Foundry BC receives 2021 Premier’s Award for Innovation

On December 8th, BC Public Services named Foundry BC as the recipient of the 2021 Premier’s Award for Innovation, which recognizes groups, teams or organizations in the BC Public Service who have developed and transformed new ideas into tangible initiatives, programs or projects. 

Now, more than ever, we know that young people are in need of support.  

Since the launch of A Pathway to Hope in 2019 by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to ensure better access to mental health and substance use for people in BC, more than 12,000 youth accessed Foundry services in more than 90,000 visits. We are thankful Foundry was nominated for this award by our partners in government, and excited to share this acknowledgement with everyone in our network. 

“Foundry is a really great example of innovation in the public service because… it’s a model built for youth by youth,” says Nick Grant, Assistant Deputy Minister.   

Foundry BC is incredibly honoured to be part of this annual celebration which highlights the finest examples of innovation and excellence in the BC Public Service. Thank you to all Foundry centres and networks across the province who are instrumental in this achievement, as we continue our mission in reaching younger people early and address smaller problems before they become bigger ones. 

To learn more, watch the video below. 

Visit foundrybc.ca or Foundry Virtual BC to learn more about our services. 

 

Keywords: 

BC Public Service, Foundry BC, Foundry Virtual BC, 2021 Premier’s Award for Innovation, Award, Mental Health, Public Service, Youth, Youth Services, British Columbia, Support, Youth Support, Support Services, Provincial Services, BC, Nick Grant, Dr. Steve Mathias, Peer Support, Counselling, Caregivers, Parents, Innovation, Substance Use, A Pathway to Hope, Ministry of Mental Heath and Addictions, Michael Smith Health Research BC, Providence Health Care, St. Paul’s Foundation

Parents like us. The unofficial survival guide to parenting a young person with a substance use disorder

A group of twelve parents living in Victoria, British Columbia came together to create a Parent Handbook. These parents all have one thing in common: they parent a young person who has a substance use disorder.  

What is this handbook about?

This handbook is a collection of shared experiences and stories to help other parents and caregivers find refuge, support and courage to reach out for help. Whether your young person is experimenting with substances or has developed a substance use disorder, this handbook may help you feel connected with other parents and caregivers going through similar experiences. This journey is a marathon, not a sprint, and knowing that there are others who understand what you are going through can be a lifesaver. 

The Improving Treatment Together (ITT) Project

This Parent Handbook was developed as part of the Improving Treatment Together (ITT) Project, which aims to improve the experiences and outcomes of community-based services for young people who use opioids, their families, and service providers, using co-design methods. Nine stakeholder specific workshops were held in four partnering communities (Kelowna, Prince George, Vancouver, Victoria), where participants explored their experiences and defined specific needs for improving opioid treatment services. They then brainstormed and prototyped solutions to address these needs. Three of these prototyped interventions were chosen for development and co-designed with relevant stakeholder groups, including the parent handbook.

This project is co-led by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), Foundry Central Office, and Foundry Victoria, in addition to three community partners who are developing their own community-specific resources.

Click the image to read Parents like us. The unofficial survival guide to parenting a young person with a substance use disorder.

For more information about the ITT project, contact: 

 

 

Keywords: Foundry BC, foundry, Victoria BC, Victoria, parents like us, guide, parent handbook, substance use disorder, ITT, improving treatment together, parents, caregivers, Foundry Victoria, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, CCSA