Families for Addiction Recovery
Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR) is a Canadian registered charity founded and run primarily by parents of children who struggle, or have struggled, with addiction and a concurrent disorder.
All of our programs are free, available across Canada and supported by 29 highly trained volunteer parent supporters with lived experience.
What is the Parent-to-Parent Peer Support program?
The Parent-to-Parent program (P2P) provides peer support for parents of children struggling with addiction. P2P supporters are volunteers who themselves have children with an addiction.
https://www.farcanada.org/
How does the program work?
P2P offers clients 8 conversations of up to one hour each with the parent supporter over a two-month period. Conversations are done by phone and scheduled at times decided between the client and the supporter. Find the intake form on the website, (Under P2P) to fill in to get the process started.
What is the On-Line Parent Support Group Program?
Our Online Parent Support Groups provide a safe space where parents can discuss practical strategies, find support and share resources and information that worked for them. There are 4 meetings a month.
https://www.farcanada.org/
What is the Live Parent Support Line?
Families for Addiction Recovery has launched a new phone support line in response to growing demand for our services. You will be connected to one of our trained volunteers who understands those who have a child struggling with addiction and who are looking for support. Phones are open weekdays from 1 – 3 p.m. EST.
https://www.farcanada.org/
Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM)
A rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinic is a low-barrier, walk-in clinic that provides specialized services and care for individuals seeking treatment for any substance use issue. RAAM clinics provide time-limited medical addiction care including; pharmacotherapy, brief counselling, peer support and referrals to community services. There are 10 clinics throughout northwestern Ontario, including two in Thunder Bay at the Thunder Bay Norwest Community Health Centre and Thunder Bay Dilico Family Health Team.
Brain Architecture Game Session
On Monday December 12, 2022, Community Strategies staff facilitated a Brain Architecture Game session with the Thunder Bay District Child & Youth Mental Health & Addictions Network. This Network is a member of the Community Safety & Well-Being Action Table, which is focused on the Mental Health & Substance Misuse priority area. One of the Targeted Outcomes within this priority area is to increase education and awareness about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma and resilience.
The Brain Architecture Game is a tabletop game experience that builds understanding of the powerful role of experiences on early brain development – what promotes it, what derails it, with what consequences for society. The game helps people appreciate the impact of early childhood experiences on outcomes across a lifespan. By engaging players in this hands-on, group experience, the game helps people see and feel the implications of the science of early brain development. This helps build an understanding that the architecture of the brain is built starting in the earliest years of life, and that experiences shape the structure for better or worse.
Cannabis Act Review
The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy (TBDS) participated in the Cannabis Act legislative review public engagement process in November 2022. The TBDS endorsed Ottawa Public Health’s submission, and included a separate document with Thunder Bay District specific information and additional recommendations. All submissions will be reviewed and summarized by the Expert Panel in a publicly available What We Heard report, and the findings will inform their assessment and recommendations.
