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The Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (OPACY) and the Ontario Association for Residences Treating Youth (OARTY) are pleased to partner to present a complimentary one day event on May 4th,  geared to the child welfare sector and children's residential providers in particular.   For venue information, program details or to register, please click the below links.   

Venue & Accommodations 

Delta Markham Hotel 
50 East Valhalla Drive
Markham, Ontario 

https://www.deltahotels.com/Hotels/Delta-Markham

 

Special Rate for Children First Delegates

Delegates can book accommodations at the group rate of  $119 per night.  To reserve your room, call the venue directly at 905-477-2010 and indicate that you are a delegate with the Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth.  Please make your reservations on or before April 30, 2015.    


Children First Program - May 4, 2015

8:30 AM - Light Breakfast & Registration
 

9:00 AM – OARTY Update & OPR Open Forum
OARTY Executive Director and Board Representatives

The opening session will feature updates on OARTY’s current initiatives, and provide an opportunity for questions and answers.  Following the updates, residential providers will have the opportunity to take part in an open discussion to explore issues arising for youth in our care, along with problem solving and discussion of opportunities to help ensure youth have access to the best future possible.  During this session Irwin Elman, Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and OARTY Board members will be present in the audience to hear feedback and input on what is happening on the frontlines.

 

9:45 AM -  You Are Not Alone (YANA)
Sandy Wynia Katz, Project Lead, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth

The Advocate’s Office launched the You Are Not Alone (YANA) campaign during PRIDE Week 2012.  For two years YANA travelled around Ontario asking LGBTQ2S/GSM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Queer and Questioning, Two-Spirited) youth two questions: (1) What is it like for LGBTQ2S youth in care today? (2) What can be done to make it better? After hearing from youth, a group of 12 LGBTQ2S/GSM youth from the Advocate’s Office mandate came together and formed the YANA working group.  They reviewed all of the submissions and recommendations.

One suggestion came up again and again: Find a way to create allies to help LGBTQ2S/GSM youth in care as they negotiate their way through the system and find their way in the wider world. 

 

In response to this need, the Advocate's Office launched #BeOurAlly (#BOA) during World Pride 2014.  In addition to a short video sharing the Be Our Ally message, the #BOA presentation featured 5 youth from the Advocate's Office telling their own stories and the stories of youth from around Ontario, followed by an opportunity for audience members to ask questions or chat in small groups after the formal presentation.

Included in the #BOA message is a challenge to service providers to find  ways to be allies to LGBTQ2S/GSM and share your strategies with the Advocate's Office and other service providers throughout the province.

 

10:45 AM - Break

 

11:00 AM - SURVIVAL GUIDE (Health Rights)
Colleen Gray, Project Lead, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth


The I Do Care Project (IDC) came about because The Advocate’s Office heard from many young people who indicated that their health decisions were generally being made by adults and that they did not know they had health rights.  Two years ago, the team working on IDC presented at an OARTY General Meeting to members and other residential providers on the beginning stages of the project.


This presentation will look at the SURVIVAL GUIDE that resulted from this project, as well as other materials that have been produced since the OARTY presentation two years ago.  The session will discuss how these tools and resources can be incorporated into your daily work with young people, and will help you to understand the basic (legislated) health rights, know more about your roles, open up conversations about health, and support young people through decision-making processes. 

 

12:30 PM – Lunch

1:00 PM - Considering options and finding success through re-marketing and business development
Antero Manninen, TYO Consulting


The afternoon will close with an in-depth marketing session geared for residential providers.  The session will explore how to promote what your agency offers, as well as outlining potential opportunities for program enhancement and remodeling to meet the increasingly high needs of those entering our care, including those entering from non-traditional placement sources. 


4:00 PM - Close


Registration

You can register for this informative and practical event by downloading the application, below, or login to  access online registration (to access or obtain login access, please email info@oarty.net).   To ensure your spot, please register by Thursday, April 30th.

Children First - One Day Forum - Registration Form (pdf)