The Canadian Mental Health Association - Cowichan Valley Branch is a registered non-profit charity organization that has been working to meet the mental health needs of the community since 1992. We have over 30 local programs with more than 80 caring staff. Some of our programs include:
- BikeWorks/Artworks: A place for youth to engage in bike building and group artwork activities to gain independence and a sense of accomplish.
- DiscoveryWorks: In partnership with area schools, a place to engage youth challenged by standard education curriculum to develop a sense of accomplishment by working on group projects.
- The Open Door Youth Services Centre: Outreach services for at-risk and homeless youth including a mobile team, nurse practitioner, access to showers, laundry, food, clothing and support
- Rainbows Program: A peer support program for children and their families in painful transition and dealing with loss.
- Family Capacity Program: Counselling program providing parenting support
- BounceBack for Youth and BounceBack for Adults: Helping youth and adults manage symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress through workbooks and telephone support.
- Sexual Abuse Intervention Program: Counselling program for children/youth who have experienced sexual abuse or exhibit sexually intrusive behaviour.
- Malahat First Nation's Girls Project: Outreach support for First Nations adolescent girls.
- Sobering Assessment Centre: A safe place for individuals to 'sober-up' 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- The Overdose Prevention Site: Harm reduction services to provide safe injection and inhalation and reverse overdoses.
- Warmland House Shelter: A community resource facility with 30 extreme weather emergency shelter beds and 24 transitional apartments. Other homelessness and housing services include:
- Housing Outreach Team: supports individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Client & Tenant Support: provides support in the form of client safety, harm reduction, mental health, financial and legal aid, acquisition of identification documents, housing, addiction, life skills, physical health and hygiene, socio or cultural connections, and training and employment to the community of Warmland residents.
- Transitional Market Housing: As part of Warmland's 'Moving Forward' program, several apartments are sub-leased by CMHA-CVB for clients transitioning from a shelter space, to the bunk house, to an apartment and eventually to a market housing unit.
- Foot Care Clinics: Monthly foot care for those with income barriers.
- Good Food Box Program: A vocational and skill developing activity for Warmland volunteer clientele. They come together one day each month to assemble and distribution 100-300 boxes of seasonal fruit and vegetables to paying customers (boxes are pre-ordered for $10 each). Anyone can order a Good Food Box.
- Chiropractor Services: Monthly clinics are provided for those with limited incomes.
- Nurse Practitioner: Weekly clinics providing services to community members without a doctor
The CMHA-CVB is on the front lines tackling mental health issues in the Cowichan Valley, many of which are connected to homelessness and substance abuse. Our present need in the Cowichan Valley is great.
In the coming weeks and months, we will be reaching out to individuals, businesses and community groups for support in the form of sponsorships, donations and ticket sales to make this fundraising event a success. Our goal is to bring the entire community together for an entertaining afternoon while we raise funds for mental health programs in the Cowichan Valley.
If you would like to receive a copy of our sponsorship proposal, donate items to our silent auction or volunteer to help leading up to and/or on game day, please contact Anne Marie Thornton by
email
or call 250.597.1372 ext 113.
Please share this announcement with your networks. Thank you for helping us to help others.
