Family Services York Region is committed to strengthening communities through collaboration, counselling, education and support. 

The following fundamental beliefs guide and sustain the pursuit of our mission:

• We believe in family in all its diversity - as the smallest democracy at the heart of society (United Nations Year of the Family, 1994).  We recognize family as consisting of the traditional nuclear family
(2 parents and children), extended family, blended or re-combined family, childless family, sole-parent family, common-law marriage or cohabitating partners, same sex partners.  As an agency we are committed to be a resource to families.

• We recognize that although people have common life needs each person and family has unique needs.  The agency will respond in a manner that recognizes that individuality.

• The development and the maintenance of personal relationships are important for individual well-being and our efforts will recognize and support this.

• We will encourage and support self-determination by honouring and respecting the family, couple, and individual’s values, dignity and their ability and readiness to explore options, achieve their goals and exercise choices.

• All of our efforts and activities will promote dignity and respect for individuals.

• We support cooperative partnerships with other agencies, communities and government and will encourage purposeful working relationships.

• We recognize the diversity of the community in which we live and consequently we value the diversity of the individuals and families within our community and are responsive to those needs.

Our Mandate 

To provide counselling, education, and support services to individuals, couples, and families to help them understand and resolve difficulties, challenges and transitions that they may be experiencing in their lives, at school or work, and in their relationships.  All intervention seeks to promote the fullest development of individual growth, human potential, and ability to use the social supports available to them in their community.

History

Family Services York Region (formerly three Family Life Centres: Aurora Newmarket Family Life Centre, Georgina Family Life Centre, and Markham Stouffville Family Life Centre) amalgamated in 2005 under the stewardship of United Way York Region with over a 100 years of collective experience in professional counselling. FSYR was created to better provide services across York Region.

FSYR was incorporated on March 31, 2005 under Letters Patent – Ontario Corporation Number 1644885.

Charitable Tax  Registration Number:  11923 2635 RR 0001