Abbotsford-area MLAs joined with members of the community today to celebrate the launch of Foundry Abbotsford, a new integrated youth-service centre.

Foundry will bring new and existing services under one roof so families and young people can access a one-stop shop for primary-care, mental-health, substance-use, and social services. The centre, for youth between the ages of 12 and 24 years, is hosted by Abbotsford Community Services and is expected to be fully operational and accepting clients this year.

Foundry Abbotsford is one of the five centres announced in June 2016, as part of a provincial network of easily accessible youth service centres hosted by local organizations. The other Foundry centres are located in Prince George, Kelowna, Campbell River and North Shore. These new sites build on the success of the St. Paul’s Granville Youth Health Centre in Vancouver. This model focuses on earlier therapeutic interventions, when mental-health problems are just emerging. Intervening early can help to prevent challenges with mental-health and substance-use from becoming more serious.

Services at Foundry will be offered by interdisciplinary teams, which may include physicians,  nurse practitioners, mental-health and substance-use clinicians, youth and family peer support and navigation workers, youth and guardianship workers, income assistance and supported employment service workers, outreach workers, LGBTQ+ support and navigation, Aboriginal child-service social workers and other Aboriginal service providers.

The Ministry of Health provided $3 million to the InnerChange Foundation in March 2015 to assist in the development of Foundry. Further investments to the centres include a $1.5-million investment from the Graham Boeckh Foundation, and commitments from InnerChange Foundation and St. Paul’s Foundation to each fundraise. The Ministry of Children and Family Development is providing significant support to the Abbotsford centre, including daily representation from ministry mental-health clinicians and youth-social workers, as well as staff from the local delegated Aboriginal agency, Xyolhemeylh.

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research will be providing $800,000 toward the evaluation and research component of the initiative. Abbotsford Community Services will also be launching a local fundraising campaign to help ensure the centre will be able to meet the community’s needs.

Budget 2017, with $165 million provided in targeted mental-health and substance use-investments, added $8.4 million over three years to expand Foundry integrated youth service centres in up to five additional sites, for a total of up to 11 sites throughout the province. Locations are still to be determined.

The Ministry of Health spends about $1.45 billion each year to support people in need of mental-health or substance-use services and supports.

Quotes:

Michael de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford West on behalf of Health Minister Terry Lake –

“Supporting the work done by Foundry is integral to providing a positive future for young people in Abbotsford. With interdisciplinary help through Foundry, youth can access a wide array of supports ranging from resume writing and finding housing, to mental-health and substance-use supports and services.”

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development –

“The Foundry centres are safe and inviting places where young people can feel comfortable asking for help. Getting them through the door is an important first step – and when they’re ready, they will be able to access the support, treatment and connections they need in order to get back on the path to wellness.”

Darryl Plecas, MLA for Abbotsford South –

“Each Foundry centre we’ve launched provides a little more hope to youth. Overcoming hurdles early in life can be a challenge, but now we can offer a hand to those needing a little extra help with mental-health or substance-use concerns.”

Simon Gibson, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission –

“I was so pleased to learn that eventually, there will be up to 11 Foundry centres. Each community with a Foundry site, like here in Abbotsford, has shown a commitment to helping the more vulnerable members of their neighbourhood, their youth.”

Rod Santiago, Abbotsford Community Services director –

“Through Foundry the entire community is working collectively towards making Abbotsford the safest and healthiest place to be a young person. Foundry will be a welcoming, caring, shared space where any youth can receive the whole range of supports they and their families need to thrive. Thank you to all our funders, donors and partners for turning our dreams into reality.”

Learn More:

For more information on Foundry: www.foundrybc.ca  

To learn about the Granville Youth Health Centre, visit: www.innercityyouth.ca

For more information about mental-health supports, please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/factsheet-comprehensive-mental-health-services-in-bc

Find mental-health and substance-use services in your area with a new online map: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/find-services-near-you/youth-mental-health-services