Children’s Mental Health Week Activities

Teen yoga class at Dryden High School.

As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, a free Teen Yoga Class was offered today at the Dryden High School with certified instructor, Carly Brown.

Stand Together in Support of Children’s Mental Health

Kenora

Raising Awareness. One in five children struggle with their mental health.

Check out the link for more information about this event: kenoraonline

Children’s Mental Health Week

FIREFLY Press Release

Children’s Mental Health Week May 5 – 11

FIREFLY is raising awareness of the importance of the mental health of children and youth. Mental health of our communities’ young people is essential to their growth and development. This week, FIREFLY staff across the district will be participating in local activities in support of children’s mental health, families and our communities.

One in five children and youth under 19 struggles with a diagnosable, emotional, mental or behavioural disorder. These problems are painful, serious and very real. Of those struggling, only one in six now get the help they need.
Mental Health problems can happen to any young perosn, regardless of age or circumstance and can affect youth as easily as any physical illness. There is no shame in recognizing need for treatment. Early intervention can provide a hopeful and healthy future for kids struggling with their mental health. Undiagnosed and untreated, children may suffer needlessly from conditions like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
TREATMENT WORKS
If you or your family is experiencing mental health problems contact FIREFLY at 1-800-465-7203 or visit our website www.fireflynw.ca
FIREFLY office locations: Dryden, Ear Falls, Kenora, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout.
Take the FIREFLY Mental Health Wellness Challenge from May 5th – 11th and send us your pictures (Send your pictures to lkutney@fireflynw.ca).

FIREFLY invities everyone to participate in the FIREFLY Mental Health Wellness Challenge from May 5th – 11th

Sit together for a family meal every day
Go for a walk with your children
Send an appreciative text message to your child
Watch a movie together
Plan and prepare a nutritious after school snack and family meal
Hug your children every day
Anonymously help a family in need
Have a family game night
Listen to your children’s favourite music
Have a family picnic
Go for a bike ride with your children
Draw a fun family picture, write a fun family poem or sing a family song
Read a book together
Look at family pictures/photo albums/memory book
Have a bonfire
Fly a kite
Go puddle jumping
Help clean up your neighborhood/community
Dance

FIREFLY is a non-profit, charitable organization providing children’s mental health services across the Kenora District.

Contact: Janet Paterson, Acting Director – Children’s Mental Health 1-800-465-7203

Jackie Mitchell, FIREFLY Board Chair 807-937-5611

Community Early Years Snapshots to Help Service Providers in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts

A series of community snapshots are being released today compiling data to reveal strengths and vulnerable areas for children and families in ten communities throughout the Kenora and Rainy River Districts. This is the first release of information combined at a community level and is intended to provide a planning resource for service providers to address various opportunities, needs and issues within our communities.

“We know there are planning bodies and service providers throughout the districts who can use these data to both plan and meet the various needs in their communities and lead to improvements in the lives of children and their families” said FIREFLY’s CEO Karen Ingebrigtson.

The Community Early Years Snapshots are a result of a collaborative effort between the Data Analysis Coordinators of FIREFLY and the Epidemiologist at the Northwestern Health Unit. This partnership will be ongoing as additional key indicators are identified and as data become available from the 2011 Census and other sources.

“The development of the Early Years Snapshots gives the Health Unit a unique opportunity to review and share data at a level more relevant to our communities.” said Dr. James Arthurs, Medical Officer of Health. “We look forward to building on the snapshots and working with our partners to support planning efforts across the district.”

The Community Early Years Snapshots provide data on community demographics, birth, health and safety and early learning outcomes. All 10 community snapshots are available online at www.fireflynw.ca and www.nwhu.on.ca.

Media Contacts:

Karen Ingebrigtson
Chief Executive Officer
FIREFLY
(807) 467-5437 ext. 2301
kingebrigtson@fireflynw.ca
James Arthurs, MD MMM
Medical Officer of Health
Northwestern Health Unit
(807) 468-3147
jarthurs@nwhu.on.ca

Additional Quotes:

“These reports come at an important time for our Best Start Network as we move towards a seamless system of service delivery for children and families across the district.” said Kim Harder, Co-Chair of the Kenora District Best Start Network. “We would encourage our service providers to use this information in their efforts to integrate services to support our families.”

“The community snapshot data will complement and enhance our intranet “System Navigator” project which collaboratively shares information on services and staff across the district.” said Deb Cousineau, Co-Chair of the Rainy River District Best Start Network.

Welcome to FIREFLY

On April 1, 2011, CDC (Lake of the Woods Child Development Centre) and PCCY (Patricia Centre for Children and Youth) became one agency. The amalgamated organization is known as FIREFLY.

The two organizations came together with the goal of improving emotional, physical and developmental services for children, youth, adults and their families living in the Kenora District. Through this merger of programs, resources and talents our combined expertise will support the building of stronger, healthier and safer communities.

View our 2011-2012 AGM Report

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