IMPORTANT NOTICE
The health and well-being of our program participants, visitors and staff continues to be a top priority. Krasman Centre has implemented precautionary measures and continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation as guided by all levels of government to ensure public safety. To reduce the risk of transmission, we have placed safety measures in several ways for each of our programs, as listed below.
At this time, peers can still access support by phone, email or virtually. Please note that programs and services are subject to change based on new restrictions and public health measures. For further updates and information on service changes and the status of our programs, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
COVID NOTICE
The Application Support Worker is meeting peers in person situationally. Appointments are strongly encouraged. Services will continue to be available via email or phone. For more information, please send an email to applicationsupport@krasmancentre.com
The application process for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) can be very complex, especially for individuals experiencing mental health issues, cognitive impairments and the isolation of homelessness. Individuals who are successful in obtaining ODSP have the benefit of receiving a higher monthly allowance which may enable them to access and maintain more stable and affordable housing in the community.
Made possible through generous funding from the Regional Municipality of York, the Application Support Worker (ASW) provides individuals referred to the program, with non-clinical case management support to complete the ODSP application process. This may include assistance with locating a physician or psychiatrist/psychologist, accessing the necessary documentation to pursue the ODSP application and support to meet the required ODSP timelines for document submission. The ASW may also arrange and accompany clients if appropriate to various appointments including the Community Legal Clinic, the ID Clinic, medical visits, Social Benefits Tribunal hearings, etc.
COVID NOTICE
Krasman Centre is committed to supporting peers through these challenging times, taking precautionary measures and screenings to maintain the health of both peers and staff members. Our drop-in centres are operating as ‘drop bys’ to continue to provide basic supports for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Richmond Hill
Krasman Centre’s Richmond Hill Drop-in Centre has temporarily relocated to Richmond Hill’s Wave Pool Facility at 5 Hopkins St. until December 31st, 2023, seven days a week. View operating hours.
Visitors can access:
- Peer support, system navigation, warm transfers, resources and referrals
- Peer Support-based activities
- Harm reduction resources and supplies
- Wellness items (limited quantities available)
- Personal care facilities and supplies*
- Light refreshments
To get in touch with the Richmond Hill location, please call Anand at 416 -509-9681. View locations and operating hours
Newmarket
The Newmarket Drop-by program offers anyone experiencing homelessness a place to warm up, shower, eat and connect with an outreach worker. The Drop-by Program offers access to:
- Peer support, system navigation, resources and referrals
- Peer support-based activities
- Harm reduction resources and supplies
- Wellness items (limited quantities available)
- Personal care facilities and supplies
- Light refreshments
To get in touch with the Newmarket Drop-by Centre, please call 289-763-9244. View locations and operating hours
Alliston
The Alliston Drop-by Centre offers access to:
- Peer support, system navigation, warm transfers, resources and referrals
- Peer Support-based activities
- Harm reduction resources and supplies
- Wellness items (limited quantities available)
- Light refreshments
To get in touch with our Alliston Centre, please call (705) 435-0054. View locations and operating hours
If you require immediate support, please call the Warm Line and Peer Crisis Support Service available 24/7 at 1-888-777-0979
Please view our Programs for further information on individual responses to COVID-19. If you would like a regular check-in via email or over the phone from one of our peer supporters, please send an email to info@krasmancentre.com. All information provided will be kept confidential.
Krasman Centre has three Drop-Ins in Richmond Hill, Alliston and Newmarket.
Our Drop-Ins are supportive spaces that help people help themselves, and one another. Our centres are places where there are no demands and no pathologizing – where one can just relax, enjoy and experience what the peer recovery movement has to offer.
Within the Drop-Ins we also offer the following resources:
- Information, resources, access and referral to a variety of mental health recovery related topics
- Training, education and skills building
- Computer/Internet access, phone/fax/photocopier use for consumer/survivors and self-help initiatives
- Workshops and groups promoting creativity such as arts and crafts, poetry, and book club
- Basic needs for people experiencing homelessness: kitchen, assistance with winter needs, shower, laundry, etc.
COVID NOTICE
The Family Support Program is offering virtual drop-in groups every Tuesday from 7 pm – 9 pm virtually via Zoom. Please visit krasmancentre.com/events to register for a group. Family Peer Supporters continue to provide one-on-one support via email and phone and are available to meet peers in the community upon request. For more information, please email familysupport@krasmancentre.com
The Family Support Program is please to announce the Lived Experience Family Group Workshop Series. The series runs on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please see flyer below for more details and/ or visit krasmancentre.com/events to register for a group.
This program offers resource services to families of psychiatric survivors. The philosophy of the program is that people can and do recover and that families can play a major supportive role in the process.
Click this link to view our flyer Family Support Flyer
For more information please feel free to email us at familysupport@krasmancentre.com
COVID NOTICE
Krasman Centre’s Hospital Peer Navigators are still meeting peers in hospitals and will continue to take referrals from their respective hospitals and will be contacting individuals via email or over the phone. For further information on this program, please contact Dylan de la Rivière at d.delariviere@krasmancentre.com or by phone at (647) 717- 4035.
For some, rediscovering hope stems from a single conversation with a person who was once in a similar situation.
The Peer Navigator Program establishes a peer navigator/peer supporter to the established Emergency Department Crisis Teams at North York General Hospital (NYGH) and Southlake Regional Health Centre (SRHC).
The Peer Navigator provides peer support to people attending at the Emergency Department (ED) who demonstrate and acknowledge distress related to mental health &/or addiction challenges until clinicians and crisis workers are able to initiate their assessment.
The Peer Navigator assists people seeking care in the ED by connecting patients with community support. Drawing from their own lived experiences with mental health and/or addiction challenges, shared experiences and mutual understanding between the peer navigator and a patient can inspire hope, enhance recovery, and improve the quality of the patient experience both in the Emergency Department (ED) and through the rest of the health care system.
The program is funded through an annual investment by the Central Local Health Integration Network to enhance the health of those who seek care in the ED.
For further information on the Peer Navigator program, please contact Dylan de la Rivière at d.delariviere@krasmancentre.com or phone (647) 717-0435.
COVID NOTICE
The Housing to Health program is providing housing support in-person, via email, phone or text. For more information please contact Travis Keeler at t.keeler@krasmancentre.com.
Housing to Health (H2H) is a collaborative program between Blue Door Shelters, LOFT-Crosslinks, and Krasman Centre. H2H is a Housing First Program that supports people that have experienced chronic homelessness into housing, regardless of the contributing factors, with a special focus on individuals currently not connected to or not wanting to connect with formal services.
Housing To Health Mandate:
- To help house vulnerable people experiencing homelessness and, at the same time, provide a range of supports to improve the individual’s quality of life and increase the potential for long-term successful tenancies.
- The H2H program uses a Housing First approach, a best practice in Canada and throughout the world.
- H2H provides wraparound supports to help promote successful tenancies and overall well-being.
For more information please contact Travis Keeler at t.keeler@krasmancentre.com
This program is funded by United Way of Greater Toronto
COVID NOTICE
The Inaadiziwin Centre has resumed hosting outdoor gatherings. Peer Supporters are available via email, phone or text. For more information please contact Leah Atkinson at l.atkinson@krasmancentre.com or Tammy Charles at t.charles@krasmancentre.com.
Inaadiziwin refers to a “Way of Life”. The Inaadiziwin Centre provides culturally appropriate peer support-based programs to vulnerable residents of Georgina Island First Nation. The centre employs trained Peer Supporters who are members of the Chippewas of Georgina Island who have direct lived experience and knowledge of the social, economic and health obstacles impacting residents on Georgina Island. Krasman Centre is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the residents and working towards healing and strengthening the Indigenous community.
The Centre offers:
- One-on-one peer-support
- Miijim Taaswin (Food cupboard)
- Harm reduction resources and supplies
- Information and referrals
- In-person gathering circles
Address: 667 Chief Joseph Snake Rd. Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. Phone: (705) 437-3438
For more information please contact Outreach Peer Supporters:
Leah Atkinson Mobile: (905)251-4944 Email: l.atkinson@krasmancentre.com
Tammy Charles Mobile: (365) 876-1200 Email: t.charles@krasmancentre.com
In-Person Workshops Coming to York Region Communities
WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan program
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a simple
and powerful process for creating the life and wellness you want. With
WRAP, you can:
· Discover simple, safe, and effective tools to create and maintain
wellness
· Develop a daily plan to stay on track with your life and wellness goals
· Identify what throws you off track and develop a plan to keep moving
forward
· Gain support and stay in control even in a crisis
The WRAP process supports you to identify the tools
that keep you well and create action plans to put them into practice in your
everyday life. All along the way, WRAP helps you incorporate key recovery
concepts and wellness tools into your plans and your life.
Pathways to Recovery Program
Pathways to Recovery is a journey through self discovery, resiliency, strength, survival, hope, and self determination. This is an empowering workshop for those interested in working on their mental health and addiction challenges.
Confirmed groups and promotions with link to register will be listed below:
Aurora Public Library March 19th, 26th and April 2nd.
For more information about Pathways to Wellbeing or for support to registers please contact: pathwaystowellbeing@krasmancentre.com or call Andrea Gooding 416-303-2629 / Monica Weber 416-272-7105
Welcoming People with Lived Experience interested in the Practice and Profession of Peer Support in Mental Health &/or Addictions, wellness and personal growth.
The purpose of the community of practice is to provide a forum for mutual support, to share ideas and engage in activities that develop the practice and profession of peer support.
For more information please email coppeers@krasmancentre.com
For more information and to view the 2024 CoP schedule please click here
COVID NOTICE
Krasman Centre’s York Region and South Simcoe Outreach Peer Supporters are meeting people in the community situationally and continue to provide peer support via phone, email and other virtual means. To connect with a Peer Supporter in your area, please use one of the following email addresses:
South Simcoe – southsimcoeoutreach@krasmancentre.com
York Region: yorkregionoutreach@krasmancentre.com
Peer Supporters are individuals with lived experience who have experienced their own recovery journey. Peer support is about a mutual relationship of giving and receiving support that is non-judgmental. Peer support workers use their real and meaningful life experiences to support others.
Peer Support Outreach: The Krasman Centre’s Outreach Peer Supporters are part of a mobile peer support program; meeting individuals in the community at their point of need, where they are. Mobility allows for overcoming barriers that would limit access. It is about bringing support closer to those whose life experiences and circumstances make it difficult to access services. Examples include in-person meetings in community locations such as coffees shops, libraries and community centres.
For more information, email yorkregionoutreach@
We have virtual peer support groups!
We offer a variety of online peer support groups. Join our peer support community, a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to share stories relating to mental health and addiction challenges. Here, we strive to maintain a welcoming virtual environment where you will find support and understanding from others who share similar experiences.
View our upcoming events calendar for all virtual groups or Download the October Events Calendar (PDF)
Exploring Emotions & Behaviours
This virtual group will challenge negative emotions and share coping strategies to promote our own personal wellness. Peers will be asked to share a troubling experience and the group will work together to come up with solutions. This group runs every Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Register for Exploring Behaviours & Emotions
Coping with Grief is a six-week bereavement support group for individuals who have lost a loved one to help cope with their grief. Participants will discuss how losing a loved one affected them and support each other through sharing stories and ideas. Register online for Coping with Grief
Family Support Group is a safe and non-judgmental virtual space via Zoom where family members can share experiences with supporting loved ones with mental health or substance use challenges, find information and referrals and receive support from other peers who share similar experiences. This group runs every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 7 pm -9 pm. Register online for the Family Support Group
The Meeting Spot Drop-in is a safe and supportive drop-in via ZOOM that invites anyone touched by mental health or substance use challenges to share stories and experiences. This is an informal support group, non-judgemental with active listening. The Meeting Spot runs Monday to Friday. Register online for The Meeting Spot
Tough Stuff – An All-Inclusive Addictions Support Group
This virtual group supports peers with challenges with substance use, food, and behaviours. This is a safe space for open and honest discussions, meeting others with lived experience-who know how you feel! This group will identify what triggers us as well as share coping strategies. This group runs every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 5 pm-6:30 pm. Register online for Tough Stuff
For more information or any questions you may have, email groups@krasmancentre.com.
Our Warm Line & Peer Crisis Support Phone and Chat Services provide non-crisis and crisis live support from a recovery and peer informed perspective in the York Region, South Simcoe and North York areas (the Central LHIN). They are serviced by individuals with lived experience with mental health concerns, addiction, and/or trauma.
The Warm Line & Peer Crisis Support Service volunteers receive ongoing training to ensure that their skill sets meets the need of the callers to continue to offer strong support — regardless of the topics being discussed. The volunteers work from their own homes. Being a volunteer provides an opportunity for people to utilize their lived experience in a real and meaningful way which directly impacts other people and their own recovery.
When a caller calls the toll-free number, the call is re-routed to the volunteer’s servicing the line, and the chat line is anonymous; this ensures confidentiality on both ends. Ensuring your safety is our priority. You will not be asked to provide personal information in order to use this service. This conversation is confidential and anonymous.
Connect with us 24/7 on the Warm Line at 1-888-777-0979
Chat Services are available on our website from 10 AM- Midnight
COVID NOTICE
The Welcome Basket Program has resumed peer visits situationally in the community. The Welcome Basket Program continues to provide peer support via email and phone. For more information, please email welcomebasket@krasmancentre.com
The Welcome Basket Program is a short-term peer-based program to support individuals transitioning from hospital-based mental health and/or addictions treatment to community settings. Our Peer Supporters recognize that this can be a difficult time, and we hope to make this transition as comfortable as possible.
Through this program we offer the following:
– Clothing, toiletries, groceries, and small kitchen appliances, within a limited budget.
– Referrals and connections to resources in the community.
– Supportive peers to talk to who understand the challenges and can provide assistance.
Click this link to view our Welcome Basket Flyer
For more information please email welcomebasket@krasmancentre.com
COVID NOTICE
Krasman Centre’s Wellness Collaborative Outreach Team has resumed in-person meetings situationally in the community and will continue to provide peer support via phone, email or other virtual means. To connect with our Wellness Collaborative team, please email teamwellness@krasmancentre.com
Mobile/Outreach peer support (one-on-one) presentations to various community groups, peer-based support groups, recovery education groups, social/recreational activities, arts and crafts groups, group outings and peer-support drop-in centres (Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Alliston). For more information, please email wellness@krasmancentre.com
COVID NOTICE
Krasman Centre’s WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Hub program takes guidance and direction from The Copeland Center. We are advised at this time that evidence-based WRAP groups are required to be completed in person vs. virtual (only Copeland Center directly, is licensed to offer WRAP virtually, at this time). Due to the barriers and safety concerns of COVID, we have decided to postpone running any WRAP groups until COVID numbers decrease and we can safely offer in-person groups or we are given guidance from The Copeland Center that we may go ahead to run the groups virtually. For more information on evidence-based WRAP, please check out the Copeland Center’s website at https://copelandcenter.com/https://copelandcenter.com/. To be placed on a waitlist for WRAP, please send an email to wraphub@krasmancentre.com.
WRAPhub is a program delivered by the Krasman Centre, serving as a central access point for information about WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and FWRAP (Family WRAP) groups delivered by various organizations in the Central LHIN and surrounding areas. Through a peer-led and peer-engaged group process, participants learn how to create a personalized recovery system of wellness tools and action plans to achieve a self-directed wellness vision.
The Krasman Centre provides a number of WRAP and FWRAP groups within various locations in Central LHIN. To be added to the wait list for upcoming WRAP and FWRAP groups, please email WRAPhub@krasmancentre.com. Please specify your preferred location(s) for attending groups and your general availability (e.g. daytime or evening).
For more information or to see if there are upcoming groups in your area check out the website at: www.wraphub.com