Newmarket's Community Living in 'urgent' need of families to care for adults with developmental disabilities

Families in Georgina, Bradford and Aurora providing 'foster homes' say experience full of joy and happiness

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 9, 2021
Lisa Queen

This is what it looks like when a village comes together to support some of our communities’ most vulnerable residents.

But it’s also what it looks like when those supports became stretched bare during the pandemic.

At the heart of the story are Maggie Chen, a 25-year-old woman from Richmond Hill with cerebral palsy who is non-verbal and requires assistance with her daily needs, Nick Clark, a 39-year-old man from Whitchurch-Stouffville who has Down syndrome, and woman whose biological family doesn’t want to reveal her identity.

The three are cared for by families in Georgina, Bradford and Aurora who participate in the associate family program operated by Newmarket-based Community Living Central York, which supports adults with developmental disabilities.

Based on the foster care model, the program sees associate families care for people in their homes, with some providing a home to the same person for as long as 40 years, spokesperson Kate Sisopha said.

“The person becomes a welcome member of the associate family’s extended family while maintaining contact with their biological family. The longevity of our placement provides the person with consistency and security,” Sisopha said.

Respite families provide short-term care in their homes when associate families take personal time off.

Community Living provides the families with training, supports and a per diem remuneration.

The program is in “urgent” need of loving and nurturing associate and respite families.

“Throughout this pandemic, our associate families have continued to support people during this challenging time and most of our families have done this with minimal respite and while regular day supports have been closed,” Sisopha said.

Biological, associate and respite families call the program invaluable.

Maggie’s mother, Hong Chen, struggled as a single mother to care for her special-needs daughter, who was regularly in and out of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

“Before finding this program, I spent a lot of time crying and being mentally stressed out,” she said.

Maggie, who likes bowling, swimming and listening to music, has been with her associate family, Samantha and Shane Felhaber, of Georgina, since she was 9 and also spends time with her respite family, Cathy and Dan Davidson, of Bradford.

“Maggie is a lucky girl to get into this program,” said Chen, saying her daughter receives help, love and support from the families.

For the past four years, the Felhabers have also cared for Nick, who enjoys trampolining, swimming, skating and attending social events.

Maggie and Nick are part of the family, participating in activities and family trips.

“Providing a home for Nick and Maggie gives our family a sense of pride in opening our home to another person that needs support,” Samantha said.

“Sixteen years later, we can’t imagine not having them in our home as part of our family.”

Helen Clark, Nick’s grandmother, said the program has provided her grandson with “a very genuine family life.”

He’s more physically and socially active and his speech has improved, the Whitchurch-Stouffville woman said.

Cathy Davidson is a respite family for Maggie, who participates in family activities and outings and was named an honorary member of Davidson’s son’s softball team.

“I choose to do this because she brings much joy and happiness to our home and has become a very important member of our family,” she said.

“It is so rewarding when you see the joy and happiness in her eyes and smile.”

While it’s difficult sometimes due to Maggie’s limited ability to communicate how she feels, Davidson said the times they share together are some of the happiest they have as a family.

Christine Roberts is an associate family in Aurora, providing a loving home to a woman with developmental disabilities.

“I find it very rewarding when the person we support is happy and doing things that are meaningful to her,” she said.

“The person we support adds as much to our life as much as we do to hers.”

For more information, contact Sisopha at 905 898-3000 ext. 510 or by email at kate.sisopha@clcy.ca