Children’s Time

• Children’s Time is Agape’s latest Health Promotion Project

• It was piloted in 2014-2015 by Agape

• In early 2015 Agape got funding from Desjardins Caisse de Chomedey and the City of Laval

• Children’s Time is now funded by Health Canada through the CHSSN for 2015-2016

Agape provides a variety of services and has become the first point of access for social services in English.

Laval Demographics

Laval’s English speaking population now comprises nearly 21% (20.6%) of the total population of Laval, which numbers 397,565 as of 2011.

(Source: JPocock Research Consulting, based on data from the 2011National Survey and the 2011 Census of Canada, statistics Canada)

In the period from 1996 to 2011, Laval’s English-speaking population grew from 50,713 to 82,078 individuals. The growth of 31,365 English-speaking individuals represents an overall increase of 61.8%. (Source: Socio-Demographic Profile of the English Speaking Community of RSS Laval – Dr. Johanne Pocock for the CHSSN)

This project targets children 4 to 12 years old (and their families) who are experiencing difficult situations such as divorce, family illness, substance abuse, spousal abuse, bullying, immigration, death in the family, etc.

Sudden changes and situations may cause stress, anxiety, aggressiveness and depression for children. Unfortunately, the majority of these families are single mothers.

Tuesday and Thursday eveningsfrom 6pm to 8pm

On both nights, children gather to have dinner in Agape’s daycare. After dinner, children engage in fun activities such as baking, arts and crafts, games and sports.

On Thursday evenings, mothers can enjoy dinner and participate in a support group at Agape, right next door to the daycare.

Referrals• Directly from Agape and the clientele it is serving,

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board - Laval Elementary Schools,

• Centre de Pediatrie Sociale Laval,

• Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de Laval (CISSS Laval)

In addition, with the cooperation of the CISSS Laval, we are working towards having health professionals support some of the group sessions and in more complex situations, Agape’s social worker can evaluate and refer the family to the proper institution.

Agape Social Worker

Ian Williams

Our goal is to motivate these mothers and their children, reducing anxiety, stress and depression, all while creating greater self-esteem.

Children (and their families) will break their isolation. Self-esteem will improve for the child and eventually for his/her parent(s). Agape and the Agape NPI will provide channels to access resources, especially in the public health and social service institution of Laval for curative services.

The above protective factors will create a sense of well-being and curb the necessity for curative health and social services.

In addition, with much restructuring within the publicsystems, we would like new relationships to form and strengthen existing ones to create support networks between English primary schools (SWLSB), the CISSS Laval and Agape.

“If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” - Sam Walton

Thank youQuestions? / Comments?

Kevin McLeod450.686.4334514.817.5783

Ian Williams 450-686.4333

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