Staff Reporter
Last week, the John McGivney Children’s Centre (JMCC) welcomed Andrew Dowie, MPP Windsor-Tecumseh and Todd McCarthy, MPP Durham and Parliamentary Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board, to the Centre to announce a $184,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
“The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in additional barriers for youth with disabilities. It became more difficult than ever for them to find safe opportunities to access employment, learn important life skills, and prepare for the transition to adulthood” said Jennifer Jovanovski, director of client services at JMCC. “We worked together with our youth to identify their needs and determine the supports they required. JMCC then developed and piloted four programs over the course of three years.”
Through the Job Skills, Transition to Employment, Transition to Adulthood Planning, and Life Skills pilot programs,
115 young people with disabilities learned important skills including how to get their first job, participate in paid work, on-the-job training, budgeting skills, advocating for themselves, and self-care and independence.
“These pilot programs were supported through some time-limited funding and therefore not sustainable long term,” continued Jovanovski. “The Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund grant will help JMCC to build our capacity and sustain our Transitional Support Programs for an additional two years. During this time, over 400 youth with disabilities will be able to participate in this program, leading to greater active citizenship and community involvement.”
JMCC provides family-centred therapy and support services to more than 3,000 children and youth annually in Windsor and Essex County.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund grant cannot be underestimated,” said Ken Kapustiak, JMCC board president. “This funding will have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of youth with disabilities in our community, setting them up for a future of empowerment, participation and opportunity.”
To learn more visit www.jmccentre.ca
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