Save the Date

Please save the date for the next Families Matter Research Group Interactive Series:

Introducing Garnet Families: Seeing yourself within the Garnet Families Community, June 12th, 2024, 11:00 am CST (1:00 pm EST)

At Garnet Families Network, we recognize that there is no one typical defence and PSP experience and that there is no one typical family. We know you want to be a family that thrives, even in the face of the unique and increased challenges that come with a family member who serves. We believe that families matter unequivocally in their own right, with experiences, needs, and issues directly and indirectly related to the occupations of the family member.

We recognize that when one member of the family serves, the whole family serves. We know that being involved in defence and public safety requires your family to carry extra demands – navigating logistics, complicated identities, mobility, and risks at once. Our resources, rooted in research and our own connections to the community, are built to meet the unique experiences of your family.

Through a panel discussion, we will introduce who Garnet Families are and the collective impact network designed to address the needs and gaps identified by families and those who serve and support them.

Registration information available in the coming weeks at: CIPSRT | Webinars (cipsrt-icrtsp.ca

Over the past year, we have been working hard alongside teams of experts to develop the Garnet Families website. You can now visit the first version of the site to learn more about Garnet Families and our team. More content is on the way, so make sure to stay tuned as we roll out more resources and information for you. 

Visit the Garnet Families website

PSPNET Families

The PSPNET Families website is now available in full French translation! You can switch the language from English to French by clicking on the "Français" button in the top left corner of the site. Head on over to the PSPNET Families website to check it out by clicking the button below.

Visit PSPNET Families

Picture Books for Kids

Garnet families often need to navigate short or long term absences due to the requirements of the occupation. Here are several books for children related to separation from family.

SPOTLIGHT

We need your participation!

Two researchers on our team are looking for participants for their projects. Please see the descriptions below for more information:

1. Public safety family support - How can organizations get involved?

Our emergent findings indicate that organizations, services, and associations involve families in three pathways including social celebrations (family fun days, holiday events), socialization (graduation nights, new recruit events, retirement planning), and building awareness and skills (OSI awareness, suicide prevention). Organizations are requesting a toolkit to guide them in how to involve families, and we need more focused feedback on content and format to refine the toolkit.

Please email Rachel Richmond, PhD Candidate, Queen's University, at Rachel.Richmond@queensu.ca for further information.

2. Participants Wanted for a Research Study "Serving families of those who serve: An exploration of psychosocial support after tragic events"

• Looking for English-speaking family members of defence and public safety personnel (including police, fire, paramedics, corrections, search and rescue and more).
• You will be asked to participate in a one-on-one interview about your experience after a tragic event has happened in your community (including incidents such as police fatalities, training accidents, large wildfires, terrorist attacks, suicides or occupational cancer diagnoses).
• If you are 18 years and older, a family member of defence or public safety personnel, and English-speaking you are eligible to participate.
• The interview will take approximately one hour to complete.
• In appreciation of your time, you will receive a $20 Amazon e-gift card.

For more information or if you are interested in participating, please contact:

Melissa Richardson, MSc Student, Queen's University

Email: Richardson.melissa@queensu.ca

Dr. Heidi Cramm, PhD, Queen's University

Email: Heidi.cramm@queensu.ca

Phone: 613-533-6094

This study has been reviewed for ethical compliance by the Queen's University General Research Ethics Board (#6040617)

Dr. Heidi Cramm's Cinq à Sept Research Talk

In the newest Queen's University Health Sciences 5 à 7 Research Talk, Families Matter Research Group Research Lead, Dr. Heidi Cramm, shares four occupational lifestyle dimensions affecting defence and public safety families and how Garnet Families is connecting and supporting them.

You can watch the talk on the Queen's Health Sciences YouTube channel by clicking on the video linked above.

Please share this video with anyone you know who is part of a military, veteran, first responder, or public safety family. 

PSP Family Support - How Can Organizations Get Involved?

The most recent virtual event in the Families Matter Research Group Interactive Series with CIPSRT was presented by Rachel Richmond, PhD Candidate with FMRG. Families of Public Safety Personnel (PSP) serve alongside their loved ones and experience unique challenges due to these high-risk professions. Public safety organizations have begun to address these unique challenges and have successfully implemented some family-forward initiatives. We have sought out public safety organizations that have made efforts in these initiatives and looked to consolidate the collective wisdom on where and how to start, and what seems to be working. We are excited to share some preliminary findings about initiatives that originate from both rural and urban areas across Canada and from a variety of public safety sectors.

You can watch the recording of the event by clicking on the video linked above. If you are interested in participating in Rachel's research, you can contact her at Rachel.Richmond@queensu.ca. 

We had the privilege to participate in a variety of events over the past 3 months including the:

Corrections Ontario Family Wellness Event

Ontario Police College Mental Health Awareness Event

Correctional Services Canada Let's Talk Resiliency Events

Advancing "WE" in Policing - Ontario Conference

York Regional Police Spouse/Significant Other Evening

Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Meeting

CIPSRT Symposium

TEMA Foundation Ontario Education Day

If you have an upcoming event where there is the opportunity to spread awareness of Garnet Families and PSPNET Families please contact Lisa at lisa.delaney@queensu.ca so we can determine together ways we can participate.