Youth can turn to a promise of hope, healing

ShareLife has always had a particular focus on vulnerable women, young parents and children, in 2025 alone its impact report showing the appeal helped over 1,700 young parents and their children. 

Catholic Family Services of Durham (CFSD), since its establishment in 1981, has provided those facing distress in the Durham community with the promise of hope and healing. Executive director Elizabeth Pierce said its ongoing success is due in no small part to the continued support received from ShareLife.

“CFSD got its start through ShareLife and through Catholic Charities. ShareLife feeds into Catholic Charities, which determines what agencies will receive funding and how much. A helpful analogy I have heard is that ShareLife is the dad, Catholic Charities is the mom and we (CFSD) are the kid,” she said.

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Initially, CFSD was created to support individuals with evidence-based psychotherapy and counselling. The agency supported individuals who were victims of gender-based and intimate partner violence. Now CFSD is an umbrella agency divided between the Rose of Durham, Renewal Psychotherapy and Safety Network, each serving unique needs within the community. 

Rose of Durham offers a number of programs to young and vulnerable parents with counselling, parenting programs and support services the most common. Its Partners in Parenting program, for instance, helps to support those parenting a child. 

Anna Aitchison has worked for Rose of Durham for 18 years. As the clinical supervisor, observing the success of her clients is a testament to the reliable services provided.

“We had a young woman who was with us. She once shared with her counsellor, ‘I don’t think I’m going to live that long. Will you come to my funeral?’ She would cycle — leave and then come back. Just last March, she was running down the hall, tears streaming in her face. She found she had just passed her exam to get her Grade 12 certificate through our program. Her little one is five. She has completed all of our programming. She is able to identify when she is in crisis. She is definitely on a nice trajectory,” said Aitchison.

While Rose of Durham initially started to help young parents under the age of 21, the clientele has changed with the needs of the time.

“The program may have first started to serve women who became pregnant at a young age, but now our services have come to serve the most vulnerable and marginalized in our community,” said Pierce.

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Aitchison said many clients are unhoused people with mental health challenges or victims of intimate partner violence and human trafficking.

“A lot of these young people are being targeted. It is sad and scary. They are desperate for someone to take an interest in them and save them. I am grateful we have these services here, so that these individuals have an alternative. They have an option,” said Aitchinson.  

The Vita Centre is another agency offering support for young families, with a particular focus on parents with children under the age of six. Established in 1991, it serves Peel Region and features six main programs that provide education and one-on-one counselling to empower parents and young families. 

When Angelique Bartley found herself facing an unplanned pregnancy, she didn’t know where to turn. A single mom on maternity leave struggling to make ends meet, her daughter was only a few months old when she first came in contact with the Vita Centre. 

 “She turned two this year in May. I wouldn’t have made it during that time if it weren’t for the Vita Centre,” said Bartley. “They were able to provide me with support for my daughter.” 

The Vita Centre provided Bartley with access to its pantry, grocery gift cards, pull ups, wipes and, most importantly, a specialized type of formula to deal with a rare food allergy. 

Bartley is proud of the personal growth that has presented itself over the last few years. This fall, she is continuing her education in Occupational Health and Safety at Toronto Metropolitan University. She hopes to use her education to focus on psychological safety, serving those who are struggling to fit in at their workplaces. 

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For other moms facing a similar situation, Bartley suggests they actively seek out organizations like the Vita Centre in moments of crisis. 

“You have to be able to think about the best outcomes for your child. If you don’t access services, these people won’t knock on the door and know where to find you. You have to be your own advocate. It’s not about dwelling on the unplanned situation, it’s overcoming that. You have to rise above it,” she said. 

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Youth can turn to a promise of hope, healing".