About
Since inception, FSIO has been focused on professional development to ensure high quality family support programs and advocacy to ensure the voices and perspectives of those working in family support are part of the discussions and influences policy decisions.
Our History
Family support began as a grassroots movement in the 1970s. Programs emerged from various movements in Canada and the United States advocating community belonging, from parent education and from advances in our understanding of child development that highlighted the importance of the early years. Programs emerged with a perspective of preventing social isolation as traditional systems of support diminished when women’s workforce participation increased during the feminist movement.
The field has undergone transformation in funding and branding throughout its history. As of January 1, 2018, four previous program “brands” (Ontario Early Years Centres, Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, Family Support/Resource Programs (Child Care Resource Centres), and Better Beginnings, Better Futures) have been renamed EarlyON Child and Family Centres. The process of transformation to EarlyON Child and Family Centres continues. Ontario also funds Healthy Babies, Healthy Children. Military Family Resource Centres, CAPC (Community Action Programs for Children), and CPNP (Canada Prenatal Nutrition Programs) are funded by the federal government.
The goal of family support programs has always been to support the interconnected well-being of child, family, and community. In turn, family support practitioners have also seen a need to come together and support one another in their work and encourage professional development. Families Canada was founded as a toy library association in 1975. The Ontario Association of Family Resource Programs (from which Family Supports Institute Ontario was formed) designed the Family Supports Certificate courses in 1994. FSIO continues the tradition of fostering inter-professional collaboration, advocating for family-centred policy, and facilitating professional learning, towards advancing the well-being of families.
What is a Family Support Program?
The term “family support program” describes both an innovative model and an approach to service delivery that focuses on the complex needs of families with young children. Such programs empower families to enable children’s healthy growth and development by enhancing strengths and capacities in individuals, families, and communities. Family support programs provide welcoming, community-based opportunities for families to voluntarily come together and exchange support. Programs are flexible and can respond to a range of unique family needs.
Professionals partner with families and collaborate with local organizations. Programs reduce social isolation, support healthy child development and family well-being, and facilitate capacity-building and community development. Family support programs are typically offered at no cost to participants and may include drop-in programs for children and their caregivers, parenting workshops, referrals to other services, and lending libraries. With the onset of the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19 EarlyON Child and Family Centres have added online and virtual programs to their repertoire of supports for families and young children.
Recently, FSIO...
Delivered the Essentials in Family Supports to 223 family support professionals working in EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
Hosted several Town Halls for family support professionals throughout the pandemic offering support and discussion on topics relevant to the changes in service delivery.
Updated our website to include resources that support the work of family support professionals across the province.
Hosted a conversation about Black Lives Matter with members of the black community at our Annual General Meeting.
Mobilized more than 150 family support professionals and students to offer a family support program to Syrian refugees in a Toronto hotel on a volunteer basis.
Completed annual surveys of family support professionals and shared the voices from the field province-wide.
Participated on the Child and Family Centre Reference Group.
Showcased family support programs across the province and the innovative programming they achieved during the pandemic.