Milton Youth Theatre

We thank the Production company and all the youth involved for their generosity and kindness. All funds raised benefit ROCK services in the Milton community.

A special thank you to Jennie Kiddle for facilitating this donation for ROCK.

Dr. Aryeh Gitterman presents Moving on Mental Health

During a presentation at this years CMHO’s conference by Aryeh Gitterman, Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy Development and Program Design at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.  This presentation describes the Ministry’s plan for transformation of the community child and youth mental health system....read more.

Join us as we recognize and celebrate Reach Out Centre for Kids

The RBC After School Grants Project donates to after school programs so that kids can have access to engaging activities that keep them safe and inspire them to keep learning. Click here for your invitation to join us in Burlington to celebrate.

ROCK in the House of Commons

Burlington MP Mike Wallace recognized ROCK on Tuesday in the House of Commons in Ottawa. Check out his statement here...

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Bryan Baeumler Talks About Healthy Foundations

When it comes to building a house, there is no single component more important than a solid foundation. Without the proper support, it doesn’t matter how big it is, what it looks like, what it’s worth or what type of flooring, tiles or appliances are included – the simple fact is that over time, it will start to fall apart and eventually crumble under its own weight. It’s a very simple concept that in order to build something beautiful and worthwhile, a solid foundation is absolutely essential.

Anyone that expects to create something worth any real value that will reward them in the future would be a fool to ignore this one simple fact. Sarah and I have spent the last 11 years together building our own foundation – literally and figuratively. It started with dinner and a show…it led to a wedding, our construction company, a marriage, a son, a television career, a ballet school, a daughter, more construction, more shows, another son…and now a 4th child due to arrive December 12th. I think back to the day we found out that we were pregnant with Quintyn - I promised Sarah that I was prepared to work 24 / 7 and do whatever was necessary to provide my Family with everything they would ever need, and to provide them with a comfortable and happy life. Now that I look back, I think I’ve made good on that promise of a solid foundation – hard work does pay off, and we’ve been blessed with 3.5 beautiful, happy and healthy children.

One thing that has always been important to us is giving back to our community, and to children in particular. We’ve always been big supporters of children’s charities - donating renovations for kids that need accessible homes, sending kids to camp, and providing auction items to help fund Children’s hospitals. We don’t donate because our children need accessibility, can’t afford camp, or are ill…we donate because we have children, and there are cracks in the foundation of our communities. When you think about it, we’ll all grow old one day, and we’ll all need a strong foundation to lean on…if Society is the house, children are certainly the foundation.

A few months ago, we were approached by an amazing group of people at the Reach Out Center for Kids (ROCK), an impressive foundation where they assess, diagnose and provide treatment to children and Families with mental health disorders. I realize there is a stigma attached to ‘mental health’ – most people picture a dark, frightening building on the outskirts of town surrounded by rusted iron gates where criminally insane and dangerous inmates are housed. Trust me, that’s only in the movies. ROCK is quite the opposite. Their facilities are warm and inviting, their staff very friendly and approachable – their goal is to strengthen the ability of families and the community to raise and nurture children.

Every year, they provide over 15,000 services to children and their Families in Halton alone at one of 13 locations, yet there is still a huge waiting list of people in need, and a lack of space. They help children deal with anything from bullying at schools or online, trauma counselling for kids and Families at schools, eating disorder counselling, obesity issues in children, teen suicide (the 2nd highest cause of death for teenagers!), dealing with divorced parents, homelessness, verbal abuse, physical abuse, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, peer pressure and much more. The fact is, about 800,000 kids in Canada, or 1 in 5 children, will develop some type of mental illness, of which anxiety disorders are the most common. Early diagnoses and treatment is very important and successful. It’s tough enough to be a kid these days, and it’s not going to get any easier in the future.

I was invited to be the keynote speaker this past week for the ROCK annual general meeting in Burlington, where plans to build an additional 16,000 square feet of space at their head office were unveiled. The current building was designed and built in 1992 to service 400 children per year – they currently see over 9000 children, and there’s well over 1000 kids on the waiting list! During my speech I got pretty choked up as I shared my own experiences dealing with anxiety and panic in my late teens and early 20’s...believe it or not, I wasn’t even able to talk for a few minutes! Despite my confident smile and surprisingly public career path, I spent a few years in a very dark place dealing with severe anxiety and agoraphobia. It’s something I hope no one ever experiences, but if they do it’s important for Sarah and I to know that there are people and services available to deal with it. It’s difficult for people who have never experienced it to understand, but it’s even more difficult to wrap your head around just how many people are affected by either severe anxiety or even the occasional panic attack, and don’t talk to anyone about it. It’s something that I’ve never talked about publicly…I suppose because of the stigma around it…but I now realize that so many of us are affected in one way or another. As they say at ROCK, it’s not mental health, it’s mental wealth.

The statistics surrounding children and Families in need are frightening – especially considering the amount of affluence we enjoy in Canada. There needs to be more open and honest discussion around mental health issues for Children, and to do that we need to remove the stigma surrounding it. We all know that building a healthy community for the future means investing in our Children – and that’s exactly why a strong foundation is imperative. However, Foundations don’t build themselves, which is why we’ve invested a lot of time and energy into our next project - we’re about to launch the Baeumler Family Foundation for Kids (BFF). Our main goal will be to support other foundations like the ROCK, and ensure we all have a ‘ROCK’ to lean on in the future. Happy, well-adjusted kids with strong coping strategies grow up to be happy, productive and successful people that give back to their communities. That’s the kind of community I think we all want to grow old in. To learn more, check out www.rockonline.ca, and stay tuned for the launch of the Baeumler Family Foundation for Kids.

Laidlaw Foundation Funding

Funding for this event came from the Laidlaw Foundation and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS). MCYS funding will also support local New Mentality groups. Stay tuned for those details in September.  Funding will also support more networking and maybe even another face-to-face gathering in the Winter. See the new video that has just been released: Disable the Label 2012 Conference video.  Created by Morgana Ruttiman-Hoskins, The New Mentality’s new Youth Coordinator.

Thank you Appleby United Church and Staples

Hello Joni and everyone at Appleby United Church!!

All I can think of is WOW!!! I am always overwhelmed by the generousity of the people at Appleby United Church. I am so impressed by the amount of work and dedication that you put into the “Backpack” project. As always, you went above and beyond our expectations and provided us with enough backpacks and supplies for 225 children and youth. After all the backpacks were dropped off, then Staples delivered all the supplies and the room we were storing them in was full!!!

Once again, on behalf of the families we work with, I would like to thank you for all your help and support. It means a great deal to a child to be able to go back to school with a new backpack and the supplies necessary to succeed in school. As you know, all your hard-work and effort will be put to good use!

Sincerely,

Kelly Giuliani, HBRLS

Manager of Community and Youth Development

Bryan Baeumler lends his voice to ROCK

July 13, 2012

Find out why Bryan thinks it's important to support children's mental health and in particular ROCK Reach Out Centre for Kids.

click here to read his article in The Spec

ROCK announces Capital Build Launch at AGM

Thank you to all of our supporters and attendees at ROCK's AGM and Capital Build Launch.  A special thank you to Bryan and the Baeumler Family for their support and recognition of ROCK.  The evening started with opening remarks and welcome from ROCK's CEO, Ron Rodgers, ROCK Corporate Board of Director's Chair, Pat Gaughan and ROCK Foundation Board of Director's Chair, David Wagstaff. Presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation by ROCK's Director of Corporate Operations, Lorri Interisano to Lion's Bob Hilton and Jim McLachlin for the continued support of the Burlington Lions Club followed.  Mr. Hilton spoke proudly of the long time association between the two organizations and the ongoing commitement of the membership, which has enabled ROCK the opportunity to build their newest addition of 20,000 sq ft at the Pearl Street location.  PLAY Advertising President and Owner, Brian Torsney introduced Guest Speaker, Bryan Baeumler, who announced his and his family's support of ROCK in its mission "To help infants, children, teens and adults achieve good mental health".  For more information on how you can support our new build, please check out the new website at www.rockfoundation.ca.  

Click here for ROCK's Annual General Report details.

Bryan Baeumler talks about healthy foundations

 June 29, 2012

Read what Bryan has to say about how imperative it is to build a solid foundation at thestar.com...

Congratulations to ROCK Corporate Board Member,

Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher

ROCK is proud to acknowledge our Corporate Board Member, Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher of the Halton Regional Police in recognition for his career in policing with the Order of Merit from Canada's Governor General.  Andrew has been with the ROCK Corporate Board since September 2010

May 8, 2012 - excerpt from insideHalton.com

One of Halton Regional Police’s two deputy chiefs is receiving a national honour.

The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an award that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only one reserved solely for members of Canada’s various police forces.

The Order was created in 2000 to honour a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.

Halton Police Chief Gary Crowell, a former recipient of the Order of Merit, said, “This honour is truly befitting considering Deputy Chief Fletcher's numerous accomplishments throughout his exemplary career. His leadership, commitment in his duties and community involvement make him a worthy beneficiary of this prestigious award.”

Fletcher began his policing career in 1984. He has an extensive operational background including work with the Regional Drug and Morality Unit, the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Homicide Unit, and as a member of the Tactical Rescue Unit (TRU).

Fletcher has worked closely with numerous community agencies and regional partners through Halton police’s Auxiliary Unit, School Resource Officers and Volunteer Services. He also supports a number of key service initiatives including the Police Pipes and Drums, the Citizens Police Academy, Police Day and the Special Olympics.

He has served in a variety of ranks during his 28-year career becoming Deputy Chief of Operations in January 2007.

In the spring of 2009 Fletcher attended the 237th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where he developed a network of police leaders in the U.S.A. and throughout the world.

Upon his return to Halton after graduation, he was re-assigned to his current role of Deputy Chief of Administration.

Fletcher is active with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police as the current chair of the Crime Prevention Committee and is a member of the Common Police Environment Group (CPEG).

Congratulations to Deputy Chief Fletcher for his commitment and dedication to the Halton Community.

Ottawa, Ontario * June 12 - 15, 2012

Don't miss this exciting conference!


Over 65 local and international faculty including...

Craig Kielburger, Nancy Arthur, Tod Augusta-Scot, Cristelle Audet, Marie-Natalie Beaudion, Gene Combs, Scot Cooper, Jim Duvall, Rob Hall, David Pare, Jill Freeman, Shona Russell, Alan Wade, John Winslade, Karen Young,

And many more

Mental health professionals interested in client-centred approaches such as narrative practices, brief solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectic behavioural therapy, community practitioners and activists, senior academics, researchers, teachers, students and policy-makers.



Click here for more information

Click here to register

ROCK Manager of Community and Youth Development - SPARK Training Institute cont'd

Congratulations to Kelly Giuliani, ROCK Manager of Community and Youth Development on her acceptance to participate in the Mental Heath Commission of Canada’s (SPARK) Supporting the Promotion of Activated Research and Knowledge Training Institute.  Recognizing the need for enhanced capacity to understand and implement effective knowledge exchange initiatives, the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC) Knowledge Exchange Centre (KEC) will begin hosting an annual nine-month SPARK Training Institute with the overall goal of improving the capacity for implementing effective knowledge exchange practices in the field of mental health, substance use and addictions.

Applicants will participate in a fully funded nine-month knowledge exchange (KE) training opportunity. Each fellow will benefit from:

• Two days of on-site training (fully funded) from internationally respected KE experts who will blend experiential and didactic learning, in order for fellows to acquire the necessary skills to develop a full KE plan to take away and implement;
• Ongoing mentoring that will support the delivery of a KE learning event, based on the onsite training opportunity, at their home organization within three months of the on-site training;
• A digital learning event six months following the on-site training to help overcome any barriers that have been experienced while attempting to implement the KE plan;
• An online community of practice

http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/Pages/Spark_Institite.aspx

Brief Services in Ontario

The paper will discuss research and current practice of brief services within children’s mental health, and provide practical recommendations for policy makers who work across child-serving sectors. The paper will look at specific types of brief service practices (e.g., brief narrative, solution-focused, brief therapy), as well as how clients are seen (e.g., walk-in, crisis counseling, single session). There is evidence to support that working briefly with clients is often the best way to help to children and families.  Brief Services also shows promise for reducing the time that children and families wait to receive services.


Positive Space Network Halton

The Positive Space Network of Halton is a network of community social service agencies and local businesses working together to create safe and inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ populations of Halton.

The Positive Space Network is also running LGBTQ youth support groups out of ROCK head office and ROCK Milton locations; and is developing a peer-reviewed certification so that agencies can be confident in their ability to serve LGBTQ youth and their families.

Marcus Logan, Positive Space Coordinator  is available to assist you by providing supportive resources, speaking with your youth and family clients about LGBTQ issues, and referring to the youth group. Marcus is based out of ROCK's Pearl Street office.

Please contact Marcus if you have any questions about the program or the youth support groups:phone: 905 634-2347 ext 408 or email to: marcusl@rockonline.ca"

Links Of Interest:

From time to time we include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. Information contained on linked web sites may not reflect the views and philosophy of Reach Out Centre for Kids. Our posting of links that take you to other sites do not signify that we endorse everything in those website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s). See User Agreement.

LINKS:

• CMHO Fast Reports

• Template letters to send a letter to your local MPP to advocate for Children's Mental Health.

• Child Development Institute

• Canadian Parents

• The Center for Effective Disipline

• Enhanced 18-Month Well Baby Visit

Halton Parenting Directory Sept 2012-Jan 2013

• EvenStart

• United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton

• United Way of Oakville

• United Way of Milton

• United Way of Halton Hills

• Ontario Trillium Foundation