Churchill Park Makes a Difference
Family Resource Facilitation Project
In 2002, Churchill Park partnered with two child care agencies to create the Family Resource Facilitation Project (FRFP) as a service to the community. "FRFP facilitators work closely with caregivers in more than a dozen child care centres in the city to enhance family functioning, increase child and family resiliency and improve relationships".
FRFP facilitator Angela Charles describes her experience at a Churchill Park centre:
"Once a month the FRFP picks up bread, baked goods and some fresh produce from the Spinz Around program organized by Calgary Community Kitchens. Primarily we deliver the goods to our higher need centres to offer the families a special treat. Our underlying objective is to show the families that we are available to help them meet their most basic needs.
I see many parents who appear to be in need, but I can't approach them and ask how I can help. Instead, I have to become familiar with them. I use the Spinz Around offerings to promote the Good Food Box program. I use both those programs to open the door to the other services the FRFP and Churchill Park offer families.
For example, I often schedule my time at the centre to follow the Spinz Around visit. I will greet parents and ask if they are able to take home any of the loaves of bread, muffins, or boxes of microwave popcorn. One day, a parent said to me, 'I always do. Thanks. But what I really need is some information on the Good Food Boxes. How do they work?' I explained to her how to order each month. As it turned out, she had missed the order for that month but needed food for her family right away. We submitted a confidential food hamper order to Calgary's Interfaith Foodbank and in 24 hours her family had enough food to last the rest of the month."
Most often, FRFP facilitators help with the daily challenge of good parenting.
"Churchill Park caregivers are the key link for parents looking for support on everyday topics like children's behaviours, toilet training, sleep routines, and mealtime challenges. Often staff will mention a parent's challenge in conversations with me and ask if I could do some research on helpful strategies. They will e-mail me directly or refer parents to me. Without their deep commitment to the children, several opportunities to support families would be missed. The children grow very attached to the caregivers, and families trust their expertise in helping to guide and encourage their children's positive development."
A Community Partner’s Perspective
"Often we don't take time to say thank you. So...I would like to say thank you to all the staff at Churchill Park. We are truly appreciative of all the work they do. I think it provides a strong start to their little lives when children get the kind of care they receive at a Churchill Park site. Families come to our community from all over the world and trying to find child care is very difficult. Without Churchill Park there would be a huge gap for these families. Many are low income, immigrant families and Churchill Park provides them with an invaluable service. Without Churchill Park, I think many more children would be on the streets until their parents were available."
Fran McGilvray Cooke
Principal
Connaught Community School
A Child’s Perspective
"We are the parents of two children enrolled with ...Churchill Park Family Care Society since 2005. In all the years, we were very satisfied with the services provided by Churchill Park. There are a number of reasons to be this way. They provide an unparalleled environment for the kids to be together and to socialize in a safe environment. The Society's personnel have the skills and the tact to handle a rather complex ethnic and cultural gathering of young subjects. They provide a very helpful aid and a comprehensive solution to the "time" problem many parents have. Many, if not most, of the parents having kids enrolled with Churchill Park are first generation immigrants in Canada and generally both of the parents are working full time. It is imperative for them to have a double source of income. Churchill Park helps us by providing the before and after school care service at affordable rates. We consider their existence to be vital for us as a family and we consider Churchill Park to be doing a great service to the community."
"As a single parent with a young daughter, I cannot say enough about the services provided by Churchill Park Family Care Society, nor of the peace of mind that I have knowing that my daughter is in Churchill Park's care. I know that my day-to-day cares have been greatly lessened with the trust I have in Churchill Park.
Churchill Park continually strives to diversify activities for the children in their care. On non-instruction days, there are always a wide range of activities, from going on outings to grabbing lunch out or going to a film. I am always touched by the generosity of Churchill Park as the outings and activities and even the lunches out are provided without additional charges to me. Our area is very mixed, with many new arrivals to Canada. Many of the families are working two jobs while they work toward accreditation in Canada, and not having to worry about the little charges here and there would have to be a great relief to them.
As the years have gone by my daughter has grown through her experiences with Churchill Park and I feel she is a better child due to her attending Churchill Park. I am confident that my experiences could be multiplied many times over for every child under Churchill Park's care. I feel that Churchill Park provides an invaluable service to the community, and I feel very lucky to have had the good fortune to encounter Churchill Park."
A Caregiver’s Perspective
"Working for Churchill Park as a Primary Caregiver has given me a knowledge of who we are and the dedicated work we do each day.
Each site has unique clientele and therefore different needs. We can all be proud of the effort that Churchill Park puts in on a daily basis on all levels to ensure that families' needs are met. The quality care each staff provides is the base, and the extra mile they go beyond their jobs to help each child grow is amazing.
Churchill Park is unique in the unity they create with the staff, managers and children. Everyone feels valued which provides a better work environment. A parent can feel confident that when they leave, their child is receiving all the nutrition they require in a day, activities from every developmental area and lots of love and attention that the parent would be providing if he or she was able to be with them.
What is really great is that we are always striving to improve, from menus to space and planning. During holidays and tough times with families and staff we give the support we can through the Family Resource Facilitation Project to make sure that everyone has what they need to survive.
Working with children and families can be very rewarding and challenging at the same time. Therefore the type of support and understanding you receive from the company you work for builds the accomplishment of each employee. Churchill Park is a wonderful place to work with a lot of opportunities and support."
