Kindred's Families Together
Kindred is all about realizing the power of human connection. Our programs and services respond to the challenges that threatened families and leave them vulnerable. Through a focus on enhancing the mental health and well-being of our clients, we can help clients build strong and resilient families: allowing them to live the lives they have always wanted.
In the spirit of reciprocity, volunteers at Kindred are individuals, couples and families who contribute their time and passion, without the expectation of compensation, to our purpose of realizing the power of human connection. Partners in this purpose value courageous leadership, kindness, respect, compassion and accountability.
What's Involved
- The placement student role provides support to the Families Together team. The Families Together program is a 60-minute family-based community program.
- The program is divided into two components.
- The first half of the program involves the entire family and is activity-based.
- The second half is a discussion-based parent group.
- Activities during each week of program focuses on a specific, parent-chosen topic.
- The placement student helps to lead activities, guides discussion, and offers support to participants throughout the program.
- This role is flexible and can include other roles and responsibilities such as supply shopping, activity bag packing, curriculum development, etc.
Requirements
- Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after May 1 of the current academic year). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process online with their local Police station as soon as possible as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process. Please see the Field Experience Police Information Requirement webpage for more information on how to request a PIC-VS.
- Students placed with Kindred also require a Child Intervention Check issued by Alberta Human Services. More information about the CIC will be provided at the orientation session.
- Volunteer References and Intake Documents will need to be completed and submitted once applicants are placed with Kindred's Families Together.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Apply a variety of facilitation strategies to encourage discussion, generate ideas, and build consensus
- Design and implement a variety of activities that meet students’ interests and learning needs
- Gain experience working with youth in a small group setting
- Lead or co-lead the component of at least one project within the program
- Model positive behaviour for children, youth, teachers, and parents
Families Together Service Dates
- Orientation/Training Session: TBA for Winter 2024
- Session times are weekday evenings, typically Tuesdays. Program runs for 60 minutes each week. Programs usually start at 6:00pm.
In total, pre-service teachers agree to commit to a minimum of 20 hours for their service-learning experience
Co-Curricular Service-Learning Dates
Fall Semester Timeline
- Fall 2024 Applications Open: August 28, 2024
- Werklund Information Sessions:
- September 9, 10:00 am (in-person: EDT 450)
- September 9, 2:30 pm (Zoom: Register here)
- Fall 2024 Applications Close: September 15, 2024 (program dependent)
- Fall 2024 Placements Start: early October (program dependent)
- Fall 2024 Placements End: mid-December (program dependent)
Winter Semester Timeline
- Winter 2025 Applications Open: November 15, 2024
- Winter 2025 Information Session: November 26, 5:00 pm
(Zoom: Register here) - Winter 2025 Applications Close: December 1, 2024 (program dependent)
- Winter 2025 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
- Winter 2025 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)
Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities
All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.
Fall Check-In & Reflection Sessions
- Tuesday, October 15, 2024: 9:30 am (Zoom)
- Monday, October 21, 2024: 2:30 pm (in-person)
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
- Monday, November 4, 2024: 9:30 am (Zoom)
- Tuesday, November 19, 2024: 12:00 pm (Zoom)
- Friday, November 29, 2024: 9:30 am (in-person)
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, December 12, 2024: 9:30 am (in-person)
Winter Check-In & Reflection Sessions
- Monday, January 20, 2025: 9:30 am (in-person)
- Monday, January 20, 2025: 2:30 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, January 30, 2025: 9:00 am (in-person)
- Monday, February 3, 2025: 9:30 am (in-person)
- Tuesday, February 4, 2025: 12:00 pm (Zoom)
- Thursday, February 20, 2025: 1:30 pm (Zoom)
- Tuesday, March 4, 2025: 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Winter 2024 applications are now closed.
Interested in applying for a future semester?
- Log on to Elevate and go to My Werklund Experiences > Courses/Programs
- Find the Service-Learning program and click Apply
- Complete the Service-Learning Application
I am so grateful for this organization, this program, and for the amazing coordinators. I have loved being a part of this program and I think it has been such a point of certainty and excitement as we all navigate the uncertainty of our world today.
Families Together Volunteer