Debbie Miles-Senior is a Registered Social Worker, with a BA in Psychology and over 20 years experience working with families, children and youth. In Ms. Miles-Senior years of experience, she has found parenting to be the biggest challenge and the most rewarding.
Her passion is best demonstrated in her ability and commitment to empower and provide support to children, parents and young people. Ms. Miles-Senior’s work with parents and children in environments such as the Children’s Aid Society, local school board, employment counselling, settlement services and youth serving organizations have all molded her skills in understanding family dynamics and working with families. In the years of Ms. Miles-Seniors’ employment, volunteer activities and experience as a parent, a common theme evident in her work is the need to develop security in relationships and support individuals through difficult times.
In making a difference in the lives of families, parents and children Ms. Miles-Senior created Side By Side Services. The vision of Side by Side Services is to support and empower families in their relationships while helping parents maintain a positive, healthy connection with their children. Ms. Miles-Senior works tirelessly to empower and help meet the needs of families and children while staying busy with her husband to parent their three children.
Side By Side Services staff are trained and skilled professionals in the field of social work and social services and come with years of experience working with families. Side By Side Services personnel possess the passion and commitment for families and their children. We will work with you to find the best solution for your family and are committed to our vision to support your family and your relationship with your children.
Vision:To promote healthy children, strong families and striving communities.
To help support and empower families in their relationships.
When Custody and Access issues arise, everyone is affected… especially the children. And when Supervised Access is required, the number of questions and concerns from parents and caregivers often times DOUBLE!
At Side by Side Services, we aim to help build healthy, loving child-parent relationships during some very tough, personal times in their lives. We work with each one of you individually on a common focus – to support and encourage your children through this transition, guiding them and you through. It is our goal to support the healthy development of emotionally stable children, and to nurture all parties – you and them – every step of the way.
Therapeutic Access is when a parent requires additional support in developing a relationship with their children. This is due to lack of ability or the inability to manage their child’s behavior or when there has been a long separation from their child or when the child has been exposed to parental violence and there is a great feeling of fear in the child.
Side by Side Services will provide the support and guidance while helping to alleviate these concerns.
When there is no concern for the safety of the child a parent or caregiver will have the opportunity to have their visit with the child in the community supervised by a trained facilitator. Community Access includes parent and child activities, dining out, and other communal activies. Side by Side Services will assist in planning meaningful activities for the child and parent.
Supervised Exchanges occur when there is high conflict and unresolved issues between parents, and so a neutral place to exchange children for visits is needed. This reduces the tension and lessens the safety risks for the child. Supervised Exchanges also occur when there are concerns for parents under the influence of drug or alcohol or the safety of the custodial parent during the exchange.
When there are challenges in parenting and parents are in need of support services, Side by Side Services will provide that service in their home. Assessment and observation of the parent and child interaction is also available.
Support in the home can also occur if a child has been away for an extended period of time. Side By Side Services will provide support. However, parents will need to meet certain criteria to have this service available.
Side By Side Services also offers short-term counselling to provide parents with the tools they need to help build a relationship with their children.
I was skeptical at first of receiving this service but once I sat down and talked with SBS staff, they explained how it was more about regaining the bond that may have been broken from the separation.
The service was very professional and was everything they explained from the beginning.
My experience with the service was excellent from beginning to end. I feel Side By Side’s approach made the most sense for my situation.
Thank you so much.
She was supportive when I was ill after being discharge for the hospital. She supported me on visits with my lawyer and helped to arranged my visitation with my children. She is loyal, reliable and supportiveAndrea W., Pickering
Each time I would meet with her I would immediately feel contented and reassured. Debbie has a relaxed and an understanding approach to each and every situation that she was confronted with when meeting with me. I always felt comforted knowing that her positive feedback and prayers would lift me up…. Debbie is a pleasant, compassionate, hardworking, non-judgmental individual that is always giving good positive advice.
Almost 20 years later I still get parenting dos and don’ts which are always needed. She has helped me to re-evaluate my relationships with family, friends but most importantly myself and that has stuck with me to this day and will continue.
I thank her for helping me get through many “dark patches” and for her continual support and encouragement. I will forever be grateful and always hold my head up high.Nadia C., Toronto ON
