Millie’s Milestones: Co-Designed with Caregivers
August 26, 2024
By Nicki Straza, Engagement Lead at Woodview
Woodview loves to find opportunities to co-design with our youth and families/caregivers. Millie’s Milestones is fully co-designed with caregivers and clinicians, and we are so proud to be testing our new material out. Let me tell you the story of how this all started.
The Inspiration Behind Our New Program
Several years ago, when our Executive Director Flora Ennis was in college, she did a co-op at a daycare cooperative that offered a unique program called “Peppi’s”. This program helped young parents and caregivers learn effective parenting strategies, find a caring community, and also support their little ones to help them learn, too. Flora’s mentor was the lovely Millie Valian. Millie imparted to Flora the importance of keeping the clients at the centre of her work and became a significant influence in Flora’s life.
Sadly, in 2021, Millie passed away, leaving a big hole in our community. However, even though decades have passed, the needs of parents and caregivers has not gone away. In fact, we see the need now more than we ever have before.
As a tribute to Millie, Woodview assembled a team of caregivers and early years clinicians to explore the needs of our current families and design a program in Millie’s honour. As a result, Millie’s Milestones was born. In the last two years, we have created, tested and refined our ideas, and in 2024 we are excited to launch Millie’s Milestones Module 1.
Caregiver Coaching Connection
Each Millie’s Milestone module explores a key theme in parenting, and focuses on that theme for four weeks. It includes lots of practical tools and strategies to take home and practice. Caregivers and their preschooler (age 2-4) join us weekly to learn, practice, and connect with other caregivers. We believe that everyone deserves to have someone in their corner supporting and cheering them on.
Life throws a lot of things at families; knowing how to stay connected, repair connection, and take care of us in the process, are key skills. Be sure to check out our website for upcoming cohorts and share with a young family in your world!
Register for the Fall Cohort!
Millie’s Milestones, a new program geared at supporting parents and preschool children in the areas of social-emotional regulation, communication, and connection.
Join us for a 4-week in-person workshop in Brantford, designed to teach you fresh ways to build strong communication and connection with your kids.
The module begins on Friday, October 18th, 2024 at 9:15 am.