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Create a Healthy Eating Routine with #bytelearning

Learning bytes are short courses, typically no more than 6 minutes, that are designed to be easy to digest. You can search Rumie’s library for the topics you would like to learn, then choose a course and start learning!

This week’s #bytelearning follows the theme #health. Take a look at the following learning bytes to learn how to create a health eating routine:

Learn to Practice Self Discipline for Healthy Eating in 3 Min teaches you how to set realistic goals and shares that setbacks happen and that’s okay.

How are Habits Formed? This learning byte shares tips on what a habit is, how to form them, and tips on where to start when creating new ones. 

Hunger vs. Food Cravings distinguishes the differences between hunger and food cravings and shares tips on how to prevent and reduce food cravings.

Be sure to register for the next Build Your Own Byte Workshop taking place on March 29th, 2023 from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM. We will be focusing on themes such as “how do I tell my friend I’m a youth in care” and “how to remind yourself you matter in 5 small ways (with a BIG impact)”. Hope to see you there!

Rumie Initiative is a technology company, a nonprofit organization, and a Canadian registered Charity. Check out the website here.

“We fill the gap between what you learned at school and what it takes to succeed by building the habit of lifelong learning.” – Rumie Initiative. 

Searching for a New Employment Opportunity? Try One of These 6 Job Boards

Where do I search for my next job? How will I find a better position? What places are hiring in my area? These are very common questions and concerns to have when looking for your next employment opportunity. Finding the right place to start in your job search can be difficult, but Fostering Community is here to help! 

Online job boards are great places to search for opportunities that best suit your personal and professional goals. Check out the following online job boards for current openings:

  • Workopolis.com Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Mosterjobs.ca Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities. 
  • Indeed.com Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Charityvillage.com Search by job title, organization, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Glassdoor.ca Search by job title, keywords, companies, and/or location to find current opportunities. This website requires you to make an account to view jobs.

New job postings are always being added, so be sure to revisit these websites for new opportunities.   

Manage a Stressful Semester with #bytelearning

Learning bytes are short courses, typically no more than 6 minutes, that are designed to be easy to digest. You can search Rumie’s library for the topics you would like to learn, then choose a course and start learning!

This week’s #bytelearning follows the theme #education. Take a look at the following learning bytes to learn healthy eating tips:

3 Ways to Study Smart Shares tips that can help you create study habits that work for you. Sometimes we might be missing just a few tips that can improve our studying.

5 Ways to Focus on Your Mental Health This Semester Teaches you how important it is to focus on your mental health first. School is important, but it’s not everything. You matter too!

How Can Routine Help Me Manage Stress? This learning byte is a great resource to use if you are having trouble getting your tasks done because of stress. Getting a routine going can work wonders and help you manage your stress.

Rumie Initiative is technology company, a nonprofit organization, and a Canadian registered Charity. Check out the website here.

“We fill the gap between what you learned at school and what it takes to succeed by building the habit of lifelong learning.” – Rumie Initiative. 

Canada-wide Mental Health Supports for Youth and Adults

This season is proving to be a mixture of winter storms and spring weather. With the lack of daylight, gloomy weather, and harsh cold keeping us inside some days, it can be a difficult time for a lot of people. This time of year can be quite stressful, so it is important that we take care of ourselves and are able to smoothly access resources and supports.

You can benefit from mental help resources and accessing counseling services not only during times of intense emotions, but for just about anything. Counselling can be great for stress, time management, and daily emotion regulation.

If you or someone you know if going through a lot and may need some additional resources and support, visit Canada.ca for Canada-wide mental health resources.

Additional Supports:

Visit Wellness Together Canada to access different levels of support including:

  • One-on-one counselling
  • Credible articles and information
  • Self-guided courses and programs
  • Peer support and coaching

To connect with a mental health professional one-on-one at Wellness Together Canada:

Call 1-888-668-6810 or text WELLNESS to 686868 for youth.

Call 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to 741741 for adults.

Crisis Lines:

Call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Quebec residents can call 1-866-277-3553 or visit suicide.ca.

Visit Talk Suicide Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations near you.

For Children and Youth:

Visit the Kids Help Phone website for online chat support and to access further resources.

Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Canadians aged 5 to 29.  

For First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples:

Call Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or visit the website to access an online chat. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples seeking emotional support, crisis intervention, or referrals to community-based services.

Support is available in English and French and, by request, in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.

Fostering Community has a variety of resources and information about mental health, so check out our mental health channel for more.

10 Things You Should Know as a Tenant in Ontario

When you are a renter, it is important to know your rights. As a tenant there are certain rules you must follow, like how there are certain rules your landlord must follow too. Surprises can happen, so it’s important to be aware of what your landlord can and cannot do. 

Housingrightscanada.com is a great resource to use to learn more information about the rights you have as a tenant. This can help in cases like rent increases, illegal evictions, or maintenance requests. Through helpful articles, important resources, and people to contact, this information can help you feel more confident and aware if anything comes up.

Here are Housing Rights Canada’s Top Ten Tips for Ontario Tenants:

  1. Only provide deposits that landlords are allowed to request. When you are entering a lease agreement, your landlord cannot ask you to pay a damage deposit. Besides the first month’s rent, the only other monetary deposit a landlord can request is the last month’s rent and a key deposit.
  2. Request accommodations for your needs. If you have a disability, your landlord must make accommodations to ensure that you have equal access to and enjoyment of your rental unit. The landlord must work very hard to do this – up to the point of “undue hardship”, which is a very high standard.
  3. Do not accept a rent increase that is above the maximum amount allowed. For most units, rent increase amounts are governed by Ontario’s rent increase guideline, which sets the maximum amount that rent can be increased each year. For those units, the province will set an annual percentage that the rent can be increased by. For example, the rent increase limit in 2021 was 0%, and in 2022 was 1.2%.
  4. Hold your landlord accountable for repairs and maintenance. Your landlord must keep your unit in a good state of repair. It does not matter if you made a different agreement about repairs and maintenance when you signed your lease, or if you knew about a condition in your unit before you moved in. The law says that repairs and maintenance are always the landlord’s responsibility.
  5. Connect with your neighbours to resolve issues with your landlord. If you’re having issues with your landlord, talk to your neighbours. They may be facing similar issues, and together you can make plans about how to approach the landlord.
  6. Document interactions with your landlord. When possible, communicate with your landlord in writing and save all documents relating to your tenancy, such as your lease, rent receipts and any communication about repairs.
  7. Do not withhold your rent. In Ontario, you can bring a tenant application against your landlord if you think they are doing something improper. However, if you withhold your rent, you might be evicted.
  8. Do not move out immediately just because you received an eviction notice. There is a process through the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) that must be followed before an eviction can legally take place. In most instances, your landlord will have to get an order from the LTB to evict you.
  9. Do not move out immediately if your unit is sold. If the unit you are renting is sold to a new owner, it does not necessarily mean you have to move out. The new owner must continue to follow the lease. There are special rules the new owner will have to follow if they are planning to move into the unit.
  10. Seek help when facing challenges in your housing. CERA may be able to help you if you are facing an eviction or a human rights issue in your housing. Learn about our services. Call 1-800-263-1139 or 416-944-0087, or email cera@equalityrights.org. You may also find help at a legal clinic, the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations (FMTA) or the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO).

Visit housingrightscanada.com to learn more about your rights as an Ontario tenant.

Learn Healthy Eating Tips with #bytelearning

Learning bytes are short courses, typically no more than 6 minutes, that are designed to be easy to digest. You can search Rumie’s library for the topics you would like to learn, then choose a course and start learning!

This week’s #bytelearning follows the theme #lifeskills. Take a look at the following learning bytes to learn healthy eating tips:

How Can I Cook Healthy Meals Without a Kitchen? This learning byte shares must-have appliances that cook lots of great meals without you needing a kitchen. Find over-night oats recipes, pressure cooker tips, and get other helpful recommendations to cook healthy meals without a kitchen. 

Cook for One shares tips about making a plan, finding meals you’re comfortable with cooking, and to experiment with new meals. Who said you can’t have a delicious meal on your own?

Eat Healthy: Balancing the Food Groups shares a helpful resource that teaches you how to balance your plate with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and healthy protein.

Rumie Initiative is technology company, a nonprofit organization, and a Canadian registered Charity. Check out the website here.

“We fill the gap between what you learned at school and what it takes to succeed by building the habit of lifelong learning.” – Rumie Initiative. 

3 Easy Holiday Goodie Recipes 

Have you ever seen someone’s dessert and thought “I really want one of those”? Baking can be messy and sometimes difficult. I have found three easy holiday goodie recipes for you to try when you’re craving some sugary cereal, chocolate, or peanut-butter! Grab your materials, gather your ingredients, and test out these delicious holiday treats from the Food Network. 

Cornflake Christmas Wreaths 

This recipe is hands-on, colourful, and easy to make. You will need a baking sheet, parchment paper, a saucepan, and a measuring utensil. If you love rice-crispy squares, you will love these wreaths. Check out the recipe here. 

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut-Butter Cookies 

This recipe requires no baking, so it’s a quick and easy dessert you can make anytime! You will need a baking sheet, parchment paper, a microwave safe bowl, and measuring utensils. Check out the recipe here. 

No-Bake Macaroons 

This recipe has slightly more steps than the previous ones, but I can promise you it is worth it. You will need a bowl, a loaf pan, measuring utensils, and a saucepan. Check out the recipe here.  

Give these recipes a try when you’re in the mood for holiday snacks. I always enjoy baking with another person, so you could give these a try with some of your friends and watch your favourite holiday movies. Check out more holiday treat recipes on the Food Network.  

Make Time for Self-Care with #bytelearning

Learning bytes are short courses, typically no more than 6 minutes, that are designed to be easy to digest. You can search Rumie’s library for the topics you would like to learn, then choose a course and start learning!

This week’s #bytelearning follows the theme #mentalhealth. Take a look at the following learning bytes to learn how to incorporate self-care practices into your schedule:

How Does My Body React to Emotions teaches you where the activation points are on your body and mindfulness strategies about checking in on yourself. 

How do I Avoid “Sunday Scaries”? This learning byte shares tips on how to combat this which includes taking care of your mental health, physical wellbeing, and creating a plan.

How Does My Body Respond to Stress gives you a crash course on the nervous system and spreads awareness about some of the physical and mental effects of stress on your body.

Rumie Initiative is technology company, a nonprofit organization, and a Canadian registered Charity. Check out the website here.

“We fill the gap between what you learned at school and what it takes to succeed by building the habit of lifelong learning.” – Rumie Initiative. 

5 Self-Care Tips to Practice This Exam Season

Since we are getting close to the end of the year, things are starting to get busy. With exams coming up for students, end of the year reports, or an influx of customers, it can be a very stressful time for a lot of people. The best thing you can do to prevent getting overwhelmed during this time is to take care of yourself. You can do this by checking in on your mental health, resting, and doing activities that bring you joy. Canadian Association for Mental Health (CAMH) has a fantastic infographic “Six Ways to Practice Self-care” which you can find here.

Here are 5 self-care tips that can help you get ahead of your stress:

Eat Healthy & Drink Water

It is important to make time for eating, even if you feel like there’s no time to take a break and finish studying. If you find that it’s difficult to remember to eat at the right times, you can try creating a plan and setting alarms or reminders on your calendar. Drink lots of water and have snacks throughout the day.

Get a Good Sleep

Sleep is necessary when we’re trying to use a lot of brain power. If you find that you do not have enough energy to get you through the day, check in with yourself about how much sleep you’re currently getting and if you could use more. 7-9 hours of sleep is a good amount of time to aim for.

Slow it Down

Take breaks! Your brain needs small breaks throughout the day so that you don’t overwhelm yourself. You could take some time to go for a walk, get a coffee, or listen to music. Believe it or not, it can help you get more work done when you take small breaks throughout the day.

Move Your Body

Sometimes going for a walk or doing a short activity that makes you move around can be beneficial. This can help release endorphins, which can help reduce stress. Even if you don’t feel like going outside, you should try your best to move throughout the day.  

Socialize

Talk to your friends, housemates, or family when you can. Sometimes when we feel sad, we isolate ourselves. It can help reduce stress to talk to people you enjoy hanging out with and to surround yourself with your support system however you can.

Try some of these tips if you find yourself struggling to get your school work done, complete projects, and can’t seem to find time to relax. From exam season to the holidays, this can be an incredibly stressful time.

Education Support for Youth in and From Care

Are you a current youth in or from care looking for help with education? At Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, we truly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their education. The Foundation offers various programs that can help youth with application fees, scholarships, bridging programs, and more. 

Check out the following programs that the Foundation offers:

Scholarships – If you are planning on attending a college, university, or trade program, consider applying for a scholarship through Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. You can get up to $5000 for the academic year. Find out more details here or contact Amanda Ball aball@cafdn.org.

Bursaries – If you are planning on attending a college, university, or trade program, consider applying for a bursary through Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. You can receive up to $2000 per academic year. Check out the details here or contact Amanda Ball aball@cafdn.org.

Campus Tours – If you are interested in touring the campus of a university or college and would like support, contact our youth employment mentor Asifa Malik asmalik@torontocas.ca.

HSBC Youth Opportunity Fund – Youth under the age of 26 who are (or were) in permanent care in Canada can apply for the HSBC Youth Opportunity Fund. This provides youth with an individual grant for education or employment goals such as tutoring for college or university, application fees, high school upgrading, and more. Learn more here or contact Jasmine Yiweza at jyiweza@cafdn.org.