NEWS RELEASE
FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES NIAGARA
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Surviving trauma can have significant lasting impacts on mental health and wellbeing. With a generous $20,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, Family and Children’s Services Niagara will be building its capacity to care for and support children and youth who have experienced trauma.
With the support of the grant and additional funds from the FACS Niagara Foundation, FACS staff, volunteers, kinship caregivers, foster and adoptive parents will be trained in the practice of Trauma Informed Care. This program will provide caregivers with additional education about trauma, as well as strategies and supports that can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual. Research shows that the Trauma Informed Care approach helps children and youth in care build resiliency while supporting their healing.
“Ensuring the safety of children and youth is just one aspect of what we do,” explained Anna Bozza, FACS Niagara Executive Director. “We work to see that all children and youth thrive and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Any trauma they may have experienced can present a significant barrier to their success and having this training will enhance the care they receive, promote healing, and help them become their best selves.”
“We are grateful to the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund for recognizing this great need in our community and for helping FACS enhance service to Niagara’s most vulnerable. The support of Bell Let’s Talk and our generous donors will mean so much to children and youth in our community working to overcome the impacts of trauma in their lives,” said Darlene McDowell, President of the FACS Niagara Foundation Board of Directors.
By embedding Trauma Informed Care across the agency and amongst caregivers, FACS will enhance the care provided, reduce reliance on outside resources, increase stability and support mental health and wellbeing for children and youth in care.
“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support Family and Children’s Services Niagara to help children and youth who have suffered trauma get the care they need while they are healing,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund provides grants to mental health organizations in communities throughout the country, including those working to expand access to mental health care to more young people who need this kind of support.”
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant funding of community care and access, research, and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
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