Connecting growth and stability.
Connects - Group Care
Connects is a supportive live in home for children that have family involvement with Alberta Children and Family Services. Children are:
- Ages 6-12,
- Are unable to live in their family environment due to the necessity of support for children with diverse needs using a trauma informed lens
- Are presently unable to live in kinship care, nor foster care home settings.
Funded/Accessed by:Â Alberta Children and Family ServicesÂ
Connects is a trauma informed care milieu, located in the community of Calgary. The home is designed to look and feel like a traditional home, including individual space for each youth to have autonomy over decorating, filling the space with belongings that have meaning and the feeling of belonging to the larger group. The children have access to a safe backyard with a playground and space to garden and have bonfires/ picnics. There are many options of green space in the area for recreation and connection with other kids in the community. The staff at Connects offer the opportunity to invite culture and customs into the home and will participate with the youth to make the space inclusive.
The home is staffed around the clock with skilled Child and Youth Support Workers and one supervisor. The team is focused on relational, strength-based approaches detailed in being present with the children in the moment of celebrations and any need of support using a trauma informed lens. The home focuses on being in relationship with mutual engagement, being present in the moment, teaching reciprocity and understanding of emotions and sharing feelings. The team teaches children age-appropriate life skills, including chores, learning new skills through play that includes respectful communication and problem solving as well as group outings in the community and individual interests in dance, music or sports.
The over all milieu and therapeutic direction is supported by a therapist that works throughout all three of our live in programs through Children’s Services. This helps the team stay united on children’s goals, provide consistency and a holistic view of the approaches being taken to support a child in need. The goal of Connects is to provide children with new coping skills, to promote autonomy and mastery to make choices and develop self-regulation to help assist them in returning home to their families. Or if they are unable, to find foster placement that can be sustained to prevent further harm and disruption in a child’s life.
Program Highlights
Connects is a short-term program in a non-invasive environment that strives to create safe relationships
with adults and positive role models for traumatized
children. Up to four children may live at the Connects home and approximately two to four staff members may be on duty at any one time, creating a high ratio of staff to children
All Connects staff are trained in Indigenous
teachings and diversity training. Connects commits
to meeting the needs of children by listening to
their stories and working to connect each youth
with their own community, traditions, teachings and
family. Connection to family and culture are critical
components for children.
Birthdays are very special at Connects. There is much
organizing and planning that go into each client’s
birthday so that it’s unique for them and as positive
an experience as possible.
What is Group Care
Live-in group care homes provide a home-type setting for children and youth who cannot live with their own family homes for a variety of reasons, and may not be an appropriate match for kinship care, nor foster home settings.
Children and youth who stay in these homes may stay for several weeks up to several months until a more permanent residence is available, they return to their original home setting, or transition into independent living.
