Welcome to CFS
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who do you serve?
2. Can I ask you to contact a friend or family in need of help?
3. How long does counselling take?
4. Can you explain how counselling works?
5. Do you charge a fee?
6. Are your services confidential?
7. Can I access my file?
8. How do the people who have used your services feel about their service experience?
9. Do you accept donations?
1. WHO DO YOU SERVE?
Services are available to all regardless of religious faith, ethnicity, and race. All of our staff are professionally trained, and specially skilled in their ability to be sensitive to religious, gender, cultural, racial and other issues.
At the time of initial contact, our staff will help you determine if our services are appropriate to meet your needs. If we are not the right place, our staff will provide you with information about relevant services in the community.
2. CAN I ASK YOU TO CONTACT A FRIEND OR A FAMILY IN NEED OF HELP?
The person who needs service has to contact us directly to make an appointment with a social worker or to register for a course. We accept self referrals.
3. HOW LONG DOES COUNSELLING TAKE?
There is no easy way to tell in advance. It depends on the problems, how deeply rooted they are, how willing a person, couple or family is to work on them and what the goals are. Our counsellors mainly concentrate on the problems people face in their current situations. They assist you in assessing your situation and in establishing achievable goals. The focus is on helping you to achieve solutions to your current problems.
4. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW COUNSELLING WORKS?
Counselling is a two way process between you and your counsellor. The counsellor will help you to consider your situation realistically, help you identify the central problems and assist you to develop positive, achievable goals. The counsellor helps you to gain a full understanding of your circumstances and the ways to find solutions for your problems.
5. DO YOU CHARGE A FEE?
Yes, our fees for counselling are based on a sliding scale that takes into account the cost of service and family income. Your fee will be set with your social worker at your first interview. If your financial situation changes during service, the fee can be reviewed and adjusted to reflect your ability to pay.
Our funding from ShareLife and income from client fees enable us to provide low cost or free services to those who are unable to pay fees due to their personal circumstances. Everyone receives the same high quality service regardless of their fee status.
6. ARE YOUR SERVICES CONFIDENTIAL?
All information given by you will be treated confidentially. However, exceptions may occur in situations of child abuse, or where there is a threat to yourself or the safety of others. We will inform you of this circumstance if this situation occurs.
7. CAN I ACCESS MY FILE?
Catholic Family Services of Toronto has a policy on providing access to your records. Your counsellor will provide you with this information upon request.
8. HOW DO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED YOUR SERVICES FEEL ABOUT THEIR SERVICE EXPERIENCE ?
We regularly evaluate our counselling and wellness services and conduct client feedback surveys at the conclusion of Agency service. A large number of former clients respond to our questionnaires and consistently provide us with a high level of positive ratings with respect to their service experience and the results achieved.
9. DO YOU ACCEPT DONATIONS?
Yes. The Catholic Family Services of Toronto Foundation has been established to accept donations from the community. Gifts are used to subsidize services to clients who pay little or no fees because of their personal circumstances. Our Foundation is a registered charitable organization. Donations are gratefully received and will be acknowledged with a tax receipt.
You can make a secure on-line donation by clicking the donate now button located at the top right hand corner of this page or by mailing a cheque to:
Catholic Family Serivices of Toronto Foundation
1155 Yonge Street, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M4T 1W2
Click here to access our Welcome - Statement of Client Rights Brochure for further information
