VANCOUVER - The Community Action Initiative (CAI), a provincewide program that supports mental health and substance use projects and innovation in B.C., is awarding almost $2 million to 10 grassroots mental health and substance use groups throughout the province.

The CAI funds strategies that promote mental health; prevent harmful use of substances and improve services and supports that enhance the recovery process for children, youth, adults and families affected by mental health problems and/or problematic substance use.

The initiative brings together pre-existing local groups that work to improve the mental health and well-being of people in their communities - from the Downtown Eastside to Ladysmith to Fort St. John.

The CAI is a key complement to the Province's comprehensive 10-year plan to address mental health and substance use across the lifespan in B.C. -- Healthy Minds, Healthy People, which seeks to promote good mental health and prevent potential mental health and substance use problems for all children and youth, and facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention for children and youth vulnerable to or struggling with mental health and substance use challenges.

Quick Facts:

• The Community Action Initiative (CAI) was established through a $10-million grant from the Province of British Columbia, announced in June 2008.
• The CAI supports community action to promote mental health, prevent mental health and substance use problems and support treatment when problems occur.
• The CAI funding includes three specific funding streams:
• Convening - grants of up to $10,000 to establish partnerships, to plan collaboratively and prepare grant applications before they apply for stage two (service innovation) funding for their projects.
• Service innovation - grants of up to $200,000 to support implementation of proposed service innovation projects.
• Training - to enhance the ability of community organizations to share knowledge and deliver mental health and substance use supports and services in more effective and innovative ways.
• This the second round of service innovation grants. The first seven grants were made in 2010. A total of $3.75 million has been invested in projects to date.
• The CAI is governed by a Leadership Council that includes major health, social science and professional organizations in partnership with Aboriginal groups.
• The Ministry of Children and Family Development invests approximately $94 million (annually) to address child and youth mental health and substance use challenges - this includes community child and youth mental health services, youth psychiatric forensics services, the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre and substance use services delivered in the youth justice system.
• Currently approximately 20 thousand children and youth receive community mental health services annually - approximately double the number that received services at the beginning of B.C.'s Child and Youth Mental Health Plan in 2003.

Learn More:

Community Action Initiative: http://www.communityactioninitiative.ca/

Grant recipients:

http://www.communityactioninitiative.ca/funding-opportunities/successful-applicants/

For information on Child and Youth Mental Health programs and services in B.C., go to: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/

Contacts:

Cindy Rose
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639

Pamela Chaloult
Boldt Communications Inc. (for the Community Action Initiative)
778 227-5410

BACKGROUNDER

Community Action Initiative

Service Innovation Grant 2011 Recipients

Kelowna

Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna Branch - $200,000

Connected by 25: Supporting Successful Transitions to Adulthood for Vulnerable Young People in Central Okanagan

• Addressing the needs of youth (16-24) to help them develop transition plans and connect with their service providers and the community.

South Cariboo

Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre - $200,000

"I.O. Youth" Involve our Youth: Meaningful Youth Engagement

• Youth-adult partnerships sustaining meaningful participation and involvement of young people, following W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Youth Engagement model.

Smithers

Dze L K'ant Friendship Centre - $200,000

The TEAM (Team Empowerment Awareness) Project

• Uses sports, leadership development and cultural connections as vehicles to enhance the skills, capacity and resiliency of urban Aboriginal youth (13-18).

Fort St. James

Fireweed Collective Society - $197,580

Not at the Kiddie Table Any More

• A food-based harm reduction program to help youth develop healthy transitions, leadership, empowerment and involvement in community visioning and policy development.

Vancouver

1) Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House - $194,735

Frames Film Project: Raising Awareness and Reducing Stigma

• Providing training, mentorship and an artistic outlet through filmmaking for marginalized youth (16-24).

2) Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society - $197,000

Culturally Relevant Land-Based Practice as a Path to Holistic and Sustainable Urban Wellness

• Elders involving Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth (12-15) in food gardening, harvesting and preparation. Program to incorporate rite of passage ceremony.

Ladysmith

Ladysmith Resources Centre Association - $200,000

LRCA Ladysmith Youth-led Enterprise: Project Reel Life

• Involving Ladysmith community in developing a youth-led and operated movie theatre. Aims to engage youth (13-28) in leadership, design, teamwork, business and project management.

Pemberton

Mountain Youth Society - $200,000

Seed to Table

• Increasing protective factors for vulnerable local youth in grades 11 and 7 through food-related programming, including First Nations food gathering, food and nutrition knowledge workshops and industry certification.

Victoria, Prince George, Campbell River and Atlin

Whitecrow Village FASD Society - $179,695

Living Well

• Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder sharing experiences and strategies through acting, produced as part of the Whitecrow Village Life Skill video series.

Nemiah Valley and Williams Lake

Xeni Gwet'in First Nation - Eniyud Health Services, - $200,000

The Happiness Project!

• Focuses on developing youth engagement and capacity through providing meaningful leadership opportunities and a Friends Helping Friends program that connects youth with experts and community mentors.

Contacts:

Cindy Rose
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639

Pamela Chaloult
Boldt Communications Inc. (for the Community Action Initiative)
778 227-5410