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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1977-09-28, Page 17sa RY 4tr HURON CENTRE—The Huron Centre for Children and Youth, Clinton, officially opened in January of this year. The need fqr this service is evident In the number of people using the Centre. Within an hour of Iolning the staff, one social worker was working with a family. PLAYTHERAPY-DIRECTOR of the Huron Centre for Children and Youths, Don Keillor, with social worker Jane Harris and secretary Marianne McCaffrey demonstrate how play therapy works with puppets. A reticent child may answer a lot of questions by bringing out his problems in play acting with the puppets. His agression, otherwise held back, could be redkrected in the puppets. The Winghem • n Centre answer._ roblems of county y OU� Mrs. Smith is worried. Her six- year-old son is behind in his school work. The neighbors' boy has already advanced to the next class. Her 10 -year-old daughter is popular with classmates, find her school work easy and has a pleasant nature. But Johnny — he seems rebel- lious. His lack of interest in school is becoming more ap- parent. Perhaps he is, after all, just incurably lazy, without the necessary spark to . make him move ahead in life. Still, Mrs. Smith is worried. Mrs., Jones is at .her wits' end. Two-year-old Susie continually defies all efforts at toilet training, to the embarrassment of her mother. Yet, the more Mrs. Jones tries, the worse the situation be- comes. Seventeen -year-old Bill is having a rough go of it. He wants to leave home, strike out on his own — and all he is getting is one big hassle from his parents. "Where can I turn?" is the question on each mind. In Huron County there is an answer. It is the Huron Centre for Children and Youths. The names and incidents here are all fictitious, but they, are typical of problems handled by the centre. The work is in the area of mental health, but the people who come for help are not psychologically crippled. The director of the centre, Don Keillor, explains the role of the service as that of a mediator, a means of channeling people in the right direction when all sense of direction has been lost in con- fusion. The centre concentrates its objectives on problems from infancy to 18 years. "But we don't always know who our clients will be," says Mr. Keillor. "If a child has a problem, then his parents have one as well." FAMILY CENTRED "Our basic motive of operation rmfversary 24" Enterprise RANGE $23r9 tom:::- T...::. aie ea: 11111Y14li.iId PJ et .•`t eenelnIlltlraLes alb: Westinghouse One Speed Automatic WASHER $ 36 900 Prices effective until October 8, 1977. Limited quantity on sale items, i 111'ill((IIII I16llillli111 'Fe 15.2 cu. ft. Frigidaire Frost Proof REFRIGERATOR `Gold) Many more sale items. WESTINGHOUSE Ranges Washers Dryers TV's No trade ins on sale merchandise. LAIDLAW APPLIANCE SALES & SERVICE 357-2262 is to work with the family. We young people in this area, and s en - work mostly with the family, courage parents to understand seldom with the children alone." their children's natural instinct The centre has been officially for independence." in operation since January, and As children are given increas- as as it grows, so does the need for ing' responsibility they learn to its services. It is staffed by Mr. appreciate independence, as do their parents. The whole objet- Keillor and four social workers who work within the centre or in five of parenthood should be to the homes of those it serves. In a develop independent, well - short time a psychologist will be adjusted adults.., added to the regular staff. "We help families deal with "The idea of forming the problems," says the director, "we don't solve problems. Our service centre came up at a pub -contribution is to get fafa lic meeting," says the director.milies to gether to talk_" "With the closing.of the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital people were There is a big room at the centre which contains toys for the concerned by the lack of facilities for children andchildren as well as a two-way who had problems young people mirror, through which Mr. The meeting was held about a Keillor can observe behaviour from his office. Families often year. ago and a steering com- meet in this room, particularly mittee was formed. The centre the larger families. They know was originally funded by the Ministry of Health but with the that someone is watching from behind the mirror and that the shift in ministries it is now funded by the Ministry of Community session is being taped. Some - and Social Services. times as many as three social "We are directly responsible to workers are talking with the family. a local board of directors," Mr. „ Keillor emphasizes. "Board Family dynamics are so tom plex,". says Mr. Keillor. "The members come from many points in the county. The centre.'s tape helps if we have missed location at .Clinton is central, and something that was said, some - thus we`have a fairly even distri- 'ming that is the key to the prob- bution of people using its services lem. We play the tape back to the from across the county." family as well, so they can under - BROAD EXPERIENCE stand the problem." The director talks about the TOYS HAVE PURPOSE centre and its work in a relaxed Even the toys have a meaning - manner. The longish, dark hair, ful purpose; There are puppets with a dash of grey at the temples and a small stage where real life gives him an easy-going appear- drama may be portrayed by a ance. He is also a man who knows reticent child. The child may well his business. be hesitant to tell a social worker *Mr. Keillor was director of a the exact nature of the problem. learning centre for the Etobicoke For instance, he or she may board of education, operated for enact a male and female puppet children with learning disabili- arguing, as the parents of the ties as well as those who were child do at home. After investiga- emotionally disturbed. He was tion if may be discovered that the also a professor at York Uni- child is frightened by family versity, Toronto, for three years, arguments, perhaps believing teaching as a member . of the himself - to be the cause of faculty, of education and before unhappiness. that principal of an elementary Other social workers at the school. His interest is in special centre, in addition to Miss Harris, education. skills. - include Philip Warren, Archie Explanations of the problems ' Andrew and - Shirley Hackman. outlined at the beginning of 'this nes-lmor `holds- a mittStert story are given by Mr. Keillor. degree in sociology and worked in Johnny has "a • problem because children's mental health centres. his family finds it difficult to cope previously. with his slow learning. Johnny, in Mr, . Andrew also holds a turn, is disturbed by his own master's degree and has, worked shortcomings and reacts in a , with the John Howard Society for rebellious manner and may even- criminal • offenders who. need tually become withdrawn. assistance in adjusting to society. A social worker at the centre He has ' also worked for - the helps, through sessions with the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Re - family, to make. Johnny -'s parents search . Foundation in Toronto. realize their son needs extra sup- (There have been no major drug port and love. As soon as Johnny probelms at the Huron centre yet, realizes he is accepted by his but alcohol has been evident as a family, no matter what his ina- bility, he will probably be moti- vated to do his best. Mrs. Jones may need help in disciplining her daughter. Jane Harris, a member of the 'staff at the centre, has had special train- ing with children. As the only child care worker at the ,centre her responsibilities lie mainly with the problems of children, while the other social workers deal with the adults. Miss Harris teaches parents methods of disciplining their chil- dren- -and--- stresses- -that -con- sistency is a major factor. DISLIKE CHANGE Bill, the 17 -year-old, has an age-old problem. Every ado- lescent goes through a difficult period in life when body and mind are changing. Most people don't like to see changes in others, the director explains. It upsets the normal pattern of life. The centre helps the teenager's family to accept the youth's instinct for independence. If he is really de- termined to leave home, it is preferable that he leave on good terms with the family. Often, however, says Mr. Keil- lor, the youth wouldn't go if he really had an opportunity. He is just testing himself ,and his family. "We like working with relating factor in several in- stances.) nstances.) Mr. Andrew was trained at King's College, London, and specializes in play therapy for children, such as the puppet theatre. Another importantstaff mem- ber is Marianne McCaffrey, who answers the phone and is the first contact with a troubled child, youth or family. Mr. Keillor says she is an excellent choice for the job, with her warm and under- standing manner which comes _through_ on the telephone. Mrs. McCaffrey says she usually., makes appointments as soon as possible, but if the person calling is extremely agitated she puts the call through to a staff member immediately. She has had teachers call her after upset- ting experiences with children about whom they are concerned. There is a good liaison between the schools, the parents and the centre when a problem is being handled. There is no long wait .for an appointment as yet. Mr. Keillor says the capabilities of the centre are growing at a steady rate with the need. When the last social worker joined the staff at 9. a.m. she was working with a family an hour later. At present 24-hour Belgrave Personals The Belgrave Men's Choir pro- vided special music at the anni- versary service held at Ontario Street United Church, Clinton on Sunday evening. ' Mr. and Mrs. James R. Coultes were weekend visitors with Mrs. Len Jarvis of St. Catharines. Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bell and Mr. and Mrs. Maitland Edgar of Petrone called on Mr and Mrs. Lewis Stonehouse on Saturday and all attended t e funerd thee- cousin, Bruce Edgar of Toronto, at the S J Walker h'uneraI Home Castro Valley. California. • Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Smithson of Downsview visited last Tues- day with Mrs. Robert Procter. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Cook and Mr and Mrs. Clarence Rath returned home on Friday after, a conducted Dutch Treat Tour to Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hibberd visited M• and Mrs. Scott Clark- son in Fi:rdwich on Sunday and attended the evening service in the United Church which took the form of a musical drama„ The Miracle Worker, by the choir. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Robertson Congratulations to the Bel - returned home last Monday from grave Men's Slow Pitch team a two week trip to California. who defeated Auburn, Londes- While there they visited with Mrboro and Benmiller in straight.. and Mrs. Stanley Martin of games to win the championship. service is available in all eases of emergency. Miss Harris says that appoint- ments ppointments can be arranged, even though parents cannot come dur- ing the day. Arrangements can be made to accommodate those who work on shift work or who have other special circum- stances. Rarely is it necessary to hos- pitalize a child; the family can usually provide for the needs with the assistance and guidance of the centre. Mr. Keillor says that some parents fail to realize their children are individuals, with very real sensitivities, likes and dislikes. There is a tendency to lump all "kids" together and con- sider them' all the same. If a youth comes to the centre alone he will not be tuurned away, but the staff members will try to involve the family. If under 16 the centre prefers to have the parents' consent at least. There are no fees for services; the centre is'" a non-profit public service. WILL EXPAND The next development will be branch offices in the county if there is an appreciable number of families in need of assistance in the outlying areas. Such an office would, perhaps, be staffed by one person and open one or two days a week. "We all have vulnerable times in our lives," says Mr. Keillor. The death of a member of the family or a divorce or just the problems of adolescent years are • among the create crises.. Miss Harris says t,1 times parents are of . the good qualities- j spring. They ser" traits and as a, teesl4t them unduly.'A third, p}uii person is needed to put y g perspective. BOARD MEETING. The annual meeting of the centre's board of directors: is to be held October 5 at 7:30 p.rn.,;at Clinton Public School. At this meeting the board members 1N?.ill officially give up their seats and the new board will be el*tad or returned. Mr- Keillor feel$' 11Ot this locally elected board is im- portant. It wouldn't be the same if the centre was run by an ob- scure group in Toronto. The centre is open five days a week, with evening appointments as well. It is located at 160 Huron St., Clinton., Those who believe that smaller communities lack the facilities available in'the city should con- sider the foresight of a group of citizens who saw a problem and took immediate action. There are people with adequate credentials who are willing to settle in a small town and make good use of their abilities. Country life is simple and relax- ing at times, but the reeds this centre is answering proves that there can be serious problems in our midst. For the children of Huron County and their parents there is an answer. CENTR E DI R ECTOR—Don Keil lor is director of the Huron Centre for Children and Youths, Clinton. He says he is astonished at how complex children's problems can be. The mistake is often in adults who don't realize the child ,is an individual who has feelnlogs, dikes and dislikes of his own. FRIENDLY RECEPTION—At the Certre for Children and Youths, Marianne McCaffrey greets people with friendli- ness. Director Don Kelllor says she is excellent for the lob as she is warm and understanding and able torecognize if the tedious problem of name spelling over the phone is important at the moment. She says when an extremely agitated person calls, she immediately turns him over to one of the four social workers or Mr Keillor.