About Families in Transition
Families in TRANSition is a gender-affirming program for trans and gender exploring youth and their parents/caregivers. It offers resources and structured learning groups to help improve relationships between caregivers and their trans youth. We also support professionals who do similar work.
FIT is gender-affirming service run by a team of transgender professionals. It helps youth and families foster the supportive relationships that promote healthy gender exploration and transition. We chose this focus because both science and common sense tell us that the most important factor in a young person’s mental health is their relationship with their family.
Caregiver’s group
We are a national collective across Turtle Island for anyone serving families with 2SLGBTQIA+ child(ren), hosted by Central Toronto Youth Services.
We center in Indigenous Sovereignty, Anti-Oppression, and Anti-Black Racism frameworks. We believe this gets to the roots of decolonizing white supremacist practices of care that continue to promote anti-indigeneity, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and enbyphobia–which all hinder our work in supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their families.
We know this work is both incredibly celebratory and involves unique challenges.
Youth group
The FIT youth group is for young people who are exploring gender in new ways and/or recently came out as trans, Two-Spirit, or nonbinary. The group focuses on systems navigation, gender exploration and identity formation, peer connection and community-building, and finding your voice to make positive changes in the world (activism). Mostly, it is a space where youth can find community and connect with each other in ways that support them to be their authentic selves.
Theoretical foundations
FIT groups are based on current evidence and best practices. They have their roots in Family Systems Theory, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Somatic Psychology, and a gender-affirming approach to trans health and mental health care. The FIT groups are also committed to anti-racism, decolonization, and abolition. We have developed our strategies to working with families, and our understanding of gender diversity, from these critical modalities.
About Central Toronto Youth Services
Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) started Families in TRANSition in 2008. CTYS is a community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth. We believe in building the strength and resiliency of young people in ways that are engaging, respectful and empowering.
Our programs and services meet a diversity of needs and challenges that young people experience, such as
- serious mental health issues
- conflicts with the law
- coping with anger, depression, anxiety, marginalization, rejection
- issues of sexual orientation and gender identity
- offer both one-on-one and group counselling
- connect with youth in their homes, neighbourhoods, schools and communities
CTYS started Families in TRANSition as part of our Pride and Prejudice program. When CTYS established it in 1983, Pride and Prejudice was the first accredited children’s mental health program offering counseling and support to the LGBTQ youth in Ontario. Today, CTYS is a recognized leader in gender-affirming services for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
After years of growth and learning from a long list of amazing contributors, CTYS expanded FIT into a national program in 2019. Today, we collaborate with a rich community of service providers and FIT groups across Canada.
For more information about CTYS, please visit: www.ctys.org.
Ways to get involved with FIT
Student placements
FIT regularly works with social work students from across so-called Canada. Please reach out if you are interested in doing an internship, placement, or practicum with our team.
Partnerships
FIT works with a wide range of organizations and professionals who work with families of 2SLGBTQIA+. We collaborate and offer support in a wide variety of ways, including regular trainings and monthly community of practice meetings.