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B‘KADEH\! Or LE NDakville‘s Business S [ *ay;~ < pGLVIL 1 t ?fé‘;e ggfi/ GET INTO COMPUTERS IN 1993 BUSINESS DIPLOMA Sisrth *+ 20% of children in southwest Ontario exhibit some form of clinically significant menâ€" tal health disorder â€" depression, suicide, eating disorders (girls). 36% of Little Sisters are receiving therapeutic help from other agencies. * If you wish to help, call 338â€"0238. *« Twice as many teenage girls as boys feel negatively about themselves (low selfâ€"esteem and self confidence) 35% of Little Sisters report feelings of low selfâ€"esteem. A SS OCIA TTON * By age 13, 64% of girls have dieted and of those 1/2 have resorted to extreme measures. Four Little Sisters have some form of eating disâ€" order. * One of our four girls whose families are on social assistance will fail a grade in elementary school. 45% of Little Sisters‘ families are on assistance. *« One out of three girls/women will at some time experience some form of sexual assault. One out of four Little Sisters have a history of sexual abuse. Big Sisters ask for help OA K. V I L LE The need for Big Sisters is the greatest in the history of the Oakville Big Sister Association, with 25 girls on a waiting list. Help is urgently needed, considering these numbers. Grim realities of girls needing help Oakville‘s Business School 338â€"6600 10(p | OAKVILLE DODGE 00% OPTIC *E CHrRYE UP UP 8454211 °%" sc $0200 2 Thank You Oakville Purchase Certificate cuttnciiisanttes IM PORTA NT 2 % m twP" dow HAALAJVUNT AND NMORKE! VEHICLE PRICE BEFORE DISCOUNTS )M‘ NP 22D PACKAGE DISCOUNTS AORLZA NNON BUY A CAR â€"FILL A TRUNK! With every new or used vehicle purchased, Oakville Dodge Chrysler will donate a trunk full of food to FOOD SHARE! Help yourself to a great deal and help those less fortunate at the same time! Miria Cook has been Cora‘s Big Sister for three years. Their common interests include cookâ€" ing, watching movies, attending concerts and going to the theatre. Miria also gives Cora valuâ€" able emotional support. This photograph appears on the front cover of this year‘s Oakville United Way brochure. tPhoto hy Tammv Prica Snacial to the Reavar) age Discounts UP DODGE 10 CARAVANS UNT _FOCUS Eyicle 1,680 2930 L LLE BEAVER WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1993 Ev. OAKVILLE DODGE (xA cmtmanuiltinattWiiinnatiiatitin ¢ an . , 1 0 j OPTION W//W////////// Thank You Oakville Purchase Certificate se ce ’/‘/'/ es iae T 7 2. B Y t Ubirantii O 2 ta ts ts l «P7) 2 4 VEHICLE PRIC Automatic trc Agency struggles to meet needs of girls By WILMA BLOKHUIS Community Editor concern "About oneâ€"quarter of our girls have a history of sexual abuse," said Penson grimly. "Big Sisters are here to provide support and help these kids learn to trust," she said. In total, 70% of the agency‘s caseload â€" 45 Big and Little Sister matches plus the 25 girls on the waitâ€" ing list â€" have a history of identified or suspected child abuse â€" sexual, 25%; physical, 19%, emotional, 17%; and neglect, 9%. "Our role is to support families as well," explained Penson, adding the agency‘s two partâ€"time case workâ€" ers as well as herself make referrals to counselling agencies to help girls cope with family breakdowns. "We also meet with youth counsellors at schools." Of its caseload, 28% of the girls have some involvement with the Children‘s Aid Society, 36% have received or are currently in counselling or theraâ€" py; 21% are currently serviced by mental health agenâ€" cies; and 17% are in special education. "There‘s been quit a lot of confusion about what we do," continued Penson. "People tend to confuse us with Big Brothers which provides a role model and mentor to fulfill the role of a father (to a fatherâ€"absent boy). With Big Sisters, the girls must have a need for support and are not necessarily girls from motherâ€" )5 ibsent homes enson veal This PAGE 13 n Oakville, there are 25 girls aged four to 16 waiting for a Big Sister. Like many social service agencies, the Oakville Big Sister Association is coping with increased demands for its services. is the largest waiting list we‘ve had in our history," says executive director Jacqui adding the agency‘s statistics are cause for SCOUN Big Sisters Discounts Miller Real Estate Ltd Eneamemernndenesd ons PAUL SCHELL REALTOR iles Representative ho Heete page 14) 845â€"9180 ns No m