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VANCOUVER – Parents of children and youth in Vancouver struggling with mental health problems will be able to take part in a new program called Family Orientation to Child and Youth Mental Health, thanks to a $50,000 grant to the FORCE Society for Kids’ Mental Health, Minister of Children and Family Development Tom Christensen announced today.
“Increasing support to parents and helping families respond to the challenges of mental health problems are key priorities of the Province’s Child and Youth Mental Health Plan,” said Christensen. “This pilot project in Vancouver will help parents navigate the many positive government and community-based supports available to them.”
The FORCE Society will use the grant to develop a project in which simple, yet comprehensive information and support is provided to parents. It will include development of an information package and planning around setting up an ongoing parents’ support group in the Vancouver area.
FORCE is a B.C.-based non-profit society that offers support, education and advocacy for children, youth and families dealing with mental health issues.
“Discovering that your child is suffering from a mental health issue is overwhelming enough without having to single-handedly figure out what to do next,” said FORCE Society executive director Keli Anderson. “Our plans for the family orientation program will help parents become strong supporters and advocates for their children.”
Today’s announcement coincides with the National Child and Youth Mental Health Day Conference, hosted by the FORCE Society at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. In honour of this event and child and youth mental health issues in general, the Province has declared May 7, 2007 Child and Youth Mental Health Day in British Columbia.
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Media Relations Manager Ministry of Children and Family Development 250 356-1639 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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