Heart of Orléans BIA

Sonshine Families

Sonshine Families
I want to take the time for this blog to profile a long standing company in the Heart of Orléans.  Sonshine Families have been operating for 20 years, servicing Orléans and the Ottawa are. Sonshine Families is licensed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide residential care to children and adults of all ages in both Foster Homes and Group Homes. Sonshine Families provides treatment and care within a Christian valued setting for children and adults. Placement with our agency is often an alternative to institutional placement.
Their mission is simple- Sonshine Families is a group of individuals and families who have come together to serve as foster families and staff, operating as one large extended family. The personal beliefs and practices value systems of the organization are based on the basic teachings of the Bible. Because He cares, the family also cares.
Here are some of the services Sonshine Families offer to our community:
Sonshine Families operates 2 adult group homes in the area offering services to adults over the age of 16. Both homes are staffed 24 hour a day. One home is co-ed, the other females only.
R.A.Y.S. (Reaching All Your Stars) Day Program serves adults with developmental and physical disabilities. This program runs Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and features weekly sing-a-longs, community outings and adapted sports.
Objectives

  • Enable adults with special needs to attain their individual potential at their own pace
  • Provide the participants with access to a wide range of activities, while enhancing their ability to interact in the community
  • Provide a stimulating program that encourages creativity and enjoyment
  • Provide a dedicated, supported and trained staff team who create a positive environment for the individuals in their care
  • Provide for specific individual needs through goals developed for the program participants established and monitored through direct case management

History
The R.A.Y.S. Day Program started out initially to aid our foster families and group home residents who couldn’t access a program. The program started with three participants in 1996 and since then has expanded to 15 participants.
Program Highlights

  • To encourage interaction in the community and with peers
  • To provide multi-sensory experiences
  • To develop themes of education
  • To promote a variety of interests
  • To support diverse learning styles
  • To appreciate new life experiences

If you love to sing, Sonshine Singers might be a program perfect for you. Founded in 1991, Sonshine Singers is open to anyone within the community who loves music. Sonshine Singers is a community choir made up of children, youth and special adults who love music and want to share the joy of singing throughout the community. We strive to maintain a program of total integration for many of our members with special needs. Over the past several years, Sonshine Singers has participated in many community events including:

  • Singing in local nursing homes
  • Singing in community churches
  • Participating in the “Parade of Lights”
  • And other community events

The last service I would like to highlight is their foster family program. There are two strands of foster care. One is Therapeutic where the families provide a family setting for children who require more care and supervision than would normally be provided in a regular foster home. Due to the level of challenges these children present, the amount of 1:1 time needed for each child is greater than what would be expected for a child of his or her age.
The other is S.A.F.E. Medical Foster Homes (Staff Assisted Family Environment) which provides a family, non-institutionalized setting for children and youth who have significant medical needs, requiring more physical care and medical care than would be normally provided in other foster homes. These clients typically would progress to adult group care facilities upon reaching adulthood, but benefit from a family environment during their developmental years.
Sonshine Families is always looking for community support. If you have some time to offer, or would like more information, please feel free to contact them at their head office located at:
1807 St. Joseph Blvd. Unit 307
Orleans ON K1C 7C6
613-834-8187
 
 
 
 
 Sonshine Families
I want to take the time for this blog to profile a long standing company in the Heart of Orléans.  Sonshine Families have been operating for 20 years, servicing Orléans and the Ottawa are. Sonshine Families is licensed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide residential care to children and adults of all ages in both Foster Homes and Group Homes. Sonshine Families provides treatment and care within a Christian valued setting for children and adults. Placement with our agency is often an alternative to institutional placement.
Their mission is simple- Sonshine Families is a group of individuals and families who have come together to serve as foster families and staff, operating as one large extended family. The personal beliefs and practices value systems of the organization are based on the basic teachings of the Bible. Because He cares, the family also cares.
Here are some of the services Sonshine Families offer to our community:
Sonshine Families operates 2 adult group homes in the area offering services to adults over the age of 16. Both homes are staffed 24 hour a day. One home is co-ed, the other females only.
R.A.Y.S. (Reaching All Your Stars) Day Program serves adults with developmental and physical disabilities. This program runs Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and features weekly sing-a-longs, community outings and adapted sports.
Objectives

  • Enable adults with special needs to attain their individual potential at their own pace
  • Provide the participants with access to a wide range of activities, while enhancing their ability to interact in the community
  • Provide a stimulating program that encourages creativity and enjoyment
  • Provide a dedicated, supported and trained staff team who create a positive environment for the individuals in their care
  • Provide for specific individual needs through goals developed for the program participants established and monitored through direct case management

History
The R.A.Y.S. Day Program started out initially to aid our foster families and group home residents who couldn’t access a program. The program started with three participants in 1996 and since then has expanded to 15 participants.
Program Highlights

  • To encourage interaction in the community and with peers
  • To provide multi-sensory experiences
  • To develop themes of education
  • To promote a variety of interests
  • To support diverse learning styles
  • To appreciate new life experiences

If you love to sing, Sonshine Singers might be a program perfect for you. Founded in 1991, Sonshine Singers is open to anyone within the community who loves music. Sonshine Singers is a community choir made up of children, youth and special adults who love music and want to share the joy of singing throughout the community. We strive to maintain a program of total integration for many of our members with special needs. Over the past several years, Sonshine Singers has participated in many community events including:

  • Singing in local nursing homes
  • Singing in community churches
  • Participating in the “Parade of Lights”
  • And other community events

The last service I would like to highlight is their foster family program. There are two strands of foster care. One is Therapeutic where the families provide a family setting for children who require more care and supervision than would normally be provided in a regular foster home. Due to the level of challenges these children present, the amount of 1:1 time needed for each child is greater than what would be expected for a child of his or her age.
The other is S.A.F.E. Medical Foster Homes (Staff Assisted Family Environment) which provides a family, non-institutionalized setting for children and youth who have significant medical needs, requiring more physical care and medical care than would be normally provided in other foster homes. These clients typically would progress to adult group care facilities upon reaching adulthood, but benefit from a family environment during their developmental years.
Sonshine Families is always looking for community support. If you have some time to offer, or would like more information, please feel free to contact them at their head office located at:
1807 St. Joseph Blvd. Unit 307
Orleans ON K1C 7C6
613-834-8187