Health and Wellness Information and Promotion
359 - OUR CHILDREN OUR YOUTH OUR FUTURE
519-336-0623 Ext. 303
The Our Children Our Youth Our Future conference has been modelled after a similar forum in Midland, Michigan, entitled "Together For Kids" (1999). In an effort to bring this concept to the Sarnia-Lambton community, past-Chairperson, Kevin Churchill, of the County of Lambton, Community Health Services Department organized the first planning meeting on 16 April 2002. This planning committee consisted of many different community service providers and since then, the membership has grown significantly. Such past and present community partners include the YMCA of Sarnia Lambton, Family Counselling Centre, Ontario Early Years Sarnia-Lambton, Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society, Lambton CollegeEarly Childhood Education Program, St. Clair Catholic District School Board, Community Health Services Department, Lambton Kent District School Board, St. Clair Child and Youth Services, North Lambton Community Health Centre, Organization for Literacy in Lambton, Canadian Mental Health Association, Pathways Health Centre for Children, Lambton Rural Chatham Kent Kids Home Child Care, Lambton County Library, and many community volunteers.
The purpose of the OCOYOF conference is to provide a learning opportunity for professionals and family members who touch the lives of children. This educational forum has featured dynamic key-note addresses by clinical psychologist Dr. Ronald Clavier and psychologist and author of "Hold onto your Kids", Dr. Gordon Neufeld. Child advocate and parent, Mr. Mike Neuts has also spoken to a large, well-attended audience about the tragic implications of bullying. Many additional workshops during the conference have been presented by local community professionals on a variety of youth-related topics such as self-harm and suicide, substance abuse, problem gambling, grief, nutrition, self-esteem, parental stress and cyber-safety.
The conference is a non-profit event. While initial start-up funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation was received for the first conference, the committee has since been responsible for their own fundraising. For more information, please contact Lori Girolametto, Protection Support Supervisor at the Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society at (519) 336-0623 Ext. 303.
