Partners often bear the brunt of transition'
COMMUNITY / Trans Partner Network expands peer support offerings
Andrea Zanin / Toronto / Thursday, September 10, 2009

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/Partners_often_bear_the_brunt_of_transition-7423.aspx

"We've had an overwhelming number of people contact us — some in total desperation, suicidal in some cases — and they have nowhere, absolutely nowhere to turn," says Frances Mahon, one of the four-person team of facilitators for the new Trans Partner Network (TPN).

TPN has its roots in SOFFA Voices — SOFFA stands for significant others, family, friends and allies — a drop-in group that began meeting at the 519 Community Centre in 2001 . Mahon says SOFFA Voices had a series of facilitators but that the drop-in format made for a lack of continuity. In 2007 it became an online Yahoo group, with one or two facilitators available to meet with individuals for one-on-one peer support over coffee.