CARES focus is on helping people who are facing a variety of life issues & obstacles. Our clients are as varied as the people in Canada. We believe that your difficulties and requirements are as unique as you are; that is why we work with you to create a plan of action that fits with who you are as a person.
Intake & Assessment
This is the most important step for you. It is at this stage we meet with you to determined your needs, background. & goals. At this point a general “Plan of Care” is established in consultation with the you that is going to get you where you want to go. All paperwork gets completed and a schedule of program activities is agreed upon.
If any outsource services are required (this could be a specialized service we do not offer) they are contacted at this time & built into your personal plan. CARES works with a network of other agencies who share the same philosophy as us. The only goal at this step is to devise a plan that is realistic and attainable for you.
GED Preparatory Program
This is a fast track program that allows the you to attain a high school diploma in 8-10 weeks attending class only three hours per week. Our clients include men & women 19+ (our eldest so far is 57!) from every educational & ethno-cultural background. The GED Program is an important first step for most people as they quickly realize that they can achieve what they want in life with a different approach and a bit of help.
The GED Diploma is “your ticket” to pursue new employment, better employment, further education, training, or an apprenticeship. Many of our GED graduates volunteer to come back and help new students like yourself after they have graduated. You get the best of both worlds...........trained facilitators and students like yourself who have just gone through the experience! Classes are conducted in small group format (10 individuals) with two to three facilitators to provide help. See our GED page for more information.
Computer Workshop Program
Computer Workshops at the Centre-CARES offer a different twist……………...you are offered a custom made program designed for your goals and needs through the use of interactive training modules. Whether you are working towards employment or further education relevant computer skills are an absolute necessity in today’s world. We have created a library of modules that address specific programs as well as general computer operation.
Once assessed, a program of modules are assembled for your program. Workshops are offered on a six & twelve week basis dependent upon your individual learning style & number of modules to be covered. Classes are conducted in small group format (10 individuals) with two to three facilitators to provide help. See our Computer Workshop page for more details.
JumpStart! Program
Many individuals at CARES have completed obtaining essential "tools" like their GED Diploma or computer skills and the big question arises.........."where do I go from here?". This is where the JumpStart! Program comes in.............it is a ten week (mornings) self examination-exploration of skills, aspirations & overcoming obstacles in life. Six weeks are spent in group work (small groups of ten) and the remaining four weeks are spent working one on one with a counsellor to put your personal plan into action. See course content on our JumpStart! page.
Substance Abuse Counselling
Individual counselling is available at CARES on a “by appointment” basis only. Many people suffer from substance abuse related difficulties & tackling them is the first step to moving forward to a productive life. Counselling is conducted in an open and non-judgemental style in order to facilitate open dialogue about the issues and hopefully a plan of action. CARES works with a group of select individuals, medical professionals and agencies to provide clients with the best outsourcing & referrals to service for their individual case history. Throughout any outsourcing or referral, CARES remains key link in order to make sure your needs are whether that service is in-house or, elsewhere. CARES endorses the harm reduction model, ideally leading to abstinence.
YSAP (YMCA of Greater Toronto)
Specialist Counsellor, Matt McDonald is affiliated with The Centre-CARES and is an integral part of the team. YSAP’s primary role is education & counselling for young people 14-24. YSAP is a natural “fit” as many of our adult clients have younger family members facing many of the same issues. Matt's services are available by appointment.
Volunteerism
We believe strongly in the original purpose of volunteerism; to help clients acquire skills. Staff work with volunteers to hone skills they may already have or to try new things that are pertinent in today’s busy technology based world. It can be how to answer a business phone to getting their first email address & sending emails to other clients or learning how an office runs! You might be surprised at the opportunities for learning!
Partnerships
We learned long ago, we can't do it all alone and as a result, CARES has formed some solid working relationships with other agencies & specialized professionals who have proven themselves. We also work closely with City of Toronto Social Services to help you obtain the tools you need.
