Forming Strong Family Bonds

This project, a partnership with Peel Children’s Aid Society, Free For All Foundation and the Black Community Action Network, aims to provide wraparound services to youth and their families involved with Peel CAS that would enable them to develop needed community support. The program:

• Pairs the youth with a wraparound worker who collaborates with the family, Peel CAS and other community agencies, to foster an environment of understanding

• Provides clients with culturally-sensitive and appropriate counselling; and techniques to help them practice effective and positive-influencing skills

• Allows families to receive services that are better suited to their particular situation from providers who understand the unique challenges faced by Black communities

In the Region of Halton, we work closely with Halton Children’s Aid Society (Halton CAS), Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK), the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton and school boards to reduce the systemic barriers and remove the inequities that many Black individuals and families, especially youth, face. For instance, Black youth in care at Halton CAS is more than 10 times that of the Black population in Halton Region. The programs and services we offer, seek to:

• Reduce the disproportionate number of Black youth in care through one-on-one and group counselling of youth and their families
• Collaborate with the school boards and other community agencies on preventative activities that would divert youth from entering the welfare or justice system
• Provide clients with culturally-sensitive and appropriate counselling and techniques to help them cope with the challenges they face on a daily basis
• Uplift BAC individuals and families through mentorship and culturally-affirming activities

In partnership with the Peel Children’s Aid Society, The Building Healthy Families – Peel CAS program delivers culturally-appropriate counselling to those who struggle with many intersectional challenges as parents. The goal of this program is to improve outcomes for child welfare clients, with emphasis on parenting, safety, family stability, permanency, conflict resolution, and well-being. The program:

• Provides safe and confidential individual counselling services

• Offers compassionate, respectful and non-judgemental services from qualified staff

• Helps clients develop and practice effective and positive parenting skills

• Helps families stay together as they are counselled through difficult situations

Clients are referred to us through this program by Peel Children’s Aid Society

Carepath connects individuals to culturally-affirming health services and holistic supports. We assist community members in taking proactive steps toward improved health and overall wellness. The program offers:

• Connection to primary care services
• Breast cancer, diabetes and screening supports
• Vaccination information and access
• Health education and wellness resources
• Connections to social services and community supports

The Carepath program is funded by Ontario Health.  

The Community Agency Subsidy Program (CASP) provides housing supports to Peel residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Through the provision of housing subsidies and wraparound supports this initiative ensures eligible individuals and families can secure and maintain safe, stable rental accommodations, fostering greater equity and inclusion across the region. To be eligible for the program, an applicant should:

• Be a resident of Peel Region 
• Be Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, or have applied for permanent residency or refugee protection in Canada 
• Have a source of income, this may include but is not limited to, social assistance (OW/ODSP), employment income, employment insurance 
• Must be in rented accommodation

This program is funded by the Region of Peel. For more information, please

The Community Crisis Rapid Response Team (CCRRT) provides culturally-responsive mental health support in Peel Region, ensuring racialized communities receive care from professionals who understand their experiences. The team offers a non-police response to 911 calls for or from individuals in mental health crises that are low risk. The program's collaboration with CMHA Peel Dufferin, Punjabi Community Health Services, ROOTS Community Services, and Peel Regional Police has strengthened the partners’ collective ability to provide timely, appropriate care to individuals in crisis.

• Calls can be made directly to the CCRRT through CMHA Peel Dufferin’s 24/7 crisis support line.
• Callers receive care from professionals who understand their experiences.
• Calls are conducted without police intervention, allowing for a health focused, culturally-safe and affirming response.
• CCRRT continues to set a benchmark for non-police crisis intervention services.

In our current environment, individuals and families are struggling to cope with day-to- day living – unable to keep up with the pressures that surround them, such as paying their bills on time and providing nutritious meals for their children and themselves.

OurHealthy Black Communities (HBC) supports individuals and families in accessing culturally-responsive health care and wellness resources. We help community members navigate services, build healthier habits and connect to supports that promote long-term well-being. We offer:

• Access to culturally-responsive cancer and chronic disease prevention services
• Community workshops, health education sessions and screenings
• Connections to primary care, mental health and wraparound supports
• Wellness events and community engagement opportunities

This program is funded by Ontario Health.

We provide deep clinical intervention with parents/guardians and other caregivers to help youth develop healthy minds and a strong will to be successful. In this program we work with youth, 13 years and over, and their families who are experiencing one or more of the following:

• Anxiety, stress, depression, indecision, fear, suicidal tendencies, lack of confidence

• Dilemma about future career path, guilt, self-doubt, constantly overwhelmed, angry

• Poor self-esteem, lack of motivation, poor time management skills

• Relationship issues, family conflicts, indulging in self-harm

• We also offer experiential group counselling for youth and/or parents

• Sessions are delivered by a registered psychotherapist

Contact our Client Service Navigator at 905-455-6789 ext. 125 or email intake@rootscs.org to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Fiscally Rooted is a financial empowerment initiative designed by and for Black communities in Peel Region, Halton Region and Dufferin County. Grounded in cultural responsiveness, the program expands Roots Community Services’ longstanding tax clinic and financial literacy offerings into a year-round service. This program will:

• Offer six-week financial education workshops through which participants will learn from financial planners and banking representatives how to better manage their money and ensure they are accessing benefits that are available to them
• Expand tax filing and back-filing services year round to make it easier for users to access services
• Provide individualised support to those with complex needs
• Host seminars to share emerging insights and provide the opportunity for participants to learn from industry experts

Funding for this program is provided by Prosper Canada. 

The Sickle Cell program, aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell disease through comprehensive care, community engagement and dedicated support services, particularly focusing on the needs of the Black and racialized communities in Peel Region.