Natural Family Enrollment Process

Families are encouraged to contact Extend-A-Family directly. An information and application package will be sent to you, including a police reference check form (for anyone in the household 18 years of age and older). A coordinator will contact you to arrange a home visit where they will become acquainted with you and your family and explore the type of relationships that are best suited for your child and family.

You will be asked to identify any personal networks or existing connections that enable your child to become included in the community. We want you to be an active partner in getting your child involved. This includes nurturing friendships and other relationships that the coordinator initiates. Communication is vital to the success of our partnership so we urge you to call your coordinator whenever you have comments, concerns or questions.

Host / Host Family

Once a potential host or host family is identified, the coordinator will arrange a time for the host and the family to meet. If both parties are interested in pursuing the relationship, there will be a discussion about when those involved will meet and possible ideas of how they may spend their time together. The coordinator will support the friendship until all parties are comfortable. The time commitment is arranged to suit everyone involved; some people get together once a week, or once every other week while others meet once a month.

Circle of Friends

Students with a disability are given an opportunity to become involved in natural peer groups within a school setting. The Circle of Friends focus is on full inclusion, it also provides an opportunity for other members of the group to know each other better. Over lunch, circle members participate in fun activities. The coordinator facilitates circle meetings and encourages the group to explore ways to include the person with a disability both in and outside of school.

Support Networks / Circle of Support

For many children and individuals who have a disability, creating a social network does not happen naturally. Building a support network involves connecting people to an individual who has a disability. The goal is to deepen the involvement in supporting the dreams and goals of the individual, as well as providing a network of social connections. Extend-A-Family connects families in small networks focused on supporting each other through the planning of safe and secure futures for their sons and daughters. We periodically provide parent groups throughout the city - please call for further information.

Socially Acceptable Behaviours / Sexuality Workshops

Throughout the year, Extend-A-Family runs workshops on socially acceptable behaviour and sexuality. The 5 week series is designed for children and adolescents who have a developmental disability (to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver). The workshop will help participants develop a positive understanding of sexuality, enhance their self esteem and develop patterns of socially accepted behaviour and life skills.

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