Who is the Canadian Families and Corrections Network?
CFCN’s mission statement is “Building stronger and safer communities by assisting families affected by criminal behavior, incarceration and community reintegration”. They have a significant number of resources that many of our members have found to be helpful. They have also created a very useful guide for those who have no support group in their area and would like to set one up. Please click on the link below to see what you can do to get started and a list of groups already existing in Canada:
I don't have the skills to set up a support group
We think you do! The Ottawa MOMS Group was started by a few women – just like you – who couldn’t face going through this journey alone. Our first six months of operation saw the four of us sitting around a table, sharing our confusion, frustration and sadness. There was some comfort knowing that others experienced exactly what we were going through. We put posters up at our local remand centre, the John Howard Society office and at the courthouse. We discovered that if you build it, they will come. Eventually we learned to reach out to other community groups, bringing in guest speakers to help educate ourselves. Thus MOMS Ottawa grew. It all begins with a first step, to help yourself and others. Don’t hesitate to reach out.