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Editor's Notes

• #10: 2006 to 2008 the Board launched a HUGE strategic planning process called Vision 2010 – what would KidsAbility look like in 2020? 8 work groups with over 80 participants – most external stakeholders and parents supported the process- focus groups and facilitated conversations From ALL workgroups emerged the SAME themes – one is “ support the life journey “ of our children and better support the families – we need more than just a therapy session Parents were vocal - said they could advocate to the Ministry, the community, they could give testimonials, and most importantly they could support each other many share issues that cross the boundaries of a diagnosis – but we had to help connect them! We had not started collecting email addresses; with privacy legislation this was not as easy as it sounded – Facebook is still not a KidsAbility networking tool! KA social workers organized parent workshops and seminars throughout the year – they were full ! But a wee nucleus was forming - We posted an invitation for an after-4 meeting with a cup of coffee – there were more staff than parents in attendance – but we could feel the need to figure out how to connect In addition to staff time, meeting space etc, KA provided resources to pay for Sue to help administrate any follow up with collecting emails, taking notes and getting the message out There was consent to have another meeting but to start exploring what other communities were doing to support a family network
• #11: -Four months, 4 meetings – KidsAbility staff organized the meetings, connected with spokesperson at the Hamilton Family Network - identified a speaker at Bloorview who joined us by a conference call - scanning the local environment to see what other initiatives were out there - Connected with the research from McMaster (Many Roads to One Place) which identifies the importance of peer-to-peer support networks specifically for families with special needs children We consulted the determinants of health – it strengthened our belief that we needed to continue investing staff time and financial support - we knew this could achieve lift off and benefit our families by helping each other they could help build their own personal capacity, their coping skills, their resources – help to mitigate stress by sharing with other that understand how isolating and difficult the journey with special needs can be There were bright, capable, highly educated and determined parents around the table In four months they had lift off ; I expected it might take a year! They were more ready than I to let go – I stepped back We had coined the group P2P; they grabbed the reigns and started planning their own meetings, building a database, and opening themselves up to support each other
• #12: "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead) For a year P2P organized their own seminars and workshops and gatherings – KidsAbility continued to provide space , email facilities, office supplies etc and financially support Sue’s time as their administrative coordinator - it was our commitment to supporting the life journey ! - They rebranded themselves the WRFN - They defined their mission and vision - and the network kept growing - What is the meaning of heliatrope ? - We met with all the funders; we shared a story and a dream - The next big task for KidsAbility was a grant application to OTF; - KidsAbility led this process - we had to be the banker for any funding that came in (WRFN is not a registered charity) so we had to lead With funding came SPACE and all the fundamentals required to be organized and ‘do the work’ as outlined in the proposal leveraging business relationships one of the ‘leaders’ identified a number gifts-in-kind and pro bono services to get set up. .. And the rest is history ? Not quite. Reporting to the funder and articulating ‘lessons learned’, impacts and outcomes and next steps for sustainability are still to come… it’s the so what question – so what has come of it all? Are we making a difference, are we building capacity in families ?
• #14: To walk in ones shoes if you haven’t been down the road you simply cannot empathize to the core There is a time to follow and not lead – listen, listen, listen And to hand over the dialogue, or the power, or the lead is to gain in the long run; which is integral to a lot of what you will be doing as a social worker James Kouzes and Barry Posner, their famous text, The leadership Challenge Speaks to this point too– it is well documented in leadership To give is to receive is a motto for life The process was not text-book or science but rather organic Energy attracts energy The determinants of population health – helped to re enforce the merit of it all – imagine living in isolation of a supportive network of friends or family or peers; imagine having no social connections – how does one build resiliency? And coping skills - Social Support networks Social Environments Personal health Practices Health Child development