The most recent Facilitation Wellington Dufferin Newsletter is out with an important announcement as well as all the usual resources and events. Check it out here: https://mailchi.mp/eeeb6ec08fb4/march-2021-facilitation-wellington-dufferin-newsletter
Check out Facilitation Wellington Dufferin’s latest newsletter here.
It’s full of resources, news, and events from the facilitation space.
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin’s latest newsletter is here with info on our Impacts of COVID webinar series, as well as other events in the community and great resources. Check it out here: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=c2832c3b5dc0d7a8b7f5eff2d&id=1bc99690d5
The night began with some casual socializing and sharing. It was great to see the community out and have a chance to connect with each other organically. Joanna, our executive director, gave a great introduction to Facilitation Wellington Dufferin and what independent facilitation is. We affirmed the values for the night including: responsibility; compassion; balancing risk-taking and openness with keeping personal boundaries; privacy; and acknowledging that learning is a continual process. We invited everyone to check in with how they were feeling, and to answer the question “What do you need to navigate challenges related to COVID that you don’t already have or know about?”
Then, the larger group split off into breakout rooms. The first topic was to talk about activities and hobbies that we were able to maintain during COVID despite changes in the world around us. The mood in breakout rooms was one of discovery and making connections with and about others, as well as focusing on good things in our lives.
We then moved into discussing the more challenging impacts COVID has had on our lives as a larger group. We talked about the ways that our relationships and roles have shifted and continue to shift as we go through different phases of COVID and the circumstances of our own lives change. Many folks were positive and finding the benefits even in the challenges, and emphasized the complexity of the situation and how it was very different for everyone, and even different for the same person at different times.
We then moved into a discussion of self-care and how to ensure we are capable of caring for ourselves by finding the time and resources to do so. We unearthed challenges with balancing our care needs with the care needs of people in our community. Keeping in touch via dropped off gifts, shared but distanced activities, and communication was a big key strategy that was discussed as ways to manage our concern for others.
We talked about the simplicity of life under COVID and learning to appreciate the time we have, as well as how important it is to connect with loved ones. Some habits of our “old lives” we don’t miss at all! It’s okay that self-care and our hobbies have changed. Some folks mentioned they have been enjoying finding mindfulness in their lives through things like walking and meditation. We watched a video called “WTF is Mindfulness?” a very simple guided introduction to mindfulness.
Wondering what mindfulness is? Try this short meditation to find out. https://au.reachout.com/
We discussed ways to keep moving forward in COVID by learning new skills, especially skills that allow us to connect with each other, such as by becoming Zoom experts like facilitator Hailee! Some of us also found new appreciation for old skills. Sharing new hobbies or new expressions of hobbies with our families and communities either virtually or by activities like dropping off delicious baked goods we found was a great way to stay connected and express care.
Joanna shared a quote which invited us to think about how we can take COVID as an opportunity to mindfully move forward and “lock in a new normal” by deciding what habits and methods of living we have enjoyed learning during COVID that we would like to hold on to. We invited everyone to consider how they have stretched or grown during COVID 19.
Participants also received a list of resources including resources on mental health, relationships, finances, fun, and self-care. but we are also sharing them here with you below this post, and at this link!
If you’re interested in attending one of our other webinar events, the next event will be November 26th 2020 at 7pm, and will feature speaker Brendan Johnson from the Guelph Neighborhood Support coalition. To register for this FREE event, please head to Eventbrite by clicking here!
10 Things you can do right now to reduce anxiety, stress, worry related to COVID-19
https://bouncebackontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BounceBack-Tip-Sheet-Covid19-EN.pdf
Canadian Mental Health Association
Covid 19 - Helping Ourselves. Helping Each Other
Course - Free 3 hour online course you can take at your own pace.
Mind Control - Managing your Mental Health During Covid https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-health-covid-19
Living Life to the Full – Helping You to Help Yourself (January - March 2021)
12 HOURS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Cost $50 total for the 12 weeks
https://cmhaww.ca/events/llttf-winter2020/
Webinar events hosted by CMHA
BounceBack BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. To receive telephone coaching support, clients must either be referred by their primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or psychiatrist, or they may self-refer as long as they’re connected with a primary care provider. For those who are not quite ready for coaching, our online videos can provide helpful tips.
Youth 15-18 https://bouncebackontario.ca/what-is-bounceback-youth/
Adults 19 + https://bouncebackontario.ca/adults-19/
Impacts of Covid on Mental Health in our Community
https://www.guelphcf.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-kDSQDcIjsA%3d&tabid=100
Managing Stress, Anxiety and Substance Abuse During Covid 1
Tips on Talking to Someone in Crisis during Covid 19
Prioritize Your Mental Wellness While Working from Home
Relationships
Power of relationships - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RijQpsWEdrE
How to start dating during Covid Article
https://people.com/health/how-to-start-relationship-dating-during-covid/
Relationships, community and planning
Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFaPgKWflY
How to Build Closer Friendships - video
Thomas Frank
10 Ways to make and keep a friend
Psychology today
21 Ways to build strong friendships
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/21-ways-to-build-strong-friendships/
Self care
Self Care - What it really is - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBn0ETS6XDk
How to get your life together - self care routine - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuaDEioc2j4
A self care action plan - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0iVTQS8ftg
20 Self Care Routine Ideas - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhVXjq7VUR8
50 Ways for self care
Why is Self Care so Important
https://lifehacker.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-1770880812
45 Simple Self Care Strategies
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/45-simple-self-care-practices-for-a-healthy-mind-body-and-soul/
Headspace app
The Power of Gratitude
https://www.successconsciousness.com/blog/personal-development/power-of-gratitude/
Gratitude experiment - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5lZBjWDR_c
If you think mindfulness isn't for you
https://auness-is-it-for-you.reachout.com/articles/mindful
Free Mindfulness resources
http://www.freemindfulness.org/download
https://mindfulnessexercises.com/free-guided-meditations-mindfulness-talks/
25 Stay at Home Self Care Ideas
Cultivating Resilience in the Wake of Covid 19
Finances
Managing Financial Health in Challenging times
https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/covid-19-managing-financial-health.html
Managing Covid 19 Financial Stress
Fun
Video Games for Wellbeing
https://checkpointorg.com/games-for-health/
What to do while in isolation covid 19 resources - Disability Sector Resources
https://connectability.ca/what-to-do-while-in-isolation-covid-19-resources/
Stay-at-home activities website links, here are a few:
https://themighty.com/2020/03/bored-covid19-social-distancing/
https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/things-to-do-at-home-with-kids-during-coronavirus-outbreak/art/
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/30-fun-things-home.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJREjXEAOfQ
50 fun things to do in Winter https://www.wisebread.com/50-fun-things-to-do-when-youre-stuck-inside-during-winter#:~:text=50%20Fun%20Things%20to%20Do%20When%20You%27re%20Stuck,Take%20an%20Online%20Class%20or%20Tutorial.%20More%20items
Plain Language Information on Coronavirus
Coronavirus - What is it and what can I do
http://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-What-Is-It-and-What-Can-I-Do-The-Arc-MD.pdf
Important Things to know about Covid19
https://heller.brandeis.edu/lurie/pdfs/resources/covid-guide.pdf
Information about Covid
https://www.peoplefirstofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19InfoForPFCBoard-1.pdf
Resources
P4P- Partners 4 Planning http://www.partnersforplanning.ca/
Family Education & Support Services - familyess.org
ConnectABILITY.ca - A resource site provided by Community Living Toronto
Autism Ontario autismontario.com
Mental Health Commission https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Facilitation Wellington Dufferin is please to announce our upcoming webinar series on the Impacts of COVID. This web series will take place in three sessions over three weeks and focus on unpacking how COVID impacts us as individuals, as well as how it impacts our community connections and our personal connections.
These are all FREE events. You can register for one, two, or all three! To get the Zoom link and be a part of this, register at the Eventbrite link. If you have any issues at all with registering, please DO NOT HESISTATE to reach out to info@faciliationwd.com for support. Additionally, if you have any accessibility needs, or if there is any way we can make this webinar series easier and more accessible for you to access, please let us know. Once again, you can reach out to info@facilitationwd.com.
We cannot wait to see all of you there!
For more information on the individual sessions, keep reading!
Day One November 19th
7:00pm-8:30pm
Impacts of COVID
Day 1 will be led by Facilitation Wellington Dufferin and will do a deep dive into the ways COVID has impacted our lives. There will be moderated group discussion and activities, as well as take home resources and more!
Day Two November 26th
7:00pm-8:30pm
Community Connections
Guest speaker- Brendan Johnson, GNSC
Day 2 will be led by guest speaker Brendan Johnson, the Executive Director of the Guelph Neighborhood Support Coalition. It will focus on community resources that are available during COVID, and strategies for maintaining connections with your communities. Once again, joining this webinar will give you access to not only Brendan’s insight and expertise, but also to moderated group discussions, take home resources, and more.
Day Three December 3rd
7:00pm-8:30pm
Personal Connections
Guest speaker- Susannah Joyce, Realizations
Day 3, our final session will be led by Susannah Joyce, founder of Realizations. This session will focus on our personal connections during COVID and how to maintain and strengthen them. Once again, registering for this session will involve getting access to Susannah’s remarks, group discussion, resources, activities, and more!
Our slightly belated Facilitation Wellington Dufferin September Newsletter is out! Check it out for information on resources, upcoming events, and what's next for FWD: https://mailchi.mp/1462d37f0bfb/facilitation-wellington-dufferin-september-newsletter
Last month, we asked you to fill out a survey on what sorts of digital content we can provide to you during this time of physical distancing. The results are in, and there is a clear interest in a webinar series. Most of you indicated interest in webinars about mental health, including self-care strategies, mental health in a pandemic, and community resources. You also indicated a strong interest in a web series on community connection during a pandemic, including online communities, how to reach out, and how to build relationships in a virtual world.
We will be taking these results and discussing how to best enact them this month. We hope to start providing these types of resources in the Fall. We are also keeping our eye on other resources you indicated would be useful, such as Drop-In Online Facilitation, How-To PDF booklets, and web-series discussions on technology.
If you didn’t yet have a chance to share your voice, we have left the survey open. So, if you want to share your opinion, you can still go to this link, or reach out to us via telephone (226-326-0916 ext 214), our contact us page, or any of our social media links below to let us know how we can best serve you.
Facebook: Facilitation Wellington Dufferin
Twitter: @FacilitationWD
Instagram: facilitationwd
As you might have seen in one of our past newsletters, the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN) runs a monthly book club. As part of the OIFN, facilitators and community members from Facilitation Wellington Dufferin often take part in discussions. However, this book club is open to anyone and we would love to see everyone come out and take part.
So, what is involved in joining?
The club meets monthly, with meeting times and information provided through our Facebook group. Right now these meetings are virtual and accessible to anyone to attend. At the meeting, we discuss a text and its links to facilitation ideas. We try to learn things that make us better facilitators and members of the community by practicing kindness, understanding, and reframing our perspectives on a variety of issues. The past few months, and this upcoming month we have been using TEDtalks as our texts.
Last month, we discussed Amy Herman’s “A Lesson on Looking”
This month, on June 17th 2020 at 12:30 pm, we will be discussing Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.”
We want to extend the hand for anyone to come join us, and for more information please feel free to request to join the OIFN Book Club’s Facebook group, or reach out to Facilitation Wellington Dufferin directly by using our contact page.
We are constantly working to raise the bar on our services. If you have any questions or concerns about your experience with Facilitation Wellington Dufferin, please let us know.
Joanna Goode - Director
226-326-0916 x 210
Joanna@facilitationwd.com
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