N EW C OOL T OOL— CHECK OUT A FREE TOOL FOR PASSPORT FUNDS ………….. 2 M AY 2 0 1 5  REGISTERED DISABILITY SAVINGS PLAN - LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM MAY 21……..... 3  CHECK OUT UP-COMING RESPITESERVICES.COM DATES TO REMEMBER . ... 4 SO DAFRS F AMILYfocus THAT ALL PEOPLE ENJOY A FULL AND MEANINGFUL LIFE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY . Making the Most of Passport Funding DAFRS is excited to announce the second installment of “Making the Most of Your Passport Funding.”, this is a unique series designed to assist families who have newly received funding. The series will be led in collaboration with knowledgeable parents that share their experiences and wisdom gained along the way, through years of planning and working at utilizing funding to create the best opportunities for their sons/daughters. There will be good opportunities for rich conversations that will offer new information, ideas and strategies to help you move forward in planning and taking those next steps. The series will run bi–weekly starting in June in the afternoon or evening on the following dates: June 9 and 23, July 7 and 21, and Aug 4 and 18. If you would like more information or to register, please call Diana Trotman (905)435-2500 ext: 2315 or by email: dtrotman@dafrs.com Greetings Everyone, My name is Diana Trotman and I am thrilled to be the new Coordinator for “Making the Most of Your Passport Funding.” I have resided in Durham Region and enjoyed working with families in various capacities for many years. I recently completely my formal education in Community Development all the way up North in the cold yet beautiful town of Sault Ste. Marie. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information regarding the Making the Most of Your Passport Funding initiative. I am looking forward to a successful, rich, and rewarding experience and I am excited for all that is to come! DAFRS Annual General Meeting - June 22, 2015 Members mark your calendars! Durham Association for Family Respite Service’s Annual General Meeting will be taking place Monday, June 22, 2015 here at the Gathering Place. More details to follow shortly! Est.1978 Interested in a free free, helpful way to manage your Passport funds? Families, and those agencies who support families with Passport funding, are invited to attend an information session for MyDirectPlan! MyDirectPlan is an easy to use online budgeting and reporting tool designed for individuals receiving Direct Funding. MyDirectPlan will track your expenses and provide personal budget forecasting. The application streamlines the administration of your Direct Funding and meets the reporting requirements of your Passport agency. It allows you to see what you have submitted and where you are at. My Direct Plan Information Session - Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Afternoon session - 1:30pm-3:30pm Evening session - 6:30pm-8:30pm DAFRS Gathering Place - 20-850 King St. W For more information, or to register for an information session contact Heather: (905)436-2500 ext: 2314 or by email: hminors@dafrs.com Free Information Session! The Registered Disability Savings Plan can help you save for the future. If you, or someone you know, has a disability and is under 50 years old, find out how the Government of Canada may help, even if you don’t have money to contribute. This event will be hosted by Brendon D. Pooran, a Toronto-based lawyer that provides advice on wills and estates planning, government benefits and disability law. Register today to find out more: Helen Dionne - Durham Family Network (905)436-2500 ext: 2222 hdionne@dafrs.com When: Thursday, May 21, 2015 Where: The Gathering Place Durham Association for Family Respite Services 20-850 King St W, Oshawa Information sessions are scent-free environments. This session is funded by the Government of Canada. 7pm - 9pm 2014/2015 Family Learning Series Join us for our Family Learning Series! Presentations and discussion opportunities through DAFRS and DFN have been ongoing for ten years. It is a wonderful way to stay informed and meet other families. M a y 2015 The Support Role: The Wind Beneath my Wings—Follow-up Session For those who attended Janet’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” workshop on February 24, 2015, she will be holding a follow-up session for anyone interested. If you want to get together and discuss how you are getting along with the ideas and strategies presented in the workshop, brainstorm ideas, ask questions, and troubleshoot with the group please contact Heather at hminors@dafrs.com or (905)436-2500 ext.2314. Ju n e 201 5 Dignified Descriptions of Our Kids Setting a positive note with the numerous service providers we encounter is vital to achieving improved quality processes and outcomes. Join us to think about and share values and practices towards creating respectful, authentic and helpful documentation for use in developing valued roles in school, work, health and leisure for the children and adults we care for. Summer Student Employment Opportunity Once again, thanks to the generosity of Services Canada we can offer 3 positions (for young people returning to school full time in the fall) the chance to accompany some of the families we serve, to enjoy and explore typical summer roles and activities. Please look for more detailed information in an upcoming special e-blast. Want more information? respiteservices.com Meet & Greet Connecting families and support workers! T h urs d ay, M ay 2 8, 2 015 Respite Worker Orientation Saturday, May 23, 2015 7:00 pm to 9:30pm 9am to 4pm respiteservices.com/durham and its Parent Advisory are hosting a meet & greet to bring together families and support workers currently registered with respiteservices.com/durham. To attend you must be registered with respiteservices.com/durham and you will need to RSVP due to limited space. Contact Jeanne at (905)436-2500 ext. 2313 or jgodfrey@dafrs.com Saturday, June 13, 2015 9am to 4pm Parent Voice Meetings Wednesday, May 20, 2015 6 :3 0 p m - 8 :3 0 p m Wednesday, June 17, 2015 For more information on our organization or any of our events, please visit our website at www.dafrs.com Or contact Heather by phone: (905)436-2500 ext. 2314 or email: hminors@dafrs.com 6 :3 0 p m - 8 :3 0 p m For more information please visit our website at www.dafrs.com and see the “What’s Happening Now” tab Durham Association for Family Respite Services 850 King St. W, Unit 20, Oshawa, ON L1J 8N5 (905)436-2500 www.dafrs.com