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The thrust of its appeal this week is on behalf of the homeless adolescent. Runaway Teenagers At age 15, Bill M. is already fed up with life. His home is a four-room apartment over a store on Main Street which shelters his mother and four other children younger than himself. Any parent interested in learning what actually happened on any given Professional Develop- ment day need only call the principal for details. The fact that these days will be Mondays or Fridays was not to benefit teachers for long weekends, but to permit families to make plans for their weekends, Caldwell said. He can’t study at home because of the crowding and confusion and has failed both his Christmas exams and the Easter exams. Money is always scarce and school is a long haul for Bill. He is tired of baby-sitting the younger children and his mother’s constant nagging about his low marks, his hours away from home at the Concerning Professi- onal Development days he said there would be nine of these during the school year, when the staff would attend workshops, and other discussions designed for professional self-impr- ovement. His mother works in a store at night and his father makes irregular payments for the support of the family he deserted two years ago. The offices of the Children’s Aid Society in York Region are located in Newmarket, but its services, are spread throughout the region. “We need your support, confidence and trust that the placements made are in the best interest of the child.” he said. It is the older child that is an increasing concern to agency workers. Their needs are as desperate as those of the infant, and their situations often infinitely more com- plicated. Principal, W.S. Caldâ€" well, welcomed parents and introduced members of the staff, making special mention of the addition of two new members who are teaching French to the junior grades, and two policemen who are now part of the staff and making regular visits to the school to teach the children about safety. In a short introduction, spiced with humor, Mr. Caldwell spoke of the efforts being made to meet the needs of the individual child within the school system. Fewer infants are being abandoned. More unwed mothers are keeping and caring for their offspring. And while it still fulfills these needs, the emphasis of its function is shifting with changes in society. By June Abbott There was a good turnout for the recent Meet the Teacher Evening at Henderson Public School. Thornhill. The Children's Aid has long been regarded as an adoption placement agency for illegitimate or abandoned infants; a protective service for abused children. This week is Children’s Aid Week throughout Ontario. Principal outlines efforts to meet needs of child Children’s Aid Society seeks help for homeless adolescents Students of Baythorn Public School watch with admiration as Bill Carruthers shows the silver medal he won at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Later. Carruthers ran several laps Bill Carruz‘hers displays silver medal Parents were then invited to inspect the classrooms, meet the teachers and have a cup of coffee before leaving. She feels this would give parents a chance to explain to the teacher what their children are like, and give the teacher an opportunity of ex- pressing his or her philosophy of education. “Staf‘t 'a new trend", she said. “Take a teacher home for dinner“. She too stressed the need for better com- munication between school and home. She said she would like to see a return to the old- fashioned custom of taking a teacher home for lunch or dinner. Communication bet- ween school and home was stressed by Caldwell. He stated that he ap- preciates hearing from parents whether it be criticism or praise. What he does not appreciate, he said, is people who claim to represent a large group in the community. Caldwell said he rarely finds out the names of parents making up these groups. Caldwell summed up by saying that he is looking forward to a successful year and a meaningful homeschool relationship. Take a teacher to lunch School Trustee Doreen Quirk then spoke, representing the York County Board of Education. “If you feel strongly, act as an individual and speak for yourself", he urged. “Boys hanging about the street at night are almost invisible â€" but if there’s a girl out there, you worry. They are more vulnerable to assault and perhaps too, when a girl wants to stay away from home all hours, or run away, it is a sign that there must be some real problems in the home”, Mrs. Jackson said. Bill is only one of the 635 teenagers the CAS of York is called upon to help in the space of a year. More than half are boys, but the ratio of girls is increasing. Worry about girls “The teenage girls we are helping may not get into as much trouble as the boys,“ said Maureen Jackson, teen counsellor with the local Children’s Aid Society, “but because they are girls they are more likely to be noticed by police and others. “We are now getting teens in care who for- merly would have gone to training-schools. There is a feeling in government and judicial bodies that a child welfare approach is better." “We are very anxious to keep them out of the welfare system.” Donald Van Camp, director of the CAS stated. “By that. I What can the Children’s Aid do for these runaways? After this escapade, matters didn’t improve at home so Bill tried it again. This time the Children’s Aid were called intoA the picture. One night, while his mother was at work, he decided to take off. Reported missing by his mother, Bill was picked up by police early in the morning while hitch- hiking to a larger city. pool' hall and his bad language. A “We try to counsel the families back together again but if this fails we must find an alternative which will keep the child at school for as long as possible. This is our goal â€"â€" school graduation or apprenticeship is a substantial trade. We want these young people to become really in- dependent." Successful experiment A new method being tried to keep the teenager on the ground while he maps out his future is the “self-select foster home." So far it is a fairly suc- cessful experiment in larger centres and one which the CAS of York Region hopes to try out soon. “So often the teenager boy or girl is looking for independence. Certainly 14 or 15 is young to be wanting out of family life but often the problems at home are severe,” said Van Camp. Even if the young person calls up the Children‘s Aid for help, in the director’s view, it doesn‘t mean that he or she wants a GAS-selected foster home. “When a teenager runs away from home, he isn’t about to settle down in a similar home,” com- mented Van Camp during a discussion on the problems of teenagers today. The CAS makes a strong effort to prevent chronic problems which arise from having no marketable skills, from too-early marriages, from lack of family planning, from abuse of drugs and alcohol â€" all conditions to which runaway teenagers are vulnerable, That is why, during CAS week, the CAS asks the public to “make time for the teens" â€" by calling the CAS if your own teenager is having problems. The number is 895-2318 or 362- 1022. Teenagers select homes “Only when this fails we try to find a home for the young person 0n the understanding that the teenager will either be at school or in an ap- prenticeship while completing the transition to independence.” he said. Can the community afford to subsidize these teenagers while they are growing up away from home? If the alternative is running away, perhaps getting into bigger trouble, the CAS believes we can‘t afford not to help them. “If teenagers find ‘fi impossible to remain under the parents” roofi an auernafive E to find relatives who will board them while they finish school This too keeps them out of the “system” and in an extended family group, “In the case of a boy like Bill, that could mean helping his mother to find a daytime job, with after- school care for the younger ones, to relieve Bill of responsibilities that were too heavy for him. It means helping him to stay in school long enough to make something of himself," Van Camp continued. mean, having them see themselves as “CAS kids” with all the ramifications of foster care, extended wardship and the rest. When a boy or girl wants to leave home, we try first to see what problems at home can be ameliorated to the degree that the parents and the child can remain together. with the youngsters, who are taking part in a program to raise money for the Olympic fund. The children are asking for sponsors for their early morning. half-kilometer runs. LEMONVILLE: Bell Canada has announced that two more sub- divisions in this area will not receive telephones for some time. They are the 12-lot Ratcliff subdivision and the 26 lot Bristol Pond development. The date given is November 1976. One graduate of this new system has completed his BA and is now studying to become a social worker. Persons interested in this for of community service should call the Children's Aid Society at 895-2318 or 362-1022. The self-select system is designed for teenagers who possess enough maturity to appreciate the meaning of the con- tract and whose behavior problems are not more serious than perhaps shoplifting. One Society found that of 18 teenagers who went to 14 self-select foster homes, lasting placements occurred for all but a few. The Society found that the most successful situations were with parents who had a strong desire to live with a teenager, who could cope without feeling personally attacked and where the father was just as in- volved as the mother. For many, the contract contains privileges â€" such as a regular spen- ding allowance, a party l'rlends â€" Much the cmld has never had before. Lasting placement likely The teenager may make counter demands, such as, “I don’t want you to criticize my friends” or “don’t nag me to go to church with you," usually something which has bothered him at home. These expectations are drawn up in the form of a three-month contract which gives the teenager the feeling that she or he has partly created the situation into which he is moving. This provides an extra incentive to stick it out. When a potential foster parent shows interest in a particular teenager, the social worker lets the teenager see the ap- plicants' self-description and the young person can decide if a meeting should take place. During the visit, at which the social worker is present, expectations on both sides are expressed. The parents may say, “We expect you to clean your room once a week” or “you can stay out till midnight only on Saturday”. ' Finally specific teenagers needing homes are described. The CAS homefinder does an assessment of the applicants and asks them to write a self description. Social workers have been extremely impressed by the honesty with which applicants have assessed both their own strengths and weaknesses. If the applicants are accepted they attend an orientation program on what to expect and how to cope with the teen’s problema. Often the teenager prefers a big brother or big sister type of person to live with. It works this way. The Society’s recruitment literature for foster homes focusses on the teens. It is pointed out that while younger children require a role model of both parents, the teen has less need of this, so that single adults or even very young adults are acceptable. News next door Photo by H099 An arts graduate, also holding a degree in social work from the University of Manitoba, Mrs. Watson previously was on the staff of the Child Guidance Clinic of Greater Winnipeg. In her new job, she spends 15 or more hours a week screening and in- terviewing potential big The attractive Newmarket mother of two started in September as executive director of Big Brothers of York, an agency devoted to matching up boys without dads with men who have the time and the interests to share with them. The workings of the Big Brother movement are no surprise to Mrs. Watson, as she moved here only a year ago from Winnipeg, where she was a volun- teer with the Big Sisters, a similar organization. NORTH YORK: York- Finch General Hospital has set out space in its Medical Office Building for the borough’s public health nurses and family planning clinic. They have offered the board of health a total of 2,762 square feet of space for the two services. Lease proposals are Ibeing studied. By Sheila Roberts She might not look like anybody’s big brother, but Karen Watson knows what Big Brothers are all about. Tears and News next door It is intended that these lands will form an integrated extension of an established "Select Indus- trial with Limited Commercial" area within the South Don Mills Industrial Area. THERE WILL BE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1975 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE. TOWN OF MARKHAM MUNICIPAL OFFICES AT BUTTONVILLE TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING OFFICIAL PLAN. Amendment No. 64 - To redesignate a parcel of land now designated "Select Industrial" to "Select Industrial with Limited Commercial". The subject property is located on the west side of Woodbine Avenue (formerly Don Mills Road) between Steelcase Road and Denison Street and is part of Lots 2 and 3, Concession 3, as shown on Map 1 below. SOUTH DON MILLS INDUSTRIAL AREA Dated October 20, 1975. Furthermore, written submissions will be received by the Planning Department up to the time of the hearing. The proposed amendments may be examined at the Planning Office. Anyone interested is invited to attend the hearings and to comment on, support or object to the proposed amendments. R.W. Adams, Chairman Planning Committee. Any man, single or married, age 18 or over, can apply to become a big brother. However, if Mrs. Watson finds a boy with such problems, she is able to refer him to the place where he will get the help he needs. When Mrs. Watson interviews a hopeful big brother, she looks for maturity and depen- dability in the man and for someone who is prepared to make a commitment of four hours a week for at least one year. “The big brother is really there to give companionship and ex- periences to his little brother,” Mrs. Watson said. “He's not intended to be a father figure, but is there to give the little boy something to look forward to." When Mrs. Watson interviews potential little brothers, she is looking {or a boy, between six and 16, who has no father in his home and is “in the normal range" emotionally. and little brothers, in the hopes of finding good personality matches. “We wouldn’t accept someone with really heavy emotional problems," she ex- plained. “The boy has to be able to use the relationship.” AT 7:30 P.M. @112 @nfim of flarkham “I would like people to call me if there's anything they wish to talk about,” Mrs. Watson said. A real people-lover, she finds it easy to relate to the boys looking for big brothers. “Some of the boys I‘ve been interviewing are a real joy." she said. “But they need a little sunshine in their lives.” Because Big Brothers of York cover the entire region, she is finding it difficult to get to all boys for follow-ups. Once big and little brothers have been matched, Mrs. Watson is there to help with any difficulties that arise in the relationship. “And when he’s ready, he can come back," she said. Another part of her job is Athe foqu-up. PUBLIC HEARINGS Being a young mother The new director of Big Brothers of York. Karen Watson. with Big Brothers' chairman. Joe Gaspar. at a press conference Thursday of last week in Richmond Hill. Big Brothers’ director a lady AMENDMENT No.66 " MOUNT JOY ‘ l6 TH. AVENUE MOUNT JOY INDUSTRIAL AREA (ii) AME NDMENT NO. 65 The Big Brothers of York are currently working on a recruitment program â€" each big brother and each member Although the men have to be screened, rejections are few, Mrs. Watson said, because usually both the director and the man come to the mutual decision if “it’s just not for him". herself, Mrs. Watson also finds it easy to relate to theimothers of the boys: “I met a couple of young widows â€" I can imagine how life changed for them overnight and can see the struggle they're going through now." she said. Mrs. Watson finds she always has an eye open for potential big brothers. but realizes she can’t “armtwist”. “It has to be the man‘s own decision,” she ex- plained. THE LIBERAL. Wednesday. Oct. 22. 1975 â€" C-l3 Plan. The area covered this amendment is parts Lots 17 through 20, in Concession 8, as shown Map 2 below. I? TH. AVENUE Amendment No. 65 - To exempt a proposed plan of subdivision from the provisions of the Official Plan which requires secondary plans for industrial areas prior to their sub- division. The parcel coVered by this amendment is part of Lot 18, Concession 8, as shown on Map 2 below. Amendment No. 66 â€" plan for the Mount Industrial Area to detailed land use patterns in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Official T.M. Januszewski, Planning Director. AT 9:00 P.M. ailed land use and road 777%! “There are the tears with the little brothers' stories," she said. “but along come the big brothers 'who can't change their lives . . . but they can give then some really good times.“ Mrs. Watson can be reached through the Big Brothers of York office at 727-1251. Even though the job has its moments, Mrs. Watson finds it also offers a “terrific balance.” of the board of directors is being urged to find a potgntial big Abrotherr. r “I’ve got a long waiting list of little brothers." said Mrs. Watson, “and it‘s always growing." Last month, there were 27 boys waiting for a big brother in the region â€" six big brothers were waiting to be assigned a little brother and ten more were in the screening process. fr LOTZO Joy est secondary ( Pho'o LOT l6 LOT l7 LOT I8 lish bv Roberts) //