My name is Karen Gay and I am the Inclusive Education Facilitator at Ecole Parc. My role includes counselling, child advocacy, school-based consultation, coordination of services and educational programming.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns about your child's programming or well-being via phone (780)998-3741 or email:  karen.gay@eips.ca  

My hours for Ecole Parc during the 2018 -2019 school year are:

Mondays:  9:30am-12:30pm

Wednesdays:  9:30am-3:10pm

Mindfulness

Maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment, through a gentle nurturing lens.  When we practice mindfulness our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.  

Practicing mindfulness techniques can be a way to assist children to regulate their body to prepare them for learning in a calm and peaceful manner.

More ideas can be found at the following websites: 

Mindfulness Activities:  https://www.teachstarter.com/blog/classroom-mindfulness-activities-for-children/

Blissful Kids:  https://blissfulkids.com/

Gratitude Journals

It is this time of the year that we pause and reflect.  An idea to incorporate writing activities at home and promote the power of positive thoughts and gratitude for the many great things in our lives may be to begin a Gratitude Journal with your kids.  An activity such as this may shed a positive light on your day and reinforce the power of positive thinking.  Ideas to support this at home can be found on various websites.  I have included one below that may help you to get started:

https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/gratitude_journal_for_students\

Supporting Parents

Upcoming Parent Sessions:

Boys and Girls Club

Understanding Your Child's Anger (and other BIG emotions)

Thursday, January 17, 2019  6:00pm-8:00pm

Parents of children 6 yrs and older are invited to gain a better understanding of anger.  Learn effective strategies to support children in working through their anger and other big emotions.  Create an action plan and take home tools and resources to use in everyday life.

Parenting in Blended Families

Saturday, February 2, 2019 12:00pm-3:00pm

Join The Family Centre in developing strategies for a more positive co-parenting experience.  Learn about the roles of the natural parent and step parent as well as your child's response to breakups prior to current home relationships.  Practice skills to communicate with co parents, manage conflict and solve everyday problems.

The Five Love Languages - Two Night Event

Danielle Lynch, a registered provisional psychologist will help you develop a better understanding of how adults and children express and experience love and how your child's attachment style, temperament, and personality can be used to parent in an effective, supportive, loving and fun way.

Strengthening Your Parent-Child Relationship:  With the 5 Love Languages

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm

The first session will focus on the work of Dr. Gary Chapman's book "The 5 Love Languages of Children" and how you can use this tool to support your child's behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and strengthen your family.

Strengthening Your Parent-Child Relationship:  Taking It A Step Further

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 6:30pm-8:00pm

The second session will help you answer the question "then what?".  Building on your understanding of your child's love language, learning about the importance of play and discovering creative ways to engage with your child, you will leave this session with new information and ideas on how to best support and show love to your child.

Fort Saskatchewan Families First Society 

To register for the following sessions (except Parenting Together session), please call 780-998-5595 ext 221 for more information.

Kids Have Stress Too

This workshop is designed to help parents and caregivers better understand childhood stress and how to provide children with tools to deal with stress more effectively.

Triple P:  Positive Parenting Programs:  Triple P Seminar Series

Two hour workshops with practical parenting ideas - topics include:

The Power of Positive Parenting

Raising Confident and Competent Children

Raising Resilient Children

Triple P Discussion Group

Discussion groups are 2 hour sessions that offer practical advice to parents dealing with specific behaviours.  Sessions available include:

Dealing with Disobedience

Bedtime Routines

Managing Fighting and Aggression

Triple P Grourp

This group is 8 weeks long, 5 in-class and 3 telephone sessions.  Parents are asked to set specific goals for their family and learn practical tools to reach those goals.

Handle With Care

Interactive program that helps parents and caregivers support the mental health of young children from 0-6 years

Topics include:  Building Trust/Attachment, Promotion and enhancing self-esteem, Expression emotions, Relationships with others.

Parenting Together

A group for parents who want to improve their relationship with each other and with their children.  Free supper!

Wednesdays 4:30pm-7:30pm, 9901-90 Street

For the Parenting Together sessions, please call Ashley to register:  780-998-5595 ext 232

 

Community Connections

Psychologist Association Referral Line 1-888-424-0297

Alberta Health Services Children Youth & Families Addiction and Mental Health Community Services Intake Services 780-342-2701

Intake Services provide a single point of access to children's mental health services and support for children and youth ages 5-17 years of age and their families residing within Edmonton and area who require mental health assessment and treatment.  A telephone screening interview is conducted by a mental health therapist.  Based on the information received and the availability of other community resources a decision will be made regarding the appropriate service.

Alberta Health Services Adult Intake 780-342-2388

Local Support:

Primary Care Network 780-997-0046  www.albertaheartlandpcn.com

Offers free services in Fort Saskatchewan; no referral required

Fort Saskatchewan Mental Health Clinic 780-342-2388

Boys & Girls Club 780-992-0103  www.fortsask.bgccan.com

City of Fort Saskatchewan Family and Community Support Services  780-992-6767

Subsidized Counselling 780-992-6267

Family School Liaison Program 780-992-6267

Youth and Family Services 780-992-6265

Families First Society 780-998-5595 ext. 221  www.familiesfirstsociety.ca

Programs for parents and their young children to play and learn together; programs for parents and caregivers; family support for those impacted by family violence, baby loss or a shoulder to lean on

Crisis Support:

Support Network 211

Health Link 811

Victim's Services 780-992-6126

Child Protection Emergencies 1-800-387-5437

Family Violence Crisis Line 780-464-7233

Toll Free 1-877-252-7233

Human Services Child and Family Services Division 780-998-6762

Other Emergency Contacts:

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-387-KIDS (5437)

Children's Mental Health Crisis Line 780-427-4491

Emergency Shelter, Food, Transportation 1-866-644-5137

Adult Mental Health Community Urgent Services and Stabilization Team 780-342-7777