Projects and Initiatives

Apart from our programs and services, Family Services of Peel (FSP) is in active pursuit of projects and initiatives to build community impact and overall health and wellbeing of individuals. In any given year, FSP is conducting eight to 10 projects. As of early 2023, FSP has about eight new projects that are awaiting funder approval. Below are some of our projects and initiatives.

Active Parenting

The Active Parenting program provides new parents with information and resources on topics such as: You and Your Child, Preventing Problems, Encouraging Positive Behaviour, and Preparing for School Success.

To be eligible, families must have at least one child between the ages of zero and five. The Active Parenting Flyer has additional information on the program structure and registration process.

Anti-Black Racism Project

Of the many ventures championed by the Anti-Black Racism Committee of Family Services of Peel, the most significant was the submission of a proposal entitled, “Peel Community Anti- Black Racism Social Action Response” to the Digital Citizen Contribution Program to examine the behavioral and psychological underpinnings of the spread of disinformation and other harmful content in Canada as it relates to Black youth.

The purpose of the project is to document the existing expertise of individuals and community organizations regarding misinformation as it relates to racism in the media, particularly on social media, and to encourage and identify innovative responses to build awareness and change attitudes.

Apprenticeship Service – Bridging Skilled Trades

The Government of Canada has launched the Apprenticeship Service to help and support small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) to hire new first-year apprentices at level 1 in 39 Red Seal trades while helping, at the same time, first-year apprentices to acquire the hands-on work experience that they need to establish a career in the skilled trades. Learn more at https://www.apprenticeredseal.ca/

Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program was established as a component of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, under which financial assistance is provided to employers to encourage them to hire youth to help them in acquiring employment and/or career related skills.

Each year, Family Services of Peel offers four to six jobs for this program for work related to administration, career development, human resources, and accounting.

Employment Ontario (EO)

Funded by WCG, EO offers services such as (1) job coaching and job matching; (2) trainings related to employability skills, better jobs Ontario, and other external resources; (3) community referrals and services integration (OW, ODSB, Bromwich & Smith, Social Services); (4) employers engagement (broker incentive agreements, networking and connections with apprenticeships; and (5) expenditures to eliminate barriers to work.

Gender and Migration Study

The Gender and Migration Study is a collaborative effort between Family Services of Peel and University of Toronto – Mississauga Campus. The project is called “Mothers and Daughters – Building Bridges through technology”. The project flyer includes details on how to participate.

Hybrid Model

In a response to COVID19, the Agency adopted a virtual model of work in early 2020. The data collected showed that a new model of work and service delivery is an eventuality. Research on a Hybrid Model Project is underway. The model to be implemented in June will provide services in ways that are efficient, effective, and accessible to the community and flexible for staff.

Funded by OTF and managed by the Peel Institute of Research and Training, the project was completed in June 2022.

Jumpstart to Success Bootcamp

In partnership with the Peel Halton Workforce Development Group, the Jumpstart to Success Bootcamp aims to:

engage communities in a locally-driven process to identify and respond to key employment and training trends, opportunities and priorities to help improve conditions of the local labour market.
facilitate a local planning process and opportunities where community organizations and institutions agree to initiate and/or implement joint actions, activities and projects.
organize events and activities that promote the importance of education, training and skills. upgrading

Peel Halton’s manufacturing and supply chain and logistics employers are facing an unprecedented talent shortage. At the same time, local jobseekers struggle to access the training and workplace exposure to help them find and keep employment.

Using industry-specific, tailored bootcamps, this project aims to create a pool of specifically trained local jobseekers to meet local employer needs in the manufacturing and supply chain and logistics industries.

Phase 1

Bootcamp: September – October 2022 (virtual)
Fast track 1: November 2022
Fast track 2: December 2022

Phase 2

Bootcamp: January – February 2023 (FSP office)

Peel Elder Abuse Prevention Network

Family Services of Peel is the host agency and community lead for Peel Elder Abuse Prevention Network (PEAPN), since 2019.

Established in 2003 PEAPN consists of agencies serving seniors, service providers, community advocates, and seniors with the objective to educate, raise awareness and develop a more collaborative approach to elder abuse, and support seniors who have been abused.

Moving forward, the goal is to continue building on the work and expand PEAPN as it continues growing and expanding in resource and function.

The PEAPN website has additional information and resources available to the community. The PEAPN team can also be reached at [email protected].

Peel Family Pathways Project

The Family Services of Peel, including the Peel Institute of Research and Training, in partnership with Institute for Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto is developing an evidence-based Family Needs Framework through their study that focuses on fully understanding the needs of government-assisted refugees and immigrants.

By doing this, the framework hopes to establish better services for Peel government assisted refugees and immigrants. Upon completed research, the Family Needs Framework should inform settlement practices, impact immigrant and refugee services, and further develop the existing literature on newcomer integration. For more information please visit Home | PFPP (peelfamilypathways.com)

The Peel Family Pathways Project Advisory Committee provides advice, guidance, support, and recommendations with regards to the project. The committee members are:

Ali Salha, Program Manager, Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
Berna Bolanos, Manager, Catholic Crosscultural Services
Marta Orellana, Senior Coordinator, OCASI
Najma Iqbal, Community & Labour Market Manager, City of Toronto
Zari Gill, Founding President, Red Shawl
Sandra Rupnarain, Executive Director, Family Services of Peel

Seniors Project

Family Services of Peel (FSP) and Peel Elder Abuse Prevention Network (PEAPN), were awarded a 2022 Change Fund grant from the Region of Peel to address the issue of the increased abuse of older adults in the Region of Peel. The goal is to strengthen political (federal, provincial, regional, and municipal) and community ties, and “step in” to address issues impacting the well-being of seniors in the Region.

Peel Region’s senior population is increasing at three times the rate of the rest of Ontario and Canada. Our initiative aligns to the Regional Priority of Elder Abuse, a social issue that has been defined by the United Nations (2020) as a “single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person”.

The objectives of the Project are to:

Update, collect, analyze, and summarize existing evidence of the needs of seniors in the Region of Peel, by applying quantitative and qualitative methods.
To strengthen advocacy by building and expanding the network of organizations and volunteers, and to search for solutions of the documented needs of seniors in the Region.

We encourage you to become involved in this Project by becoming a member of the Peel Elder Abuse Prevention Network or the Seniors Project Advisory Committee.

For more information about the Seniors Project, contact:

Monica Riutort Director, Peel Institute of Research & Training, at Family Services of Peel via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 905-366-0322 or 647 927 5579.

Skills Council of Canada

In November 2022, Family Services of Peel became partners with Skills Council of Canada (SCC), who is an Ottawa-based education technology organization that supports Canadians through access to skills development resources and the necessary tools to become job ready.

With a focus on the more vulnerable and underserved groups across Canada such as racialized youth, students, the underemployed, unemployed and their communities, SCC achieves its objectives through a collaborative partner network.

By working with industry leaders and education experts across the country, SCC fosters opportunities for growth and employment through:

Skills Assessment Tools and Reporting
Online, self-paced skills development courses
Access to tutors and mentors
Connection to Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and
Apprenticeship opportunities

Social Tables for Seniors

This unique initiative aims to reduce the impact of isolation among seniors in Peel. Isolation of seniors is already an issue that has been exacerbated with COVID-19. According to research, social isolation increases the risk of abuse, impacts social, emotional psychological, and cognitive health, and is associated with higher levels of depression and suicide.

Community Connectors from the Hispanic, Caribbean, and Chinese communities bring seniors together through the use of social media tools, such as YouTube, WhatsApp, and Zoom. The aim is to build community connections and reduce isolation during and after the pandemic.

Connect with our Intake Department to learn more: 905-453-5775.