We’re here for you and your family
CFSD exists to support you and your family during life’s difficulties. We want you to overcome the challenges you’re facing so you can build a stronger future for you and your family.
It’s healing for today, and a brighter future for tomorrow.
Mission Statement
We provide help, hope and healing to individuals, young parents, couples and families, regardless of beliefs. We do this through evidence-based psychotherapy and counselling, education and support.
Values
CFSD embraces the following core values as being foundational to our approach:
Inclusive: creating spaces where all are welcome and accepted, and feel that they belong.
Responsive: anticipating and adjusting to the needs of the diverse communities we serve; seeking creative ways of thinking and adapting.
Collaborative: working with our staff, board, clients and community partners to achieve shared goals and positive outcomes.
Professional excellence: maintaining professional ethics and exemplary standards of practice; upholding a learning culture.
Our history
Catholic Family Services of Durham (CFSD) was founded in 1981 in response to the Catholic community’s identification that more support was needed in Durham Region for its residents. CFSD was established through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto (funded by ShareLife), and has become a vital part of the service delivery system in the Region.
The agency has always provided services to the entire community, regardless of beliefs. Our desire is to stand in solidarity with those experiencing difficulties and assist them in their healing journey through individual, couple, family and group therapy, addressing a wide variety of presenting problems.
Early on after inception, the agency’s work with victims of gender-based violence quickly became recognized by the Province of Ontario, and consequently CFSD began to also receive Provincial funding to do this crucial work with women and child victims. CFSD has worked alongside the four shelters in Durham Region for decades, providing the therapeutic support required to help women and children heal from this trauma.
In February of 2022, CFSD merged with the Rose of Durham Young Parent Services, and became one agency with two divisions: a psychotherapy division, and a young parent support division. In March of 2023, Safety Network Durham also became part of CFSD, making one agency, with three distinct divisions; a psychotherapy division, a young parent division, and a gender-based violence hub division.
Our funders
CFSD receives its core funding from the Province of Ontario, and from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto (funded by ShareLife). In order to meet the demand for services that our core funding does not cover, CFSD regularly applies for grants, and endeavours to meet financial demands through fundraising.
We could not do what we do without the generous support of donors. The Knights of Columbus and CWL groups in Durham Region have provided invaluable donations and support throughout the years. We are also grateful to be part of the Delta Bingo group.
Our accreditation
CFSD is proud to be accredited through the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, a third-party review based on accepted organizational practices that promote ongoing quality improvement and responsive, effective community services.