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History of SIRCH

Here at SIRCH Community Services and Consulting we have spent the past 20 years focusing on the development of programs and resources for the sole purpose of helping individuals and families live a better life.  Whether through our Community Services programs at a local level, or through our consulting and training nation-wide, we provide support, information, practical resources, build skills and increase confidence.  Some programs involve very dedicated and skilled volunteers.  All programs involve intricate partnerships that ensure our services are maximized for the people we serve.

We are amazed that 20 years has gone by so quickly, and we are extremely proud of the programs, resources and consulting that we have offered over this time. Our innovation and expertise remain the backbone of all that we have done and will continue to do in the future.

Outlined for you are our accomplishments, ingenuity and community focus in an historical narrative beginning with our inception in 1989.

The History of SIRCH Community Services

Haliburton, Ontario

1989-2011

 

In the 1980’s, there weren’t a lot of social service programs in the County of Haliburton.  The Haliburton Social Action Committee (a social planning body) formed a not-for-profit organization (SIRCH Community Services) to be an administrative body to oversee programs that were to be created.  The mandate was to look for gaps in social and health services and to address those gaps.  Typically, that meant evaluating what the needs in the community were, hunting for funding, then setting up programs or finding other ways to ensure that residents got services they needed.

In 1989, SIRCH became incorporated.  The legal name is Supportive Initiative for Residents in the County of Haliburton-It became shortened to SIRCH quite quickly!  Our first program was Parent Support Services, providing counseling, support and advocacy to parents of children birth to 18 years.  Since then we have continued to excel at program creation and multi-level collaboration in Haliburton County and across Canada.

20 Years of Community Supports & Success!

1989-2011

1989-1990 – A year of firsts

  • SIRCH became incorporated and started the Parent Support Services Program.  This program successfully involved counselling, support and advocacy to parents with children ages birth to 18

1990-1991 – Meeting special needs

  • Our Volunteer Hosts Program began with Family Respite Services, which was developed for families who have children with special needs requiring ongoing respite supports
  • In the summer, our ingenuity continued with the development of our One-to-OneSpecial Needs Program that offered individualized programming supports for children with special needs during the busy summer months

1991-1992 – Reaching out

  • SIRCH assisted with the development and implementation of Telecare in Haliburton County, which offered a 24 hour Crisis and Support Line to residents in our community
  • Our summer Special Needs Program developed into a year-round venture and the Haliburton County Counselling Centre started providing adult mental health counselling services

1992-1993 – Mentoring

  • The Big Buddies Program successfully launched in Haliburton County, providing support and mentoring to girls and boys.
  • We continued our collaborative approach and partnered with the CNIB to provide talking books to individuals with vision impairment.

1993-1994 – Unique Model  

  • A Community Consultation process began, to plan for a unique model of support for women experiencing abuse: Women’s Emergency House
  • Another first at SIRCH as we welcomed Sir Sanford Fleming College Social Service Worker students, as they did their practicum training with our team!

 

1994-1995 – Many programs launch

  • The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) began in Haliburton County, in partnership with CHACE, and provided a multitude of services including Mobile Family Outreach, Intensive Parent Support, Parenting groups and educational activities
  • Our Community Hospice Program was launched, offering support to individuals and families experiencing a life-threatening illness and/or bereavement.
  • My Coach Makes A Difference started and ended, culminating in a fantastic Coaching and Leadership Fair
  • SIRCH successfully partnered with Kinark to organize a Play Therapy Conference for local service providers
  • The Crisis Assistance Program (CAP) began, with volunteer teams available 24/7 to support victims of accidents, violence, fires or other traumatic events
  • Counseling for Women (for survivors of sexual assault, abuse or violence) started

 

1995-1996 – Starts and finishes

  • Women’s Emergency House opened; the Canadian prototype was finished and furnished largely by community volunteers.  It was staffed by volunteers and provided 24/7 safe housing and support for women experiencing abuse and their children
  • A CAPC Clothing Exchange began in various communities throughout the County
  • As a result of a partnership between SIRCH and the Ontario Camping Association, an Education Day was held in Haliburton with the esteemed Dr. Dan Offord as our Keynote speaker
  • Big Buddies was divested to Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Victoria County who took on Haliburton County

 

1996-1997 – More beginnings and endings

  • The Pregnancy Support Program (CPNP) started, and included birth companions, Special Delivery Club and a phone in “baby line”
  • CAPC added a community support program to assist people on low or fixed incomes
  • Haliburton County Counselling Centre was divested to Haliburton Highlands Health Services
  • The Crisis Assistance Program was divested to a group of community volunteers

 

1997-1998 – Collaborating

  • “From Dream to Reality” a book by Lon Duncombe about Women’s Emergency House, was launched in Toronto
  • SIRCH partnered with Credit Counseling to bring financial counselling services to the residents of Haliburton County
  • The Parent Support Services program was divested to the newly formed Family Services of Haliburton County
  • Partnering with other service providers. SIRCH coordinated a highly successful Community Services Fair to introduce the public to various community resources

 

1998-1999 – Expansion & closure

  • SIRCH conducted consultations in Victoria and Northumberland Counties that resulted in the expansion of the CAPC-CPNP programs to those areas, via Northumberland Child Development Centre and Family Resources for Victoria County
  • SIRCH successfully partnered with nine organizations across Ontario to pilot School’s Cool, a school readiness program for children 3 to 5
  • SIRCH began its Consulting Division to provide consulting and training services at a provincial level
  • A pregnancy journal entitled “My Journal into Motherhood” was published; “My Journal into Healing” was also published which focuses on individuals who have lost a loved one.
  • SIRCH was invited to participate in the World Volunteer Conference in Edmonton
  • Women’s Emergency House closed due to lack of sustainable funding

 

1999-2000 – Social entrepreneurism

  • SIRCH Consulting provided services for four organizations and School’s Cool training to several more
  • A series of parent resource booklets were developed and distributed
  • The French version of School’s Cool was made available
  • School’s Cool kits were sold in Ontario and Manitoba, and 75 instructors were trained to teach the School’s Cool program provincially
  • SIRCH made presentations at several symposiums and conferences
  • Counseling Services for Women was divested jointly to the YWCA and Women’s Health Care

 

2000-2001 - Resources and networking

  • A number of effective School’s Cool resources were created: Cool Bear puppets, Early Steps to Math & Early Steps to Listening & Following Instructions; Palliative Care Directory of Services; Care Notes
  • Bright Starts delivered its inaugural School’s Cool program in Haliburton  
  • SIRCH oversaw the setting up of the Palliative and Bereavement Care Coalition for Haliburton County

 

2001-2002 – More firsts

  • SIRCH Consulting awarded a contract to write and publish “Sharing Matters/Entre Nous” a newsletter which is distributed nationally
  • Resources developed included Early Steps for Fathers, Helping Dads Figure Out Breastfeeding
  • SIRCH consulting started providing evaluation services
  • Our First Annual School’s Cool Conference was a great success
  • Bright Starts (CAPC/CPNP) was evaluated and restructured
  • Hospice put Care Notes in the hospitals and doctors offices in partnership with funeral homes
  • Special Needs Coordination program closed due to lack of funding

 

2002-2003 – Still going

  • The Second Annual School’s Cool Conference was held
  • More resources were developed: “Connect With Your Baby” and “Getting Ready for K” workshop manuals

 

2003-2004 – And going

  • SIRCH Consulting provided evaluation services 52 School’s Cool programs across Ontario & Manitoba
  • The Third Annual School’s Cool Conference was held in Haliburton
  • Resource development included “It’s Your Move-Teen Pregnancy Game,” authored by Cheryl Booth

2004-2005 – Resources and programs

  • The much anticipated Fourth Annual School’s Cool Conference was held, with Charles Coffey as our Keynote speaker
  • School’s Cool was piloted as part of the kindergarten curriculum in the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
  • Resources developed included “Getting Ready for K — A Parent Guide” and SIRCH authored “Raising the Bar,” a report for the Ontario CAPC Coalition
  • The Telecare Distress Line was closed; many other help lines available
  • SIRCH Consulting worked with Trillium Lakelands District School Board to develop and pilot a program to reduce girl bullying in grade 8

 

2005-2006 – Networking works

  • The Hospice Program received an infusion of funding
  • A partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough and Area brought a increase of Alzheimer supports to the County
  • SIRCH helped to found and organize both the Central East Hospice Network and the National Network for CAPC and CPNP
  • SIRCH Consulting developed a curriculum on Creating Resiliency in Vulnerable Children for a mental health agency in Muskoka
  • SIRCH Consulting was asked to evaluate a CPNP program in Peterborough

 

2006-2007- Voila

  • The Ministry of Education funded the translation of School’s Cool into French
  • Province-wide funding received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for School’s Cool in K
  • SIRCH Consulting developed and produced “Impact Statements” profiling CAPC & CPNP project issues, which were distributed nationally

2007-2008 – National contacts

  • SIRCH’s executive director co-chaired the National Network of CAPC & CPNP programs
  • SIRCH Consulting developed and produced additional materials for the Ontario Coalition of CAPC & CPNP projects
  • SIRCH was introduced to the Innovation Synergy Centre of Markham, and they helped develop a plan to “grow” School’s Cool  

 

2008-2009 – Community building

  • The Healthy Children Program was created under the CAPC umbrella including several innovative activities: Chef of the Month Challenge, Lunchbox Program and a highly successful Community Kitchen
  • Online School’s Cool instructor training is developed and piloted
  • School’s Cool training and kits revised
  • Research based on over 3,000 children who have taken School’s Cool shows results averaging nearly one year of development over 24 sessions
  • SIRCH co-sponsors a 2-day conference in Peterborough on Aboriginal issues with  Nimlewaquom Learning Centre

 

 

2009 – 2010

  • Research report recommends an innovative model of residential hospice care for Haliburton with SIRCH as a key partner
  • School’s Cool is launched into its own incorporated business, divested from SIRCH October 1, 2009
  • School’s Cool signs a distribution agreement with an international distributor, FlagHouse Inc. to market and sell School’s Cool across North America
  • Online School’s Cool instructor training goes live in October
  • Sew Resourceful a pilot project cottage craft industry, begins
  • SIRCH drops the “and Consulting” from its name and becomes SIRCH Community Services once again

2010 – 2011

  • SIRCH facilitates community planning around residential hospice care
  • SIRCH collaborates with Bill & Lisa Kerr and many others to start a Volunteer Dental Outreach
  • Fundraising gets fun with Hike for Hospice and In SIRCH of a Perfect Christmas
  • CAPC starts to develop online resources

2011 – 2012

  • The Volunteer Dental Outreach opens!
  • SIRCH and HHHS collaborate to pilot a new model of residential hospice care in the hospital supported by SIRCH volunteers