Door 24! Zebra Child Protection Centre!

Door 24 has been opened this morning to reveal:

Zebra Child Protection Centre!  http://www.zebracentre.ca/

The Zebra Child Protection Centre was established in 2002 under the recognition that children who reported abuse were being treated as adults; they were being asked to give information in the same manner, in the same places, which can be intimidating for adults; for children, it could completely shut them down and/or re-traumatize them.

Zebra employs a multi-disciplinary approach to interview children as well as to support them through and after information collection process.
From supporting children in court, should they have to testify, to bringing therapy dogs to visit in the community, to ensuring there are psychological supports available longer term if necessary, Zebra makes the experience of reporting abuse and dealing with the justice system a gentler experience for children.

Please donate. You'll notice Zebra is another charity that receives donations via CanadaHelps.org. If you pay with PayPal, your donation is matched at 1% by PayPal through December.

https://www.canadahelps.org/services/wa/dnm/en/#/page/16035

Door 9: iHuman Youth Society

Door 9 has been opened this morning to reveal:

iHuman Youth Society http://ihumanyouthsociety.org/

iHuman has a number of programs offered to high risk youth in Edmonton. From classes that promote, encourage and celebrate the creativity of youth to offering the basic necessities of life (food, clothing,etc) iHuman helps high risk youth in Edmonton in myriad ways. 

iHuman offers a sobering statistic:

Cost of securing a youth in the judicial system: $1600/day
Cost of supporting a youth via iHuman programs: $50/day

iHuman strives to support youth in ways that promote healthy lifestyles, resilience, and the capacity to be contributing members of society, secure in the belief of their own worthiness and their ability to succeed.

Please donate today: http://ihumanyouthsociety.org/donate

Financial donations can be made online; a long wishlist of much needed in-kind donation items can be found on the donation webpage.

Day 8: Get Ready for Inclusion Today!

We've completed a WHOLE WEEK of the Giving Advent Calendar and it's been so exciting. The profiled charities and non-for-profits have been responding with enthusiasm and thanks, people have been making donations, and we've had media coverage too!

Thank you, everyone, for making what I thought would be a very small-scale Christmas gift for my partner turn into something our city and communities are excited about and supporting! Each of you has made that happen and, though I haven't asked, I am certain I can extend heartfelt thanks from all the charities/NFPs you've supported through donations. Your shared posts & tweets increase exposure about what organizations do and their ongoing need for financial and other forms of support.

Without further ado, and because today's organization is one close to my heart, door 8 has been opened this morning to reveal:

Get Ready for Inclusion Today! (GRIT) http://www.gritprogram.com/

GRIT is an early education program for disabled children/children with disabilities* that focuses on family involvement, community inclusion, and learning through play. Each child and their family get individualized support plans, with the overall goal of helping each child build on strengths through strategies and opportunities for learning that are fun. Families likewise, learn positive strategies to support their child(ren) in all areas of life.

GRIT has a long and strong record of success and respect with families and the community at large.

As an autistic mother whose two biological children are also autistic, I am deeply grateful for the positive approach GRIT takes in supporting children and families. Through a focus on inclusion, strengths, and in celebrating the resilience and abilities all children have, GRIT is a leader in early education for disabled children/children with disabilities*.

Please donate to GRIT today:

https://www.gritprogram.com/payments/donate


*a conversation for another venue is person-first vs disability-first language- it's a big conversation and I can't do it justice in a few short sentences here-- my apologies, I don't want to take the focus from our charity, though I do believe language used when talking about people and disabilities is an important, necessary conversation.