Improving Mental Health and Well-Being Outcomes for Vulnerable Girls.
This program provides increased access to mental health services and supports to girls and young women as well as their parents from low-income families and communities facing socio-economic barriers. Participants benefit from improved mental health and well-being outcomes and parents have increased capacity to help their daughters.
Services and supports include Mental health counselling sessions from a Psychotherapist/Social Worker for the girls. These sessions are provided two days weekly and in-person three days weekly, from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Home visits by Social Workers are conducted to do wellness and safety checks when food gift cards, fresh produce baskets, hygiene, and homework kits are delivered. During these visits the parents and/or the girls can also receive additional counselling. Counselling for the parents is also provided through phone calls or in-person. This program increases access and provides navigation support to social and additional mental health services. Staff increase their skills in providing mental health supports through training provided by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. A data-base of community based services has been developed and is updated regularly to provide a resource inventory of social and mental health services.