CORNERSTONE FAMILY SERVICES

About Cornerstone

Cornerstone believes all families are unique. We also believe families are the cornerstone to healthy communities, healthy cities and a healthy country.

We work strategically to instill life-long learning within the whole family. Our work is collaborative, family-centered and strength-based. We use preventative and restorative models to decrease the number of children being admitted into foster care.

To learn more about the Cornerstone partnership, click here.

Location: Davis Centre, 270 Gerrard St. E., Toronto & 310 Centre, 310 Gerrard St. E., Toronto

Contact: 416-929-9614

Food Bank:

  • Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Pick up by appointment only, once every 2 weeks
  • Nutritious food bags are available by family size, once every 2 weeks by appointment. Please call 416 929 9614 x 3200 to book an appointment.
  • Staff available to assist with hygiene supplies and baby items (if available)

Take-Away Meals:

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

Mental Health Counselling:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Phone, walk-in & appointments available.
  • “Walk in” telephone counselling is available by calling 416 355 3568.
  • Appointment based telephone counselling call 416 355 3568 or 416-929-9614 x 3235

Employment Services:

  • Monday – Friday, via telephone/email
  • For all general inquiries, call the Employment Centre at 416 929 9614 x 2278 or email us at ees@ysm.ca.
  • No in-person meetings will be available on site.

Housing Services:

  • Appointment only.
  • Monday and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Evergreen, 365 Spadina Ave
  • Thursdays, 9: 00 AM – 4:00 PM at Genesis Place, 280 Gerrard St. E.
  • Please call 416 929 9614 to book an appointment.

Changing the Narrative: Building Solutions for Black Families.

On July 9, 2020 join CAS of Toronto and YSM hosted a joint webinar.

We heard from seasoned leaders as they examine our city’s history of systemic racism, its impact on the children, youth and families in our community and how we can drive change together.

Watch the recording and learn more here.

monthly donations help Toronto kids in poverty

Cornerstone Programs and Services

Cornerstone strengthens families by supporting and meeting your everyday needs, especially during times of crisis.

We provide care at our provincially licensed daycare, available on both a full fee and subsidized basis for infants of 3 months and up, and children, up to kindergarten age. For more information, please call our daycare manager at 416-929-9614 x 3248.

Care management is focused on working with families who have Child Welfare involvement with dependents 19 years or younger, we offer holistic wrap-around support to strengthen and stabilize both you and your family unit. 

For school children in grades 1-8, we offer creative learning through holistic and innovative approaches, which encourage children to reach their full potential and empower participants to become leaders and change-agents.

Our computer lab equips children from senior kindergarten to grade 10, youth and adults, with the skills needed to succeed in school and at work. We have a wide range of courses, such as MS Office, Robotics, Programming, and much more. Call our program coordinator at 416-929-9614 x 4226 for more information.

Families participate in mentoring that models healthy family dynamics and lifestyles, while building positive relationships with others, to encourage growth and learning. Families must be registered with Cornerstone’s Care Management to qualify.

Open to any male caregiver, Man-2-Man is a monthly group designed to engage and support male caregivers through open dialogue and by empowering them to reach their full potential as fathers, husbands, brothers and community members. Call 416-929-9614 x 3231 for more information.

YSM’s recently-acquired Thinking Forward is an innovative curriculum designed to build character, promote leadership and reduce bullying in Toronto schools.

Learn more here.

In collaboration with Toronto Public Health, Nobody’s Perfect offers parenting support for parents of children aged 1-18. Call 416-929-9614 x 3231 or go to nobodysperfect.ca for more information about upcoming workshops.

Workshops facilitate one’s job readiness, offer training and prepare family members to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Counselling helps families coping with traumatic or negative experiences and painful psychological wounds. Our trained professional counsellors listen and offer support on issues such as addictions, abuse and anxiety. Walk-in counselling is every Thursday from 3:30 – 7:30 PM.

Our food bank (available by appointment only) provides you with a two-to-three day supply of non-perishable, unprepared food, as well as staples such as bread, milk and vegetables, in a market-like environment.

For our neighbours who need assistance with housing stabilization, our housing team provides support in advocacy, housing search mediation and connections to shelters.

Learning and developing practical, every day skills is important in achieving family goals. Our workshops focus on stress management and pre-employment skills.

Azan’s Story

YSM has daycare, health care and family community services for Regent Park and Toronto

“YSM is a life-saver for me. I wish that I had met them sooner. YSM is making a big difference in my life and the lives of my children.”

For nearly two years, Azan* had been struggling to navigate systems he knew little about, in hopes of being reunited with his two young daughters, “I miss them so much. No one should be away from their children.”

Without a legal background, Azan was doing the best he could – restrictions, limitations, allegations, were new words to him. Azan, never missed an appointment or visit, or the chance to bring home-cooked meals for his children to have throughout the week, and give toys or small gifts to them whenever he could.

At one of his visits, Azan met another parent who told him about the help she’d received from YSM’s Cornerstone staff who work with families who are involved with Children’s Aid Society (CAS).

Azan reached out to YSM and was immediately excited by how the staff responded to him, “I was treated as an equal.”

Because of your support, YSM staff have been able to help Azan by accompanying him to appointments and visits with his children. This support has helped Azan feel safe and made his visits with his children more relaxed. Instead of feeling nervous or unsure, Azan and his daughters are able to play hide and seek and enjoy their time together.

YSM is continuing to support Azan as he finishes up his trial. Azan has been found not-guilty, the allegations against him revealed to be false, and he has high hopes that very soon he will be able to spend weekends with his daughters again.

*Name and photo changed to protect privacy.