agency and the high caliber of staff from all walks of life who contribute their expertise here to building stronger families, individuals and communities," said Yves Savoie, Executive Director of FSA Toronto.
FSA’s Gift C.A.R.D. Program
Family Service Association of Toronto last year launched the Gift C.A.R.D. (Create a Real Difference) program. The program is a new take on the gift drives that often take place around the holiday season.
The Gift C.A.R.D. program allows the public to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives all year round. Through the program, FSA Toronto collects donations of gift cards or certificates for any merchants— retailers, restaurants, coffee houses, grocery stores, movie and recreation or entertainment outlets—which are then distributed to the agency clients who are most in need. Unlike traditional gift drives, the Gift C.A.R.D. program allows the recipient to have greater control – over what kind of items they buy and the opportunity to buy when they need it most.
If you would like to donate to the Gift C.A.R.D. Program, please email lorigo@familyservicetoronto.org
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