Introduction

Strong, healthy and stable families, in all their forms, nurture and care for each other and contribute to the larger community. But at times, family can be a source of disappointment or even danger.
The Family Advocacy Program helps to create conditions that help all families create or maintain stability when times are difficult.  We achieve those goals in three different ways:

• Training individuals to be their own advocates, so that they are better able to ask directly and effectively for what they and their families need. We also provide individual advocacy assistance to assist people to access the resources they need – such as housing, education, income, health, or employment – when they are unable to access them themselves. See our schedule of current events to find out more about the How to Get What You Need Workshops.
• Supporting and participating in community coalitions and networks to highlight the needs of families that are at risk or in distress. The staff and board of FSFO lead, support, and participate in literally dozens of community coalitions and creative partnerships. 
• Advocating for public policies that promote the strengths and acknowledge the demands facing families today. We believe that addressing the root causes of social issues is crucial.  We advocate for fairer public policies in areas such as child and family poverty, family violence, and mental health.

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What We Believe

Our board has endorsed specific positions that reflect what we believe needs to change in our community in order to create conditions that are better for families in all their forms. Our position papers are grounded in our clients’ experiences.

Click on the links below to see our positions on:

Access to Affordable Housing
Income Security
Physical Punishment of Children
Same Sex Marriage
Child Care
Gender Equality
Children & Family Mental Health (coming soon)

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Contact Us

For more information about the Family Advocacy Program, please contact Emily Troy, Advocacy Worker, at 613-725-3601, extension 132.  Or, email at etroy@familyservicesottawa.org.