British Columbia's mental health and addictions minister says the province will expand services for young children, school-aged youth and their families.
Sheila Malcolmson says 60 new full-time family support workers will be added over the next three years to help deliver services for children with emotional, behavioural and developmental challenges.
Over $40 million dollars and approximately 350 new full-time workers will help support B.C.’s young people, and their families, to access services early on and through their school, so they will be less likely to need services down the road. 2/5
— Sheila Malcolmson (@s_malcolmson) April 26, 2021
She says that would give families better access to mental health care during children's formative years.
This investment means families don’t lose critical time, or have to retell their story over and over again when mental health and addictions treatment help is urgently needed, we’re adding new teams so young people receive seamless service at school, at home and for life. 4/5
— Sheila Malcolmson (@s_malcolmson) April 26, 2021
Five integrated child and youth teams currently exist, but the province is aiming to add more teams to another 15 communities by 2024, based on where need is greatest.
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside says that would provide students, parents, teachers and education support staff with the services they need.
Malcolmson says school administrators, staff and parents have made it clear that the pandemic is impacting the mental health of students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
"To get help, many families and youth have had to knock on one door after another, after another, losing critical time when help is urgently needed," she said,
The programs will receive $56 million in funding, as announced in last week's budget.
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