The Military Family

Military 101 for Civilians - Designed as an introduction to Canadian military culture and environment. Intended for civilian DND employees but a great resource for new military families.

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.

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.

#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.

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. www.awhl.org

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 our Family Navigator, Shelley Dykeman Shelley.Dykeman@TorontoMFRC.ca or 416-633-6200

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

Wellness Together Canada Portal - Offers the following services at no cost to all Canadians: wellness self-assessment and tracking, self guided courses, apps, and other resources, group coaching and community of support, counselling by text or phone.

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 - 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 and Deployment

We provide one-to-one support through email, telephone or Zoom, peer support programs and events, deployment information sessions, and morale mail services for families who have a member absent due to tasking, training or deployment.

TMFRC Family Navigator - Shelley Dykeman, Shelley.Dykeman@TorontoMFRC.ca

Visit our YouTube channel to view our short video detailing all you need to know about preparing morale mail for a deployed CAF member.

Preparing for Deployment Stress - Guiding you through the emotional stages of deployment.

Morale Mail - Instructions for sending morale mail packages to deployed CAF members.

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.

Storybooks for Children - These downloadable story book support children who are separated from a parent.

Children & Youth

Child Care Services at TMFRC - Toronto MFRC offers licenced full time child care for military and civilian families and can recommend emergency child care services for military families. If you have questions about our child care services please be in touch with us at childcare@TorontoMFRC.ca.

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.

Help for Children & Youth of a CAF Member Who Died While Serving - Access to support resources, scholarships and bursaries.

Financial Health, Housing & Spousal Employment

Financial Emergency - Contact the Family Information Line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-866-4546.

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.

Emergency Family Care Assistance - Financial assistance to offset costs associated with emergency care of a family member.

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!

Contact our Family Navigator, Shelley Dykeman for referral to The Career Foundation.

Shelley.Dykeman@TorontoMFRC.ca

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 - FLO@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 Members, & Families; Medically Released Veterans & Families

TMFRC Veteran Family Program Coordinator - Taylor Whaley, Taylor.Whaley@TorontoMFRC.ca

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 - FLO@TorontoMFRC.ca

HOPE Program - Helping Our Peers By Providing Empathy - Peer support program for bereaved military families.

Help for Children & Youth of a CAF Member Who Died While Serving - Access to support resources, scholarships and bursaries.

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.

Vision

The Vision of the Toronto MFRC answers the question, "If we do our work right, we will have...", and is: Confident, capable, and resilient veterans, members, and families within the CAF community of the GTA.

Mission

To provide effective, engaging, and encouraging support services to current and former CAF members and their families residing in the GTA, through the lens of the unique challenges and needs of the military lifestyle, empowering them to confidence, capability, and resiliency.

Goals

In support of this Mission, the Goals of the Organization are:

To help families of Canadian Forces members manage the stresses associated with the unique characteristics of the military lifestyle.
To enhance the quality of life in the Canadian Forces community by supporting personal family and community development.
To foster the active and meaningful participation of Canadian Forces families, in particular, civilian spouses of Canadian Forces members in the development, delivery and evaluation of military family services.
To contribute to the operational effectiveness of the Canadian Forces by strengthening Canadian Forces families and communities.

We will achieve these goals by:

Ensuring the provision of a range of accessible, high quality services that respond to the needs of Canadian Forces families
Developing and maintaining partnerships that enhance our mandate
Promoting the visibility, awareness and use of the TMFRC services

Values

The Toronto Military Family Resource Centre, under the governance of the Board of Directors is committed to:

Trust, Integrity, Transparency and Confidentiality
Openness and Welcome in all interactions
Responsibility to provide supports, programming and resources to our community
Outreach and Community relationship building, cultivation of partnerships
Nimbleness and Responsiveness to all client and community requests and needs
Tolerance and Respect for diversity and equality, in interactions and messaging
Operational excellence and professional service provision
Mental Health resources to veterans, members and their families
Family and Childcare programming – daycare and casual/emergency care
Recognition of employees, volunteers, members and families
Continuous Improvement of our services, supports, policies and procedures