Fiddlehead Care Farm

Sharing Recipient Stories

2025 Dufferin County Community Grant Recipient
$7,500

Sharing our story

For 10 years, Fiddlehead Care Farm (FCF) has supported children and families through an innovative, evidence-informed approach to mental health care. By integrating clinical counselling with animal-assisted therapy and nature-based interventions, FCF provides accessible, preventative support that strengthens long-term coping skills and reduces reliance on crisis-driven services.

In 2025, 65 children and families participated in FCF’s counselling program, including 24 new clients and families. Demand for these specialized services continued to increase, resulting in a growing waitlist, and highlighting the need for additional capacity. Support from the Dufferin Community Grant was instrumental in addressing this challenge.

Grant funding enabled FCF to strengthen staffing capacity, ensuring the program could be sustained and expanded in response to community need. As a direct result, FCF significantly reduced wait times, with families accessing counselling services sometimes within days of registering, which was an essential improvement in timely mental health support.

The Dufferin Community Grant also helped ensure services remained financially accessible. With this support, FCF offered one-on-one counselling at a reduced rate of $150 per session within the unique care farming environment, making the program more affordable than comparable services in the region and reducing financial barriers for families.

The Dufferin Community Grant played a critical role in enhancing service delivery, increasing equitable access, and supporting a sustainable care model. Participants reported feeling supported, building resilience, and strengthening their sense of self and community. Through preventative, nature-based interventions, FCF continues to foster positive mental health outcomes for children and families across Dufferin County.

Stephanie Deaken, Executive Director
fiddleheadcarefarm@gmail.com
647-624-8421
www.fiddleheadcarefarm.com