Parents in Greater Montreal have had to adapt and get creative when it comes to caring for their children during a pandemic. While all families have faced different issues in the wake of the health crisis, families with children who have impairments or issues have had to tackle particular challenges, as many services have been put on hold due to health constraints.
Fortunately, the community agencies that we support are making a difference to address some of the needs that slowly but surely have surfaced over the past few months. More than ever, Centraide supports families by breaking their isolation, providing them with stability, and reducing the anxiety of both parents and children.
For over 25 years, J’me fais une place en garderie (JMFPG) has been helping families with children under the age of 5 with a motor impairment who may or may not have another disability. The agency helps children develop and socialize with other children and allows parents to more easily go about their daily activities. JMFPG makes it possible or easier for parents to fulfill their responsibilities, for example, if they need to go back to work or return to class.
Finding a daycare spot can feel like running through an obstacle course. And when your child has a disability, the obstacles often get more complicated. JMFPG works with all subsidized childcare services in Montreal’s north, south, east and west sectors that take these children. The agency builds bridges and invaluable relationships with many partners in the health and social services network in the field of disability.
The agency has also produced and published many tools and videos to support families and daycare centres and participates in many consultations and events.
Fortunately, the community agencies that we support are making a difference to address some of the needs that slowly but surely have surfaced over the past few months. More than ever, Centraide supports families by breaking their isolation, providing them with stability, and reducing the anxiety of both parents and children.
For over 25 years, J’me fais une place en garderie (JMFPG) has been helping families with children under the age of 5 with a motor impairment who may or may not have another disability. The agency helps children develop and socialize with other children and allows parents to more easily go about their daily activities. JMFPG makes it possible or easier for parents to fulfill their responsibilities, for example, if they need to go back to work or return to class.
Finding a daycare spot can feel like running through an obstacle course. And when your child has a disability, the obstacles often get more complicated. JMFPG works with all subsidized childcare services in Montreal’s north, south, east and west sectors that take these children. The agency builds bridges and invaluable relationships with many partners in the health and social services network in the field of disability.
The agency has also produced and published many tools and videos to support families and daycare centres and participates in many consultations and events.
JMFPG has made significant positive impacts on families’ living conditions. According to a survey conducted by the agency, 58% of respondents said they were employed or in school one year after their child started attending daycare. Starting from the 2nd year, this percentage rises to 83%.
Parents and children: Everyday superheroes
Since some of JMFPG’s services had to close during the pandemic, the agency came up with ways to stay connected to and help these families while adhering to health regulations. Contact between families and JMFPG practitioners has only gotten stronger. How? As always, through adaptation, innovation and determination. This is how the “Superhero” project came about thanks to funding from the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) administered in collaboration with Centraide.
During the lockdown…
Because many of our families were forced to stay home…
Because we know how important it is for young children to keep having fun…
J’me fais une place en garderie found a way to stay connected.
Last summer, this community agency surprised its members by getting “superheroes” to go see families, who were entertained from their doorsteps or balconies. This unique and fun experience helped everyone break out of their routines and tedium and made both young and old laugh and smile. This delightful outdoor activity aroused curiosity, created bridges between neighbours, and brought families out of their daily isolation.
To build on this successful initiative, the superheroes wanted to acknowledge children who are transitioning from daycare to school, which is a beautiful milestone that deserves to be recognized in a special way. During a celebration at the home of each child finishing their daycare journey, the superheroes gave them a video with messages from the most significant people they had met over these wonderful years. The videos were produced in compliance with health rules.
JMFPG wants to add the Superhero initiatives to its regular activities. As a complement to the services and assistance that it provides throughout each child’s integration process, this project is part of JMFPG’s essential mission to support children and parents throughout their daycare journey