Family Battle Box
Resources and Services for Military and Veteran Families
Toronto Military Family Resource Centre's Family Battle Box provides resources intended to inform and support military and veteran families when they are unable to connect with a team member at the TMFRC.
The name or title of each resource is a clickable link that will take you to more information about that resource.
We encourage families to reach out to us to learn more about the unique programs and services being offered virtually by the Toronto MFRC, including information and referral, mental health services and supports, family separation and reunion supports and much more.
If we do not provide the type of service that you are looking for, we will help you to navigate the services and supports available in your community.
Please be in touch with us today!
The Military Family
About Basic Training - Government of Canada site providing information for new recruits to the Canadian Armed Forces. About the Reserve Force - Government of Canada site providing information about the Reserve Force for new Reservists.
Military Benefits Browser - Search for current information about military pay, allowances, leave, family support, healthcare, career options, education support, professional development, relocation, transition, pensions, and other benefits specific to your family's circumstances and needs.
A Family Guide to the Military Experience - Downloadable guide for military families who are balancing the challenges of frequent relocations, separation and risk while maintaining the overall health and well-being of their family.
Canadian Military Family Magazine - Canada's independent military lifestyle magazine.
#MyVoice - A Facebook group facilitated by Military Family Services that brings together military families through shared experiences.
Parents of CAF Members - Support to Parents Facebook group, providing Information and supports for parents of new Recruits, information about Basic Training, Frequently Asked Questions, and connection with other families through shared experiences.
Canadian Military Family Magazine - Canada's military lifestyle magazine.
CF One Card - Rewards, discounts and services for CAF members and their families.
Chaplain Services - CAF chaplains have privileged access to CAF members of all ranks and can assist in various ways, including:
- providing an active, personal, and supportive presence;
- crisis intervention;
- relationship support and counselling;
- deployment-related issues and challenges;
- addressing moral and ethical conflicts, challenges, and dilemmas;
- alleviating feelings of loneliness, isolation, distress;
- suicide prevention;
- and referrals to other helping professionals such as social workers, psychologists or medical personnel, as needed.
Relationships and Family Safety
Emergency - If your safety is at risk, contact 911
Community Services: Call 211 / 1-877-330-3213 / live chat on website - Helpline and online database of Ontario's community and social services.
CAF Kids: Text CAFKIDS to 686868 - Crisis Texting Service for Kids of CAF Families. Kids Help Phone provides this confidential service for kids who might be struggling with relocation, separation, relationships, anxiety/stress, depression, self/harm, suicide, isolation, grief.
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto: 416-408-4357 or Text 45645 - 24/7 emotional support, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
Assaulted Women's Helpline: 416-863-0511 / 1-866-863-0511 / Text #7233 (#SAFE) on a Bell, Rogers, Telus or Fido phone. 24/7 crisis support to women who have experienced abuse, and provide counselling, emotional support, information and referrals. Support available in 200+ languages.
Victim Services Toronto: Safety Planning Resources
Senior Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011 - 24/7 crisis support to seniors at risk. Support available in 200+ languages.
Canadian Centre for Men and Families: Resource for men experiencing family safety concerns; programs for separated/divorced fathers looking to maintain strong relationships with their children.
Health & Wellness
Health / Mental Health Emergency - Contact 911
24/7 Mental Health Services for Military and Veteran Members and Families
FIL - Family Information Line: 1-800-866-4546 - Confidential, personal, bilingual service, offering information, support, referrals, reassurance and crisis management to the military community.
CFMAP - Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program: 1-800-268-7708 - Offers military members (Regular and Reserve Force) and their immediate family members, confidential, voluntary, short term counselling to assist with resolving stresses at home and in the work place.
VAC Assistance Service: 1-800-268-7708 - Offers mental health support, counselling, referral, to Veterans and their families, 24/7.
CAF KIDS - Crisis Texting Service for Kids of CAF Families. Text CAFKIDS to 686868. Kids Help Phone provides this confidential service for kids who might be struggling with relocation, separation, relationships, anxiety/stress, depression, self/harm, suicide, isolation, grief.
TMFRC Mental Health Services
The Team at TMFRC will help families navigate mental health systems and services to ensure that you receive appropriate services and support. Not sure what services are available or how to access community, provincial or federal resources, contact us?
Are you: a family member of a regular or reserve force member; or a currently serving regular force or reserve force member and the issue for which you are seeking help is in the context of a family need or issue, our Family Navigator can help you connect with services to meet your needs.
Are you: a currently serving regular force member or a currently serving reserve force member whose issue is a service related concern? Contact CAF Health Services. 416-633-6200, ext 3900
Are you: a currently serving reserve force member whose issue is individual and NOT in the context of a family need or issue? We will help you find appropriate support.
Are you: a family member of a regular or reserve force member; or a currently serving regular force or reserve force member and the issue for which you are seeking help is in the context of a family need or issue? We will help you find appropriate support.
Are you: a family member of an ill/injured member; or family member of a medically releasing member or medically released Veteran or family member of a medically releasing member or medically released Veteran; or a family member of a member currently connected to a CAF Transition Centre? Contact our Family Liaison Officer - FLO@TorontoMFRC.ca
Mental Health & Wellness Resources
LifeSpeak - Available to CAF members and families, LifeSpeak is a total well-being platform that provides information, resources, blog posts, webinars and podcasts covering a range of wellness topics. Click: Group Account; Client Password: Canada
ConnexOntario - Free 24/7 Access to healthcare services information and referral focused on mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services. Services available by phone, text, email, web chat.
Children & Youth
Strongest Families Institute - Free, virtual coaching and parenting support for children and families seeking help for mental health issues, specializing in behaviour issues and anxiety.
Help Ahead - Connects children, youth and families to local mental health services (Toronto).
Jack.org - A hub of resources to help you take care of yourself and look out for others.
CAF KIDS - Crisis Texting Service for Kids of CAF Families. Text CAFKIDS to 686868. Kids Help Phone provides this confidential service for kids who might be struggling with relocation, separation, relationships, anxiety/stress, depression, self/harm, suicide, isolation, grief.
Health
Maple - For a limited time, dependents of CAF members living in Canada can access virtual routine healthcare and COVID-19 screening. If you are unable to connect with your own family physician, Maples' doctors can provide medical advice, prescriptions, lab or imaging requisitions.
Calian Military Family Doctor Network - Improves access to quality health care for families of serving CAF members by expediting the process of obtaining a family physician.
Absences Due to Tasking, Training & Deployment
Toronto MFRC provides one-on-one support in person or through email, telephone or Zoom; peer support services; deployment information sessions; community service navigation; and morale mail services for families who have a member absent due to tasking, training or deployment.
Children & Youth
CAF Kids - Crisis Texting Service for Kids of CAF Families. Text CAFKIDS to 686868. Kids Help Phone provides this confidential service for kids who might be struggling with relocation, separation, relationships, anxiety/stress, depression, self/harm, suicide, isolation, grief.
Help Ahead - Connects children, youth and families to local mental health services (Toronto).
Strongest Families Institute - Virtual coaching support for children and families seeking help for mental health issues, specializing in behaviour issues and anxiety.
Sesame Street for Military Families - Our friends at Sesame Street help little ones understand the challenges associated with the military lifestyle including self expression, family health and wellness, relocation, deployments, homecomings, injuries and grief.
Support Our Troops - Financial assistance for children's summer camps, academic scholarships and education assistance.
Children's Education Support - Programs and services supporting the education of dependent children of CAF members.
Financial Health, Emergency Housing & Civilian Employment
Financial Health
SISIP Financial - Provide financial advice and products tailored to the military lifestyle.
Visit our YouTube channel to view recordings of our Financial Basics Workshop Series presented by Martin and Mark from SISIP. Topics include Budgeting in the GTA, Credit & Debt Management and Savings & Investments.
Support Our Troops - Emergency financial assistance, special needs grants, scholarships and education assistance loans and summer camps programs to members, veterans and their families.
CF One Card - Rewards, discounts and services for CAF members, Veterans and their families.
Emergency Housing
Homeless Help Toronto - Access to housing help, shelters, 24 hour respite services, drop-ins and out of the cold programs.
Shelter Central Intake: 416-338-4766 / 1-877-338-3398
Homeless Help throughout Ontario - Search website database of resources or call 211 to access listings for homeless shelters, homeless respite, free/low cost meals, street outreach throughout Ontario.
VETS Canada Veterans Emergency Transition Services: 1-888-228-3871 - As service providers of Veterans Affairs Canada, VETS Canada provides aid and comfort to Canadian veterans that are in-crisis, are at risk of becoming homeless, or are homeless.
Civilian Employment
The Career Foundation - TMFRC has partnered with The Career Foundation, establishing referral pathways that ensure that family members, reserve force members and Veterans can access the suite of employment supports, resources and coaching provided by the experts at the Career Foundation. Visit our You Tube channel to watch our information session with The Career Foundation to learn about all their career coaches have to offer!
Military Spousal Employment Network - Connects military spouses with national employers that strive to provide equal employment opportunities to military spouses/partners, amidst the challenges associated with military lifestyle.
Military Spouse Employment Initiative - Enables spouses to find or continue employment both within federal public service.
Labour Mobility - Mobility and qualification recognition working group. Reducing barriers to labour mobility across Canada.
Regulated Professions and Trades - Learn about the services available in Ontario to help you continue working in your profession or trade if you've been trained outside of Ontario. Ontario Bridge Training Program / Trade equivalency assessment / Health Force Ontario / Global Experience Ontario
Jobs and Employment Search - Resources and supports to connect job seekers with employers in Ontario.
Support for Families of Ill and Injured Members
TMFRC Family Liaison Officer - Elizabeth.Norris@TorontoMFRC.ca
Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) - Family Peer Support Coordinators provide hope and acceptance as someone who understands that having a family member with an OSI can be difficult.
Resources for Caregivers in the CAF Community - Mental Health Caregiver Resource, Caregiver Assistance Benefit, Caregivers Brigade, Caregiver Zone.
Ontario Caregiver Organization - Single point of access to supports and resources for caregivers who provide physical or emotional support to another, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.
Medically Releasing/Released Members & Families
Veteran Family Program - Benefits medically releasing CAF members, medically released Veterans and their families by helping them navigate the complex process of releasing, the challenges that may arise, and the sometimes unexpected impact on the social, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Programs and services are aimed to meet individual needs, and work towards finding solutions and support.
Veteran Family Journal - Easing Your Transition
VAC Assistance Line: 1-800-268-7708 - A confidential mental health service available 24/7 to Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members or caregivers.
Veterans Affairs Canada - Access to services and benefits for Veteran Families.
Families of the Fallen
TMFRC Family Liaison Officer - Elizabeth.Norris@TorontoMFRC.ca
HOPE Program - Helping Our Peers By Providing Empathy - Peer support program for bereaved military families.
Bereaved Families of Ontario - Provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can discuss your experiences and learn about grief from others who have been there. www.bereavedfamilies.net
GRASP - Grief Recovery After A Substance Passing - A community of support and healing for those who have lost someone to substance use or addiction. to edit)
Gallery
Click/tap to view larger