Interwoven Connections Connexions Entrelacées

Interwoven Connections’ Parent2Parent Support Network promotes the resiliency of parents/caregivers through peer liaisons support groups online peer communities mentor/buddy matching ongoing knowledge and capacity building. We support parents/caregivers navigating the possible paths to permanency and ongoing post-placement support. We have created integrated support systems with over 750+ parents/caregivers through 1:1 advocacy support and resource sharing-regarding complex needs of children from a trauma-informed lens. More than 384 parents and caregivers experiencing Aggression toward Families/Caregivers in Childhood & Adolescence (AFCCA) have been provided both enhanced peer supports and clinical coordination supports. 2500+ parents caregivers family members and professionals received tailored education and learning opportunities Co-leading the National Consortium on AFCCA together with partners from across Canada. Parenting children with FASD can be complex and challenging and without the right supports can easily lead to possible family breakdowns and/or placement disruptions. We support hundreds of families as they navigate the many paths to accurate diagnosis and long-term success strategies for their children living with FASD. FASD & Me resources help parents/caregivers better understand their children’s strengths and needs. Our community engagement programs deepen understanding with highly engaged social media communities via live and virtual support groups and events such as 'Snack Chat and Stay on Track'. Our TimeToAttach campaign advocates for the creation of new employment insurance benefits for adoptive parents/caregivers. TimetoAttach became law on June 20 2024 as part of Bill C-59 receiving royal assent. While this means that the new job-protected employment leave for new parents/caregivers is now law in Canada it remains to be fully implemented so that Canadian families can benefit. Interwoven Connections continues to advocate with partners across the country for the full implementation of these new benefits and is aware that Service Canada is continuing to developing the necessary underlying requirements and policies to fully effect this new legislation.

In early 2023 we launched the READI+ project as a pivotal component of our ongoing commitment to equity diversity and inclusion. Funded by the Canadian Red Cross Community Recovery Fund READI+—an acronym for Racial Equity Accessibility Diversity and Inclusion—aims to integrate an equity lens into all our services. This initiative targets identified disparities in access and outcomes for historically underserved communities particularly Black and Indigenous populations overrepresented in provincial child welfare/child protection systems and children and youth with disabilities or complex needs. The READI+ project has collaborated on multifaceted strategies to enhance inclusivity across Interwoven's offerings including the Peer to Peer Support Network. Their efforts encompass organizational capacity building staff training and programmatic resource adaptation or redesign to better serve community needs. To enhance organizational competency all Interwoven staff and leadership have completed training in Anti-Oppressive Anti-Racist Trauma-Informed practices (with ongoing structured learning) preparing us to establish safe accessible pathways for equity-deserving families. Building on our existing FASD & Me: Strengthening My Community program we launched the new FASD & Me: For Teens project; made possible with support from Kids Brain Health Network. The program provides future employment skills development to young people with FASD through peer mentoring opportunities for teens/youth. Youth mentors (aged 16-25) use their own lived experience and insights to guide younger children through facilitated workshops and develop strength-based resources for teens with FASD. Partnering with a small group of youth with FASD a series of on-demand video letters was created to share their experiences with school work friendships family their communities and more. The series provides publicly accessible resources for parents caregivers and family supporters of youth with FASD in celebrating their strengths and abilities.