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December 12, 2016 - 3:00 PM
KELOWNA – A new integrated health service centre for youth in the Okanagan should be up and running by next spring.
Premier Christy Clark announced the anticipated opening date for the ‘one-stop shop’ for primary care, mental health, substance use and social services today, Dec. 12, according to a B.C. government media release.
"Asking for help is hard, but getting it shouldn't be," Clark says in the release. "By launching this centre, we're making it as easy as possible for youth and families to take charge of their health by providing a variety of services through an integrated and personal approach."
Foundry Kelowna is one of the centres announced in June that will be part of a provincial network of youth-oriented service sites hosted by local non-profit organizations all under one roof. It is expected to open to the public by next spring.
The model is about early intervention which can help prevent the young person's mental health challenges from becoming more serious, the release states. North Shore, Prince George, Campbell River and Abbotsford will also be getting centres for young people between 12- and 24-years-old.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna Branch partnered with the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation to raise $2 million dollars over the next three years for Foundry Kelowna, while the province is providing $3 million to the InnerChange Foundation to be split among the five clinics in B.C.
"Many youth who struggle with mental-health challenges and other complex issues face significant barriers to getting the help they need," Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux says in the release. "This new centre will provide vulnerable youth with a comfortable, safe and welcoming space where they can easily access the essential services they need in order to improve their health and their lives."
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016