Client Diversity

Special Client Population

Circle of Care was initially founded to serve the Jewish community. While the agency now serves all clients living within its geographical boundaries, regardless of age, religion, nationality, or diagnosis, the Jewish community currently makes up the largest portion of Circle of Care’s client base.

Working with Diverse Clients

When working with clients from diverse communities, it is important to empower them by working together to encourage the client to actively participate in their care. It is also important to support a client’s independence and self-determination, by considering their strengths and unique needs. When working with clients who speak a different language, you can use the MCIS translation services to assist you in communicating with these clients.

Accessing Translation Services

MCIS Translation Services are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist you in communicating with your client. Follow the steps below to access this service:

1.    Dial 416-467-3097.

2.    When prompted, press “2” to access immediate translation services.

3.    Enter the four-digit access code: “5065”.

4.    You will be prompted to provide your name and the language needed. You will then be connected with an interpreter.

5.    Explain the situation to the interpreter. You will need to pass the phone between yourself and the client as required.

6.    Once the message is communicated and understood, you can hang up.

7.    Once finished, please contact your coordinator to advise them that you used the service.

Holocaust Survivors

The Holocaust refers to the extermination of 6 million Jews, and millions of others during the Nazi era (1933 to 1945). The Nazi policy was to systematically and meticulously erase the Jewish race. There were strict laws for Jewish people. Jews were ousted from civil-service positions, deprived of their livelihood, and prevented from attending public schools.

The Claims Conference was created after World War II (1954) to oversee restitution and reparations for survivors, and to provide a measure of justice for Jewish Holocaust victims. Many survivors in Toronto live at or below the poverty line. This is especially significant because, as Holocaust survivors age, their need for services, which they often cannot afford, increases.

Our agency receives funding from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany to provide specialized services to Holocaust survivors. The Claims Conference defines a Holocaust survivor as anyone who was displaced from their home between September of 1939 and May of 1945. Most people think of Holocaust survivors as people who were interned at concentration camps, but it is important to dispel this myth, as every Holocaust survivor’s wartime experience was different.

Concentration, Labour, and Transit Camps

Starting in 1933, the Nazis built a network of concentration camps in Germany for political opponents and people deemed “undesirable.” After the invasion of Poland in 1939, the regime set up ghettos to segregate Jews. Over 42,000 camps, ghettos, and other detention sites were established. The Nazis had established about 20,000 camps between 1933 and 1945 to be used for a range of purposes, including forced labor camps, transit camps that served as temporary way stations, and extermination camps built primarily or exclusively for mass murder. Political prisoners, people of colour, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and homosexuals were also sent to concentration camps as punishment.

In Hiding

Many Jews went into hiding to avoid capture by the Nazis and their collaborators. Some concealed only their Jewish identity and continued to live in the open, using false identification papers. Others physically hid in attics, cellars, or other shelters. For most, hiding was a difficult decision that involved extraordinary risks. Many families, like Anne Frank’s, attempted to hide together. Often, children were sent into hiding first because more people were willing to take in a child than an adult.

Nearly all Jews who went into hiding relied on others to help them, and they often felt that they were totally dependent on their helpers—for food and water, for news from the outside world, and especially for their willingness to continue to keep their secret. Usually, those in hiding gave their helpers money to pay for food and other supplies and to reward the helpers for making such a dangerous commitment. Sometimes Jews were hidden by neighbours or former employees they knew. Sometimes they were helped by strangers, but the risks of hiding changed the nature of even the closest and most trusted relationships.

Evacuation

Many Jewish people were subject to evacuation. They were evacuated from their homes and forced to find somewhere else to live. Many fled to countries like Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan for safety.

Hidden Children

Hidden children refers to children, mainly Jewish, who were “hidden” in some way to prevent them from being caught and most likely murdered by the Nazis. Many of these children survived by being placed within another, usually Catholic, family, and then raised as a member of that family.

Russian Jews

Unlike other Jews in East Europe, most Soviet Jews were not sent to concentration camps; instead, they were killed where they lived, in their villages and towns. It is known that about one third of the Jews massacred in the Holocaust were Soviet citizens. The Nazis came to believe that Jews were in charge of the Soviet regime. As a result, Jews residing in the occupied Soviet territories were perceived as a serious threat to the German nation. Following the war, Soviet Jews went on to face continued oppression under the Communist rule of Joseph Stalin.

Working with Holocaust Survivors

Many survivors never talk about the trauma they experienced during the war, while others feel it is important to share their stories so that what happened to them will never be forgotten. If a survivor is willing to share their story with you, listen and acknowledge the importance of their story. This could be an important way for the client to connect with you. Be sensitive to potential triggers that may bring back difficult memories from a traumatic experience. For example, a trigger could be a certain sight, sound, or event, which might trigger a flashback or reaction. In these situations, consider different methods to help with de-escalating fears and traumatic memories, depending on the client’s unique needs. When possible, support the client’s need to be independent by focusing on their strengths and needs.

Jewish Clients

Since Jewish clients remain the majority of the clients we serve, it is helpful to be aware of some of their customs and traditions.

Some terms that you may encounter include:

  • Kashrut: Jewish dietary laws
  • Shabbat: Sabbath occurs from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday and is a period of rest and refraining from daily work activities. Preparation of meals required for Sabbath takes place before sunset and the beginning of the Sabbath holiday. Some observant Jews do not turn lights on or off, or use transportation on Shabbat.
  • Yom Tov: A Jewish “holy day” or Some customs may include lighting candles, special meals, attending synagogue
  • Shul: Synagogue (place of worship and community activities)

Some of the holidays you may hear about include:

  • Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year – a High Holy Day – customs may include attending synagogue, family get-togethers, and a festive meal.
  • Chanukah: A lesser Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights.
  • Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement – most sacred day of the Jewish calendar – traditionally a day of fasting (lasting 24 hours from sunset to sunset) and prayer.
  • Pesach: Passover – 8-day holiday, which marks the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Customs include special foods for the holiday; separate dishes and utensils used only for Passover; all leavened foods removed from house and only unleavened bread (matzah) allowed; special holiday meal known as the “Seder” where the story of the exodus is recounted.

The Kosher Home

In some Jewish homes, meals are prepared according to the Jewish dietary laws, known as “Kashrut”. Certain religious laws, customs, and policies that are followed, are meant to give cleanliness and health.

Muslim Clients

Some of our clients include the Muslim community. It is helpful to be aware of some of their customs and traditions.

Some terms that you may encounter include:

  • Halal: Foods permitted within Muslim dietary law. People who observe the Islam faith cannot consume the following foods:
    • Pork or pork by-products
    • Animals that were dead prior to slaughtering
    • Animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah
    • Blood or blood by-products
    • Alcohol
    • Carnivorous animals
    • Birds of prey
  • Allah: Arabic word for God
  • Mosque: Place of worship and community activities

Some of the holidays you may hear about include:

  • Ramadan: Muslim month of During this time, Muslims will fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from consuming food and drinking any liquids. Food and drink is then consumed before sunrise and after sunset. This time normally occurs in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.
  • Eid-Ul-Fitr: This day marks the end of Muslims celebrate the end of the month long fasting and pray to Allah.
  • Eid-Ul-Adha: Festival of Sacrifice – one of the most important day in Muslim rituals – sacrifice of an animal. Muslims begin this day with attending their local mosques to attend morning prayers. They will then make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal either through attending local farms or other arrangements. They then distribute the meat among their friends and family members.

Hindu Clients

Some of our clients include the Hindu community. It is helpful to be aware of some of their customs and traditions.

Some terms that you may encounter include:

  • Mandir: Place of worship and community activities

Some of the holidays you may hear about include:

  • Vasant Panchami: This festival marks the beginning of spring and occurs in January or February.
  • Ugadi: Hindu New Year occurs in March or April. It signifies the start of an Customs may include attending Mandir, family get-togethers, and festive meals.
  • Diwali: This day is the festival of lights and is celebrated in autumn of every year. Rituals and festivities extend over a 5 day period and the main festival night includes lights oriented activities such as putting off fireworks.

East Asian Clients

Some of our clients include many East Asian communities. It is helpful to be aware of some of their customs and traditions.

Some of the holidays you may hear about include:

  • Spring Festival: Also called Lunar New Year and occurs in January or February. Customs may include attending temples, family get-togethers, and festive
  • Mid-Autumn Day: This day normally occurs on the 15th day of 8th month according to the Lunar Calendar and is usually in Some customs may include attending temples, family reunions, festive meals, and watching of the moon while eating moon cakes.
  • Winter Solstice: This day usually marks the Winter Festival and occurs in December. Customs include attending temples, family reunions, and festive meals.