Community Based Groups

Over 70 clients were engaged in focus groups during the development of our Strategic Plan 2016-2021. Clients told us that they wanted to feel more connected with their community and amongst their peers. They were looking to us for ways to achieve this inclusive goal. With this feedback, we developed community-based groups across the City of Toronto. Each group offers attendees a way to connect, socialize, develop skills, and express themselves, providing a therapeutic benefit in a safe, open environment.

“The Creative Expressions Drop-in provides engagement through music and creative activities for the Parkdale Library visiters on Wednesday afternoons. Support is offered to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or challenges with mental health and addictions.”

– Creative Expressions

Here are a few of the groups that Cota is facilitating…

Creative Expressions Group

The Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library had been noticing an increase in people visiting the library, in need of mental health supports which the library was not able to provide. The head librarian noticed Cota’s involvement in the Parkdale community via the Boarding Home Program which provides support to about 750 people in the Parkdale area, and approached Cota to ask for help with providing support to the public.

The Boarding Home Program partnered with Cota's Toronto West Integrated Service Team to provide support. This is an exciting collaboration between two teams serving their community together.

The Creative Expressions Group occurs on Wednesdays 3pm-5pm. As the service is open to the public, all clients current, and former, would also be welcome to attend! Every Wednesday, attendees are able to:

Receive drop-in case management support (e.g., discuss health needs, and receive help with linkages to primary health care and other community support, informal counselling, etc.)
Improve on interpersonal skills while providing therapeutic support
Reduce their social isolation
Make friends in their area
Share resources
Have fun

The MISFITS

The Misfits (they named themselves) Is a group for young people who have an Acquired Brain Injury. The group started when the case manager noticed that she had several younger clients who were having challenges in the community finding social activities that they could access within their community.

They also found that they did not fit into other traditional places due to the complex challenges that they encounter in social settings. They meet on the last Friday of every month for 3 hours where they work on the following:

Improve on interpersonal skills
Minimize their social isolation
Make friends in their area
Share resources
Memory strategies
Have fun

To date they have had about 12 clients attend.

“The Misfits (they named themselves) is a group for young people who have an Acquired Brain Injury.”

– The Misfits (ABI Youth Group)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Group

This is a newly formed group in the Toronto East area and is open to current and former Cota clients receiving Dual Diagnosis Case Management supports. This group offers higher functioning individuals on the autism spectrum a chance to connect with one another in a safe, structured environment. Together this group works on growing social skills, life skills and community building.

The goal of this group is to eventually have the individuals attending work towards facilitating and leading the group.

Women's Group in downtown toronto east

This group provides an opportunity for women to get together to form friendships, work on life skills and promote a sense of belonging. The drop-in will include, crafts, games, wellness activities and a chance to have a coffee, relax, and chat with peers.

Members of the group will plan the monthly activity and take turns facilitating and leading the group. This group is a collaboration of the Toronto East Integrated Service Team and the Assertive Community Treatment team.

“The Music Café is facilitated by the staff of the Health, Home & Community Program in collaboration with Christian Resource Centre. The tenants of 220 Oak St. participate in the Music Café that happens every Wednesday afternoon. They rehearse songs together to hold a monthly concert at 220 Oak St. They held their first concert recently and it was really well done!”

– The Music Café

a selection of other Groups

Aftercare Group

North York Aspergers

Peer-Led Recovery Group

Pottery Group

Weekly Food Skills Group at Adams House

4175 Lawrence Drop-In

“The Social Group is offered to tenants of Habitat Boarding Homes on Thursday afternoons at Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre. The group focuses on social interaction and skill building. The group runs a cooking program to build the skills needed for cooking independently. There are also fun games played regularly, like cards and board games.”

– Social Group

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