Pathways | Family Support Programs

Family Support Programs

Abuse / Neglect, Caregiver Support, Family / Parenting, Indigenous Services, Legal, Mental Health - Child & Youth, Pregnancy Care, Services for Children, Services for Youth, and Victim Services

Provided by Comox Valley Family Services Association

Various programs and services designed to help families.

The following programs are offered:

Collaborative Planning Program:: The Collaborative Planning Program Coordinator facilitates various types of ‘family’ meetings: to share information, look at the resources available and then determine the next best steps for the child/youth and family. The hope is that extended family and family supports can all be a part of planning at the different stages in a child or youth’s life. These processes or facilitated meetings involve family and community members in child welfare decision-making and produce plans and agreements that protect children and youth and as well address the needs of families. Referrals are through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or a social worker. There is no cost for this program
Healthy Families Program: Provides a wide variety of supports to individuals and families who may need a bit of extra help in their pregnancy and parenting journey. They offer weekly drop-in groups, access to parent-child resources and opportunities to develop new social connections. Additionally, program participants can talk with guest speakers at groups, including Public Health Nurses, dieticians, infant development consultants and others. Outreach workers are available for individual support if needed and to connect families to resources and services in the community.
Family Development Program: Offers individualized outreach support to families with children and youth who have been identified by MCFD and require intervention and support.This service works to restore positive functioning in families who would benefit from a variety of coordinated services that are individualized to meet each family’s specific needs. Referrals are only through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP): Provides a range of appropriate, therapeutic and educative treatment and/or support services to children and youth ages 3 -18 ( up to their 19th birthday) who have been sexually abused, and to children under the age of 12 with sexual acting out behaviours. Treatment may include individual counselling and/or family support depending on the needs of the young person, to facilitate healing within the family system. Intervention methods are strength-based and child-focused, using a variety of expressive therapies and counselling approaches. Services are free. SAIP is staffed by two (2) part-time clinical counsellors with specialized training and experience. Services are sensitive and responsive to cultural differences.
‘Creating Calm’: Child and Youth Anxiety Support Group: Creating Calm is an educational therapeutic support group for children and youth experiencing anxiety. Children and youth will be taught a variety of skills to cope with and manage their anxiety. Parents will be offered methods to identify anxiety symptoms, and intervene to support the development of more confident, self-reliant behaviour in their children. A pre-admittance interview is done with the parent. There is no cost to attend.
Community Based Victims Services Program: Free and open to self and community referrals. The program provides emotional support, justice related information referrals and practical assistance to victims and their families, of crime and trauma. Many instances of physical and sexual abuse go unreported; we offer a safe place to talk about relationship violence, abuse and sexual assault where the focus is not just about the criminal justice system. They serve all genders: women, youth, children, men and self-identified genders who have experienced or have witnessed physical, emotional or sexual violence.