February 11, 2004

Contact: Bob Warick
Executive Director
University College of the Fraser Valley
Community Relations and Development
Phone: 604-864-4611
Email: warick@ucfv.ca

Innovative, community-based projects for children and families in the Fraser Region receive funding of $1 million

Twelve community-based projects providing aid to children and families in the Fraser Region have been awarded funding totalling $1 million from the University College of the Fraser Valley’s Fraser Children and Family Development Fund.

These collaborative projects will pilot more effective approaches to provide a range of services for children and families. The goals include reducing the number of children in care, preventing youth from entering the justice system, and supporting families and children at risk.

The Fraser Children and Family Development Fund was created by the University College of the Fraser Valley with funding from B.C.’s Ministry of Children and Family Development.

“It is exciting for an academic institution to contribute in such a concrete way to the development of innovative approaches and solutions to some of the pressing problems faced by the community,” says Yvon Dandurand, UCFV’s Dean of Research and Industry Liaison. 

The successful projects were chosen by an advisory committee supported by UCFV, with members from communities throughout the Fraser Region.

In partnering with UCFV, the goal of the Ministry of Children and Family Development was to create an investment fund for evidence-based programs that promote the capacity of families and communities to protect children.

The following are examples of some of the projects funded by the Fraser Children and Family Development Fund:

Central Gateway for Families – Chilliwack Community Services, along with many community partners, has been awarded $50,000 for a demonstration project aimed at improving access to services for parents and children in the city’s downtown core.

Wraparound – Families Building Community ~ Abbotsford Community Services and The Children’s Foundation in Surrey along with their partners will receive $57,600 each for a project that will offer an innovative case management approach called “wraparound” to client families whose children are at risk of entering foster care.

Towards Safe and Caring Schools: Building Capacity for Restorative Action – Burnaby School District #41, along with Burnaby Restorative Action Group and several other community partners, has been awarded $67,500 for a project that will apply principles of restorative action to assist in creating safe and caring school communities and help resolve issues of school conflict, bullying and harassment.

Other funded projects:

UPPER FRASER REGION

Groups for Substance Affected Children and Youth – Abbotsford Community Services along with its partners will receive $67,317 for a project to develop a best practices group manual to educate children and young teens about addiction, recovery and to promote their development of coping skills, social and life skills and resiliency.

Fraser-Cascade Functional Behavioural and Assessments – Fraser Cascade School District #78 has been awarded $67,500 for a project that will conduct Functional Behavioural Assessments and create a sustainable program to support their use and ensure their effectiveness.  

Rural Connections – Fraser House in Mission has been awarded $66,715 for a pilot program that will work towards ensuring that children and families benefit from available resources and services offered in their community.   

SOUTH FRASER REGION

Educating for Peacebuilding – Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association in Langley, along with its partners, has been awarded $49,548 for a project that will encourage, promote, train and document the application of restorative justice principles and values within conflict and discipline situations in schools. The project is aimed at building collaborative relationships in the schools and with families, related professionals and services. 

Interim Wrap Around Coordinator – Atira Women’s Resource Society in Surrey and its partners has been awarded $66,620 towards an Interim Wrap Around Coordinator for Surrey’s High Risk Pregnancy and Early Parenting Project.

SIMON FRASER REGION

Multicultural Youth Entry Project –  S.U.C.C.E.S.S United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society and the Coquitlam School District has been awarded $67,500 for a pilot project to implement a model of early identification of at-risk youth in the school system and demonstrate the effectiveness of an early intervention and support program. 

Developmental Behavioural Intervention Program – Ridge Meadows Child Development Centre Society and its partners will receive $57,060 for a program to offer psychological and behavioural intervention services for families who have children with significant behavioural challenges who are not eligible for behaviour support services through existing programs. 

Cooking Fun for Families – New Westminster School District #40 and its partners has been awarded $51,268 for an innovative community kitchen project that facilitates active participation of both children and parents in the development of a fun cooking program in a school environment. This food skill building program will offer support around issues such as food security, life skills, socialization and integration within communities.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

A number of other projects funded in the first round will be announced shortly. The deadline for the second call for proposals to the Fraser Children and Family Development Fund is April 13, 2004.  Non-profit or charitable organizations, including community agencies, non-profit societies, school districts, post-secondary educational institutions, local government districts, and municipalities, can submit proposals for projects in the Fraser Region for funding up to $75,000.

For more information, please visit the website at www.ucfv.ca/fraserfund.

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Contacts for Funded Projects:

Upper Fraser Region: 

  1. Central Gateway for Families

Contact:           Donna Gagnon

Chilliwack Community Services

45938 Wellington Avenue

Chilliwack, BC

Phone: 604-793-7217                 email: gannond@comserv.bc.ca

 

  1. Wraparound- Families Building Communities

 Contact:           Stacie Prescott

Abbotsford Community Services

2420 Montrose Avenue

Abbotsford, BC

Phone: (604) 859-7681  email: abbycs@paralynx.com

 

  1. Groups for Substance Affected Children and Youth

Contact:           Charlaine Avery

Abbotsford Community Services

2420 Montrose Avenue

Abbotsford, BC

Phone: (604) 850-5106  email: cavery@paralynx.com

 

  1. Fraser-Cascade Functional Behavioural and Assessments

Contact:           Dr. Karen Nelson

Fraser Cascade School District #78

650 Kawkawa Lake Road

Hope, BC

Phone: 604-869-2411 Extension 106       email: Knelson@sd78.bc.ca

 

  1. Rural Connections

Contact:           Harry O’Connor

Fraser House Society

33063 4th Avenue

Mission, BC

Phone: (604) 826-6810  email: fraserhouse@telus.com

 

South Fraser Region: 

  1. Educating for Peacebuilding

Contact:           Sandi Bergen and Catherine Bargen

Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives Association

#101- 20678 Eastleigh Crescent

Langley, BC

                                    Phone:  (604) 534-5515 email: sandibergen@cjibc.org    

 

  1. Wraparound- Families Building Communities

Contact:           Christine Mohr

The Children’s Foundation

10453 137th Street

Surrey, BC

Phone :(604) 589-7773     email: christine.mohr@childrens-foundation.org

 

  1. Surrey High Risk Pregnancy and Early Parenting Project

Contact:           Lynda Dechief and Janice Abbott

Atira Women’s Resource Society

#204- 15210 North Bluff Road

White Rock, BC

Phone: (604) 531-0316          email shrp@atira.bc.ca  or  jabot@atira.bc.ca

  

Simon Fraser Region

  1. Towards Safe and Caring Schools     

Contact:           Terry Waterhouse

School District #41- Burnaby

5325 Kincaid Street

Burnaby, BC

Phone: (604) 664-8233 email: twaterhouse@sd41.bc.ca

 

  1. Multicultural Youth Entry Project

Contact:           Kelly Ng and Lilian To

S.U.C.C.E.S.S

28 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC

Phone: (604) 408-7267  email: Kelly@success.bc.ca or lilian@success.bc.ca

 

  1. Developmental Behavioural Intervention

Contact:           John Maddalozzo

Ridge Meadows Child Development Centre Society

12854-232 Street

Maple Ridge, BC

Phone:  (604)463-0881  email: johnmad@rmcdc.com

 

  1. Cooking Fun for Families

Contact:           Betina Ali

New Westminster School District

1001 Columbia Street

New Westminster, BC

Phone: (604) 517-6369  email: bali@sd40.bc.ca

 

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