DFMFCSBUJOH FNCSBDJOHPVSQBTUBOEMPPLJOHGPSXBSEUPPVSGVUVSF ZFBST 2008 - 2009 ANNUAL REPORT family support and crisis centre It may be lore but we have come to believe the story that when the Orphans’ Home changed to Merrymount $FMFCSBUJOH and the orphanage was to be closed, the file of every child was reviewed and in almost every instance every ZFBST child had some family or kin. Had that family been supported, there was a good chance that the child would have remained with family. It was decided at .FSSZNPVOU that time that our mission would be to support families WHAT BEFORE HOW. HOW BEFORE WHO. WHO BEFORE WHEN. during times of crisis and transition so that every family UIFOBOEOPX has a chance to stay together. We are told that in the world of business this formula is the one that many keep in mind. At Merrymount, we see that the In 2009 Merrymount celebrates its 135th anniversary. best way to operate is to apply this pattern in reverse. With roots as the Protestant Home for Orphans, Aged and Friendless founded in 1874, Merrymount has We start to help WHEN a family comes to our door. This is evolved with the needs of society around it. From when the wonderful WHO of Merrymount, our staff, welcome long-term residential care for children, the focus has each and every family. We work with the family to find out changed to helping children and their families stay HOW we will best be able to support them. We make sure together during times of crisis and transition. Our we understand WHAT they need during their time of crisis approach builds on family strengths and we help and transition. more than 7,000 families each year. Our AGM each year gives us an opportunity to review and reflect on past successes, as well as examine those areas where we might have done things differently. We believe our day-to-day formula (When Before Who, Who Before How, How Before What) is the right order for our families and us. This order is successful because of the outstanding work, passion, and dedication of our staff and volunteers. As part of our commitment to review, reflect and improve, we will enter into a Strategic Planning exercise in the fall, and look forward to examining What we do, How we do it, Who knows how to do what we are doing and finally understanding the When. This year we are celebrating our 135th Birthday. We are proud of the women of the Women’s Christian Association. When confronted with homeless children, they didn’t worry about who would help these children, or how they would do it; instead they saw WHAT was happening in our community and got involved. 135 years later, with the leadership of our Board of Directors and the strengths of our staff, we too strive to meet The Protestant Orphans’ Home the needs of our community today. We thank the families that come through our doors, as well as our community partners and funders for their ongoing trust and support. What, how, who and when are all words that introduce questions. At Merrymount, there is no question that we will do all in our power to fulfill our mission and the opportunities "UBHMBODF.FSSZNPVOUUIFOBOEOPX for service that each day provides. 1874 1877 1883 1891 1920s 1941 1950s 1967 The Women’s Christian Association New Building – On June 1, 1877 Children Only- A by-law was Protestant Orphans’ Home – Throughout the 1920s the cost per Although many people thought of A group of children gathered on A new “ultra modern” two-storey, was the original founder of the new permanent location passed stating that no more A new constitution changed the capita per month was $15.61 based the facility only as an orphanage, the steps of the Home for an 53 bed building was built on Richmond Merrymount. On November 12, was opened at the corner of adults were to be admitted original name Protestant Home for on 44 children living in the home. to the children who lived there, it official photograph. Street between Cromwell and Cheapside 1874 an application was made Richmond and Cheapside. to the Home. The Government Orphans, Aged and Friendless to At this time the Home paid 7.5 cents felt like home. After the war ended streets at a cost of $565,000. The to the Ontario Government for Inspector objected to the aged thet Protestant Orphans’ Home. for a large loaf of bread and 8 cents another period of rising costs was new building was more functional the establishment of the associating with the children. for a quart of milk. After 1929 effects of offset at the Home by increasing and imaginative instead of looking Barry Tobin Ailene Wittstein Protestant Home for Orphans, the Depression on the Home’s operation government aid. like an institution. President, Board of Directors Executive Director Aged and Friendless. Until became evident as expenditures were a new facility could be drastically reduced. constructed, 388 Ridout St was temporarily rented. 0VSQSPHSBNTTUSFOHUIFODIJMESFOBOEGBNJMJFT )JHIMJHIUTPGUIFZFBS *MPWFCFJOHBCMFUPIFMQUIFDIJMESFOTFF FAMILY SUPPORT AND CRISIS CARE OVERNIGHT CARE The top three presenting problems for Last year Overnight Care was able ² families utilizing Family Support & Crisis to expand its children’s programs UIFQPTJUJWFTJOUIFJSMJWFTBOEIFMQJOH Care programs were isolation, mental and introduce the “Circle of Friends.” health and parent/child conflict. Our staff In this program, the children learn UIFNSFDPHOJ[FUIFJSQFSTPOBMTUSFOHUIT structure programming to better meet strategies to help deal effectively with the needs of the children involved, bullying, enhance their social skills *FOKPZCFJOHBCMFUPIFMQUIFDIJMESFO particularly the child’s emotional needs. and make new friends. Sensory stimulation through various UPKVTUCFDIJMESFOXIJMFUIFZBSFBU media, feeling charts, books and activities, Enthusiastic, talented and knowledgeable staff exposed the and realistic drama play areas have been children to all sorts of new and exciting activities and events .FSSZNPVOUCZEPJOHDSBGUT TQPSUT purposely designed by staff, to enhance over the past year: from trying new craft ideas; to snowboarding resiliency skills, while providing a safe at Boler Mountain; to going to a movie theatre for the first time; nurturing environment conducive to to playing a musical instrument for the first time... successfully SJEJOHCJDZDMFT QMBZJOHCPBSEHBNFT better learning. creating memories and new experiences for the children. BOEQSPWJEJOHBMJTUFOJOHFBS Our intake staff is using CAFAS (Child & Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale) and BCFPI (Brief Child & Family Phone ³ Interview) for many of our families. This is a tool used by other Children’s Mental Health facilities and provides comparative Rose Van Wieren, staff member data within our own agency and with other facilities in the province. Merrymount has implemented a new database, custom-made for the unique nature of our programs. The system is much more efficient and allows the intake department PARENTING EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS to process and retrieve family information more quickly Through the “Don’t Make Me Go Program,” families having and systematically. children attend school for the first time were able to openly discuss their own fears and anxieties about this rite of passage. In one case, a parent made a strong connection with a guest speaker from the school board who continues to “check in” that he is being successful in his Senior Kindergarten class. To further explain the different roles we play at different times in the lives of the families we work with; the same family mentioned above identified some behaviours that our childminders and the school were noticing. When the group leaders and All Kids Belong staff decided that further assessment was required, a discussion was had with the family about requesting a referral to a developmental pediatrician. While waiting for this appointment, the clinical psychology student from the University of Western Ontario, on placement at Merrymount, assessed the child. By having these assessments completed early it is expected that the child will get the appropriate intervention in a timely and effective manner. 1968 MAY 27, 1968 1974 1979 1982 1984 1987 SEPTEMBER 19, 1991 1995 1997 Name Changes to Merrymount New Home Opens – Smiling faces In September of 1974 Merrymount Merrymount received seed money to In May of 1982 a new mission TThe Supervised Access Program Merrymount’s Family Resource Centre Marked the official opening of the “Mom’s House, Dad’s House” is an Merrymount was selected as the Children’s Home – In 1968 there indicated the children approved of celebrated its centennial with the 35 start Prevention and Non-Residential statement was developed based pilot project, entirely subsidized became a permanent program new centre at Huron and Colborne innovative program developed for umbrella organization for the was a special resolution made their new home as Executive Director children who were living there at the Programming. In 1980 Merrymount on a recommendation in the by Merrymount, was initiated. This component and the first resource Streets. The new home was the result children of separated and divorced Inclusive Childcare Project, All Kids to change the name from the Mrs. Thomas Gillespie escorts them time. In the early 1970s the home became a licensed daycare facility Touche Ross report. program provides supervised visits teacher was hired. of a “landmark” agreement where couples that began in 1995. This Belong. As a result of this program, Protestant Orphans’ Home of to their new bedrooms. was often filled beyond capacity. with prevention-oriented, educationally ffor families having difficulty with Merrymount transferred its site at program began the development of children with special needs and London to Merrymount Children’s focused programs. On November 15, the facility was custody and access. Richmond and Cheapside to St. groups for children within Merrymount. families are surrounded by the Home. The new name recognized now to be known as Merrymount Joseph’s Hospital.