PARC is a non-profit, joint project of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Jewish Family and Child Services. Its mandate is to assist youth who are presently or have been in the care of any of these agencies. PARC receives special funding through the Ministry of Children and Youth Services along with annual funding from the Hope for Children Foundation and Children’s Aid Foundation. Your support for The Hope for Children Foundation contributes towards PARC’s continued success.
“PARC is a home away from home, with workers who are there to guide and assist us through our joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams. Without PARC I am not sure where some of us would be,” says a PARC youth.
The same realization is one of the reasons why the Atkinson Charitable Foundation decided to honour PARC with its Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award, which provides a $50,000 gift to an Ontario-based charitable organization whose work has significantly improved the wellbeing of disadvantaged children.
“PARC has filled a serious gap for youth leaving care by providing a range of programs and resources including counseling, employment, an alternative school and housing. Young people, themselves beneficiaries of PARC’s innovative services, are involved on the program’s frontlines by mentoring and tutoring the younger youth, leading groups and speaking out about their experiences to child welfare staff, schools and policy makers,” says Nancy Hindmarsh, a board trustee of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation and chair of the selection committee.
Michael, a former CCAS youth in care provides further insights into PARC’s successful handling of young people transitioning into independent living. “I met a lot of people at PARC who inspired and helped me. I can’t learn from someone who has a completely different lifestyle from mine. I joined PARC’s Young Men’s Group and discovered that the group facilitators and all other participants came from the same background as mine. I felt comfortable with them—and this was hugely important to me. When you are a youth in care, you don’t have anyone to depend on. You don’t feel like you belong—even in high school—and as soon as you’re 18, you’re thrown into independence.”
For Michael, independence meant more than simply fulfilling the necessities of life, such as finding housing and a job. Independence also meant moving on and leaving the past behind: “PARC youth get together for dinner almost every night… this keeps you off the streets. Everyone has a story to tell, and I always apply their stories to my situation and it helps me a great deal. You have to get past feeling sorry for yourself.”
Child protection worker Audrey McCracken, who is Michael and his twin brother’s caseworker, underscores Michael’s point of view. According to her, the two have “blossomed since they were 14 years old.”
She goes on to say, “In the 18 years I have done this job, Michael and his twin brother are the classiest young men I have ever met. They are always phoning me to come over for tea, and have been very appreciative of the help they’ve received from CCAS. We met for dinner at the Youth Christmas party at Hot House Café. When I greeted them at the door, they handed me half a dozen long stem roses—they were so happy to give these to me. I was simply speechless, and so proud of them. I know they are both going places!”
Speaking of going places, Michael, along with David —also a former CCAS Crown Ward—were selected to participate in the International Foster Care Conference in New Zealand. The two facilitated a workshop about the Young Men’s group at PARC. The conference was an excellent opportunity for both of them to increase their “sense of belonging” within the international arena and to meet and network with other former children in care and learn about their lives.
For more information click here to visit PARC's website.
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