The non-profit counselling agency, which has been helping Toronto families for over 100 years, announced at the end of 2023 it would be closing its north office at 245 Fairview Mall Dr. and bolster its services for both in-person and online clients by operating a more concentrated, hybrid-focused model of delivery.
鈥淲e will continue to serve current clients, individuals on our waiting list and members of the community by video or telephone appointments, or in person at our central office located at 1155 Yonge St.,鈥� said a release on the CFS website.
A centralized location not only combines the entire CFS work force, but allows for the correct delivery method to be applied based on clients鈥� needs.
鈥淪ome folks really prefer in-person services and programs and some really benefit from having remote or virtual services such as online therapy or participating in an online group,鈥� said executive director Brenda Spitzer.
CFS is continuing to offer all of its programs, many of which focus on counselling, psychotherapy and wellness. These include quick access counselling, women abuse services, marriage preparation and family life, re-marriage preparation and its new beginnings program for those who are separated, divorced or bereaved, among other wellness programs.
The decision to amalgamate its two offices also benefits CFS and its staff as a whole. Being not-for-profit, operating out of two large spaces with general expenses, overhead and rent can be costly if not fully staffed.
鈥淲e found that with the two offices operating in hybrid, sometimes someone would go in and there would only be one or two other people floating around,鈥� Spitzer said. 鈥淚t would just be less of a working experience (without the amalgamation), and then issues like security concerns. It might be a little bit of an odd atmosphere for clients as well,鈥� hosting in-person sessions in a half-empty office.
CFS Toronto officially terminated its lease at the Fairview location on Dec. 31 with the team packing up and joining forces in the new office two weeks prior. The experience, as Spitzer says, was rather involved for a not-for-profit group.
鈥淪o that was fun,鈥� she joked. 鈥淲e packed up that whole office and of course, when you amalgamate two spaces, you have to figure out who鱿鱼视频app sharing an office. It was a lot of logistics, but I think it鱿鱼视频app the same as so many work settings now where people are just trying to figure it out. We鈥檙e not for profit, so we鈥檙e also trying to do everything very efficiently.鈥�
To celebrate the move, CFS is holding an open house to highlight its programs and services on March 6 at its newly joined office.
鈥淚t will be both outward-looking and inward-looking and for the staff to say 鈥榳e鈥檙e now all together, we鈥檙e one big family. It鱿鱼视频app not the north team and the central team, we鈥檙e all together,鈥� 鈥� Spitzer said. 鈥淭here are also lots of folks in the building that we also have relationships with in terms of our programs and services, now we鈥檙e all part of the family at the pastoral centre.鈥�
Timing nicely with the transition is the implementation of expanded senior programs that will look to deal with the mental health and wellness of the organization鱿鱼视频app senior client base. A newly completed pilot program that works with men who use abuse in their relationships has also been launched.