New Path Youth & Family Services (New Path) received a three-year, $695,300 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to provide the Family Support Program (FSP). The FSP program is a program that partners parents or caregivers with family support workers who have lived experience as caregivers of children or youth with mental health needs.
“The local work of New Path Youth and Family Services is so important to our community. They help families learn new ways to manage stress, find balance and become more cohesive units. All of these things are important to our children’s early development, now more than ever,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte. “This Grow Grant funding will help New Path continue to offer services that benefit so many families in our region. I am glad to see them receiving even more support from the provincial government to help them continue their good work.”
Through this program, FSP workers will work with families to develop a family support plan, and help parents or caregivers develop skills to support children and youth. This program will be available to families participating in New Path’s longer term service programs, at all of New Path’s service locations. Funds from the OTF grant will be used over the period of the grant to help with staffing and program costs.
“This program is effective at engaging families, and reducing dropout from services,” said Lisa Cluett, Manager of Clinical Services. “When family and caregivers have less strain, feel connected to a peer-to- peer worker, and our community resources, they are less isolated and better equipped with skills and resources to parent their children.”
Approximately 80 per cent of parents and caregivers report that their work/life balance is impacted due to their child’s mental health concern. Their stress levels, mental health, and ability to parent their child and meet their needs are impacted. However, with the help of the FSP program, parents and caregivers will acquire skills and resources to be better equipped to support their children and to navigate the mental health system. Additionally, children and youth will benefit as well since their parents and caregivers will know how to positively influence and support them.
The FSP, which engages families in a peer-to-peer model, is now one of the many services offered New Path Youth & Family Services. For more information about this program, please call New Path at 705-725-7656.
About the Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
About New Path Youth & Family Services
New Path Youth & Family Services of Simcoe County is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization. We are an accredited children’s mental health agency providing a range of innovative and timely services for children, youth and their families. We are the Lead Agency for children’s mental health in Simcoe with the goal of enhancing the experience and outcomes of children, youth and their families seeking assistance with mental health and wellness.
To learn more about New Path Youth and Family Services, to donate, or get involved please visit www.newpath.ca, follow us on social media Facebook: New Path Youth & Family Services Twitter: @NewPathYFS Instagram: @NewPathYFS or sign up for our TrailSigns Newsletter.
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Media Contact
Dominika Zapolnik, Communications Manager
New Path Youth and Family Services
Phone: 705-627-3067
Email: dzapolnik@newpath.ca
Facebook: New Path Youth & Family Services
Twitter: @NewPathYFS