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Youth and Family Engagement

Where your voice and story make a difference.

Woodview Youth & Family Engagement strives to build strong inclusive connections for youth, caregivers, and their communities.

As the Lead Agency for the Moving on Mental Health initiative for Brantford/Brant, Woodview is committed to engaging with youth and families to create meaningful change to children’s mental health services in our communities.

The goal of our youth and family engagement framework considers youth and families as equal partners in the co-creation of the programs and services that they use. It also includes partnering with youth, families and allies in a variety of ways to transform the children’s mental health system.

As a young mom, Woodview provided my son and I an environment where we felt safe, understood and provided guidance towards resources within our community that we did not know were available.  Being apart of the Engagement group provides me a great opportunity to give back to individuals and families in our community, as a THANK YOU for all Woodview has done to contribute to my families success story,  I can only hope I will provide the same level of significance in someone else’s journey by being apart of Engagement.

Nadine Wight

I’m so grateful to be a part of a team of people who make sure all of our voices are heard, and who make sure our stories make a difference in the community.

Shalyn McGuin

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be involved?

Anyone who has had past or present experience using Woodview services for themselves or a loved one is welcome to be a part of our Engagement Committee and Network. If you have experience navigating mental health in other services but not expressly with Woodview, we welcome you to be part of our network as your input is still needed as we work to contribute to the bigger systems of care.

What does involvement in the Network look like?

There are three levels of participation you can choose from regarding our Engagement Network.  Choose your level of engagement and let us know if anything changes moving forward.  Depending on your level of engagement you will be invited to participate in any of the following:

  • Monthly Meetings (90 Minutes in Length)
  • Special Projects
  • Surveys/Town Halls
  • Events (if available)
  • Read the Newsletter

When do meetings and events take place?

Our green zone monthly engagement meetings happen on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at either 12 Noon or 7pm. We have both in-person and zoom options. Choose which one suits you best. Other events and Town Halls will be announced as they are planned. Try out the engagement meeting for 3 months, if you love it, we would love for you to commit to one year so we can count on your insights and efforts (We understand if life happens, just let us know if something significant changes).

Where do meetings and events typically take place?

Our monthly meetings take place in person at 643 Park Road North in Brantford, or over Zoom, whichever suits you.  Events and Town Hall meetings or special projects could take place at any of our Woodview Locations in Brantford. Details will be communicated.

How will my input be used?

We will invite you to give us input (anonymously if desired), and to participate in a variety of ways including but not limited to:

  • Reviewing Communications and Survey Content
  • Policy and Process Review
  • Community content and resource creation
  • Peer support opportunities and events
  • New Program Development
  • Your experience with Woodview services and staff.

Choose your level of participation:

Meet our Engagement Lead Team

Theresa Vidal - EDI & Engagement Coordinator, Chair

Theresa has worked at Woodview since 2015 where she has worked with the Intensive Child and Family services team, as well as being a member of several committees within Woodview and the Brantford community.  She was a member of the EDI committee when it was launched and has grown with the organization in their EDI journey. Theresa believes in giving a voice to all individuals, and her goal is to continue to advocate to remove systemic barriers for the under-represented groups for staff and clients alike.

Shalyn Wilson - Co-Chair

Hello! I’m Shalyn Wilson, a person with lived-experience and a mom of two. As a parent who carries a lot of childhood trauma, I’ve had to learn how to regulate my emotions alongside my children.  Trying to learn these skills while trying to parent a child with their own mental health struggles felt like it was impossible.  After becoming involved in the community, raising my kids feels more like a team effort. Knowing I’m not alone, and knowing where to go when I need help, has made such a difference. The Engagement Network gives parents like myself a place to share their stories and work together to make our incredible community even better. I can’t wait for you to join the team!

Contact Us

This is an exciting journey, and we are just getting started. We are looking forward to your story and your voice joining ours in making a difference in our community.

Learn More

Youth Engagement

Woodview in the Square

The New Mentality

Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH)

Glossary of Terms

Adult Allies

Adults committed to supporting and mentoring youth in engagement activities and meetings.

Brave Space

A space to be who you are, to say what you need to say and to be challenged to grow.

Caregiver

Any person who takes on the role of caring and supporting another person on a regular basis.

Engagement

The active invitation and inclusion of persons with lived experience in the operations, decision making and service creation at Woodview.

Engagement Committee

Members of the engagement network who are willing to volunteer their time and efforts for at least one year to our regular monthly meetings, special projects and working groups.

Engagement Network

Every person who is interested in engaging with Woodview and participating at their level of comfort.

Family

Includes all those who offer connection and support no matter how they come to us.

Inclusive

Everyone belongs in Engagement, every voice matter, every experience deserves an ear. We desire to provide a safe and open environment for every person.

Peer Support

Support offered from youth and caregivers with lived experience to one another.