Dear Community Options Families and Friends,

As Community Options embarks on our 21st year of service we take pride in our accomplishments. We have provided respite and family support to hundreds of families since 1988 and in doing so have built upon the strong foundation of values and principles of the founding parents.

We've established an agency that is well respected in the community for its quality services. This respect has been hard earned. We have provided resources and support to help parents respond to their child's specific needs, related to his/her developmental disability.

The respite we provide allows families to re-energize with a much needed break from the constant pressure of parenting so that they don't burn out or break up trying to meet their child's needs.

Our challenge in serving families is to find the funds to meet the increasing demand for respite services. Financial support from outside sources will help reduce our reliance on government funding and enhance our ability to augment both our Respite and Family Support programs.

We are asking for your help.

Currently, tax deductible donations can be made by cheque or online donations can be made through our website www.communityoptions.bc.ca/donations.php.

In addition to funds, we are also seeking a volunteer with related experience for our Development Committee to assist us in our fundraising endeavours. If you are interested in participating on this committee please contact our office at 250 380-6363.

We believe that we can build on our success in the community by expanding our network of expertise and financial resources even more, through connections with you, our families and friends, and your associations, both corporate and personal. We ask you to assist us to make these essential connections to take Community Options into the future.

Thank you for partnering with us in support of Community Options.

Yours sincerely,

Gene Valeriote
President, Board of Directors

2009 Survey Results

	Winter 2009 Newsletter
	Winter 2008 Newsletter
	Fall 2008 Newsletter
	Spring 2008 Newsletter

COCF welcomes Gina Duncan to our Board of Directors. We value both Gina's input from a parent's perspective, as well as her professional savvy. Thank you for joining our group, Gina. We're fortunate to have you!

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Community Options is a United Way Member agency and we are extremely grateful for the generous financial support our organization has received for our Family Support Program, including the Parents' Web Resource Database project and overall operational costs. Hundreds, if not thousands, of families in the Greater Victoria area will benefit from United Way's ongoing support and commitment to strengthening communities. Thank you, United Way!

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On behalf of the families and community agencies to whom we provide services, Community Options is appreciative of the funding we receive from the BC Gaming Commission. This support directly benefits families and community partners who access the Family Support Programs.

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Community Options would like to express our gratitude to the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children (QAF). COCF was successful in obtaining a generous grant from QAF, which will provide funding for Sibshops sessions! These workshops occur in a fun, relaxed setting and they provide children, aged 7-12, with an opportunity to learn about and identify the feelings that come along with having a brother or sister who requires extra support. Due to their popularity and importance, there is usually a waitlist to attend Sibshops. The grant we received from the Queen Alexandra Foundation will allow us to offer more sessions and therefore reduce (or eliminate!) the waitlist. Thank you SO much, QAF!

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Community Options gratefully acknowledges a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). This grant will allow COCF to purchase camping equipment, resource materials and workshop supplies for Parent Partnership workshops. On behalf of the families that we support, we say Thank You, RMHC!

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Community Options would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to Brian and the staff and Ocean River Sports (www.oceanriver.com). At the end of August 2009, a group of moms, all of whom have children who require extra support, were able to participate in our first ever 'Moms' Kayaking Night' on the Gorge waterway. It was a calm, peaceful evening full of great conversation, relaxed paddling and time away from the everyday stressors of life. Ocean River Sports donated the use of ten kayaks and all the gear we needed. With the Family Support budget already stretched so thin, this night would not have been possible without this sponsorship from Ocean River; Community Options acknowledges and appreciates their commitment to building community partnerships. Thanks Ocean River Sports! You're awesome.

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We were recognized for our strengths in the following areas:

• Having an organization with dedicated and committed board and staff;
• Staff members who are very responsive and accessible to families and caregivers;
• Families being very involved in the program and direct the services they receive and make decisions regarding their children's care;
• The thorough information provided to the respite caregivers;
• The caregivers, respite coordinators and families working together as a well coordinated team;
• The caregivers perceived by families to be very well qualified;
• The family handbook that has clear guidelines of roles and responsibilities;
• Our organization's exceptional reputation in the community;

***Community Options has developed exemplary protocols for personal care needs for both children and adults. These protocols are in a booklet form designed for families and caregivers to identify, document and address personal care needs and preferences.

***Community Options has an exemplary process to match identified needs of each child/youth/family serviced with caregivers through a thorough screening process.

Community Options Board Meetings are held monthly. Contact cnelson@communityoptions.bc.ca for information

Moms' Support Group meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month, at 9:30 a.m.,(except July & August), at St. Luke's Church Lounge, 3821 Cedar Hill X-Road. Contact kbanfield@communityoptions.bc.ca for details.

Mom's Night Out is held monthly. E-mail Sherri at skst.pierre@shaw.ca

Just for Fathers Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month. Contact James.Vitti@caphealth.org

Sibling Workshops and groups have fall and spring sessions Sibteens meet monthly E-mail kbanfield@communityoptions.bc.ca for details.