The Children’s Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the pilot program ‘Strive to Thrive’ on Thursday, January 28th. This is a program aimed at Mental Health for Children and Youth in Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Counties.
With the growing numbers of children and youth experiencing challenges to their mental health, and the added effects of Covid-19 pandemic safety measures such as restrictions and isolation for safety, The Children’s Foundation wants to focus on delivering programs to children and youth that will strengthen and support their physical, mental and emotional health, to offer mental health support where greater needs are identified.
The Children’s Foundation, working with Highland Shores Children’s Aid, identifies at-risk children and youth’s mental health as a priority. The Highland Shores Children’s Aid has a team of trained social workers who are able to identify those at greatest risk in terms of their mental health, and offer support and resources to them, or refer them to other professionals, often before they are in crisis.
The ‘Strive To Thrive’ program will offer activities aimed at creating positive self esteem for children and youth, as well as providing life-skills training and care kits for older youth living on their own for the first time.“Up to seventy percent of mental health problems and illnesses begin in childhood or adolescence, and as many as three in four children and youth with mental health problems and illnesses do not access services and treatments. We want to be there to help at risk children and youth now, to prevent future mental health problems”, says Executive Director Kim Henry.