TORONTO — JIAS Toronto and Jewish Family & Child are planning a series of workshops on helping teens and parents deal with the common issues that young people face in today’s world.
Joanna Sasson Morrison, co-ordinator of community development services at JIAS, said the workshops have come about as the result of an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services aimed at potentially at-risk families.
They are planning separate workshops for parents and teens, she said, in order to give teens a safe space away from their parents, where the teens can talk openly.
Shauna Sidney, co-ordinator of family life education at JF&CS, said the first workshop planned for adults, on May 27 and teens, on June 9, is on youth and the Internet.
“Being that computers are such a predominant factor in teens lives today, [we want] teens and their parents to become educated on the safe use of computers and the Internet, and be aware of some the dangers lurking,” she said.
The May 27 panel includes Paul Gillespie, a former leader of the child exploitation section of the Toronto Police Services sex crime unit; Rhonda Polisuk, an elementary school principal; Harvey Dupras, a civil litigator and representative from beyondborders.org – Canada’s global voice against child sexual exploitation – Howard Hurwitz, director of children’s services at JF&CS, and Talyah Breslin, supervisor of child protection at JF&CS.
“We want to empower parents to have the right to monitor teens. When there are dangers involved, they should know that they have the right to keep [their children] safe,” Sidney said.
Hurwitz said that many parents are unaware of the dangers that can exist online. “Kids as young as three years old are using the Internet, and young children have been lured by adult predators. We want to highlight this issue. We are presenting a great panel of experts, and it is vital for parents to attend.”
Miri Ben-Dat, a social worker at JIAS, said that the grant is also being used to form a group aimed at teens ages 14 to 19 who are potentially at risk. “Many immigrant teens are trying to navigate our culture, and we want to help them adapt. By running this program, we hope to give them the necessary information to help them make smart choices.”
At a special session on May 16, she said, a family life educator will talk about personal relationships and healthy sexual behaviour.
Sidney said that on Sept. 28 in York Region, a forum for parents about teens and drug use is in the planning stages.
“Family life educators in schools have reported that kids are nervous about [the prevalence] of drugs in high schools, and parents need to know about their concerns.
“The forum will include an educator who will talk about what is going on in York Region, a youth who will talk from a student’s perspective and a parent.”
She said that the two agencies are stretching their grant to the fullest. “We want to address sensitive topics, in order to keep youth safe and secure.”
For information or to register for events, call Mary, 416-638-7800, ext. 212, or www.jfandcs.com.
