2020 has been such a challenging year for everyone. The stress of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has detrimentally affected the mental health of many, especially those who struggle with addiction and other mental health conditions. When paired with a reduction in services, it is the perfect storm.

At Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR) we continue to focus on what we can do to improve and expand our support for families affected by addiction. Our public service announcement, which is playing nationally, has significantly increased the demand for our services. So far this year, over 145 parents of children struggling with addiction have reached out to us under our Parent to Parent Support Program.

To better serve families we have arranged online training for up to 60 additional parent volunteers and 12 are currently enrolled. Soon we will have 28 parents trained in the Invitation to Change Approach by the Centre for Motivation and Change. We now hold 4 online support groups per month and operate a Support Line from 1-3 pm Eastern five days a week. Thanks to all our incredible volunteers without whom we could not exist.

Please visit Impact 2020 on our website for information on our education and advocacy work this year.

As we approach Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1st, we hope that you will consider helping us reach more families and continue our education and advocacy work. All donations will be matched up to $20,000.

Stay safe, 

Angie Hamilton

• Supported over 145 parents in our Parent to Parent Phone Support Program  and we are training 12 new parent volunteers in CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) for a total of 28 trained parent volunteers
• Moved our Parent Support Groups online due to COVID-19 and doubled our groups to four per month
• Launched a Phone Support Line open Monday to Friday from 1-3 pm
• Updated website to provide information and resources regarding COVID-19 and Substance Use Disorder
• “Secure Care; a question of capacity, autonomy and the best interest of the child” is published in the February 3rd edition of the CMAJ Online in response to the Commentary “Secure Care; More Harm than Good”
• FAR’s Executive Director participated as a Panelist in a Session on Complex Cases at the ISAM-CSAM Conference 
• FAR’s Executive Director participated in a Town Hall hosted my MP Rob Oliphant on Youth Mental Health
• FAR’s Executive Director made two deputations to the Toronto Board of Health in support of the recommendations of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health to address the opioid poisoning epidemic
•  The Co-Founders of FAR presented on Family-Centred Care at the META:PHI Annual Conference
• FAR’s Executive Director participated in a session on Legal/Human Rights Issues and SUD at the META:PHI Annual Conference 
• FAR is involved with the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)  in the review of the first ever addiction medicine modules to be added to the curriculum for medical students across Canada. Phase 1 is focused on opioids and is due to be rolled out January, 2021.  Phase 2 will address other substance use disorders and will be for medical residents and continuing professional development for practicing physicians
• FAR’s Executive Director participated in Addiction Medicine Month for medical students at the University of Toronto
• Partnered with Maison Arc en Ciel (a residential treatment center for young francophone men aged  between 12 to 24 ) to provide presentations and support to their families
• Presentation to the Canada Revenue Agency for National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW)
• FAR’s Executive Director appeared on CHIN TV to discuss our services and the opioid poisoning epidemic
• Hosted a virtual Recovery Day Toronto
• Community Partner and actively involved with a virtual Recovery Day Ottawa 
• Participated in International Overdose Awareness Day in Toronto
• Increased Followers on Facebook to over 8, 600 – an increase of 70% in 2020