Minister announces sites for new and enhanced Family Resource Programs

Julie Bettney, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services with responsibilities for children�s interests, today announced the establishment of six new Family Resource Programs and enhancement of five existing Family Resource Programs throughout the province, for a total investment of $845,000 for this fiscal year.

"This significant investment is another milestone in our commitment towards supporting the healthy development of young children and families," said Minister Bettney. "Considerable work and collaboration has taken place with community stakeholders to determine the sites for the new and enhanced programs. The site selection process was based on sound data and informed decisions."

Family Resource Programs are community-based initiatives, often delivered from resource centres, that provide a variety of programming for young children and families. The types of services that may be offered through Family Resource Programs are pre and post-natal support programs, in particular the Healthy Baby Clubs; drop-in play sessions; parenting workshops; child development and literacy programs; and toy, book, and equipment lending services.

Categorized according to the health and communities services regions, the following communities have been selected for new Family Resource Programs:

• Labrador Region
  • Nain
  • Labrador West
    
    
• Western Region
  • Port Saunders, with outreach from Portland Creek to Bartlett�s Harbour
    
    
• Central Region
  • Baie Verte, with outreach to be determined within the Baie Verte Peninsula
  • Springdale, to build on existing community services and support the existing Family Resource Program in Robert�s Arm
    
    
• Eastern Region
  • Placentia, with outreach to the Whitbourne area, St. Mary�s Bay North, and Cape Shore
    

Funding will be given to enhance existing programs in the following sites:

• Labrador and Grenfell Regions
  • Southern Labrador Family Centres Inc. to provide services to Port Hope Simpson and stabilize services to the communities of Cartwright, Black Tickle, Mary�s Harbour, and Charlottetown.
    
    
• Western Region
  • Community Action Committee of Bay St. George for expansion of services to the Channel-Port aux Basques region and Burgeo/Ramea region.
    
    
• Eastern Region
  • Burin Peninsula Brighter Futures to expand services to Grand Bank/Fortune
    
    
• St. John�s Region
  • Daybreak Parent Child Centre to expand services in the east end of downtown and work in collaboration with the Association of New Canadians
  • Brighter Futures Community Coalition of St. John�s and District to provide services in the community of Paradise, with further outreach to be determined.

These projects will follow a two-phase approach to development to ensure the needs of the community are met. Funding for each of the new and enhanced projects will be defined through a collaborative process with community representatives. The funding is committed for a five-year period and increases to an annual amount of $1.5 million. Projects will first go through a developmental stage which requires the development of a proposal and plan for the work of the program. The second phase will see the establishment of structures and processes and the delivery of services to children and families.

"There is a strong, successful history of Family Resource Programs in our province," said the minister. "We have made tremendous strides in developing preventative and early intervention measures in our communities. Since 1995, we have almost tripled the number of Family Resource Programs in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Family Resource Programs promote the messages of the province�s Strategic Social Plan - prevention, early intervention, and strengthening partnerships with communities and individuals - and are in line with the direction of the Strategic Health Plan which will be released in the spring of this year. As the health of the population is improved, it is necessary to ensure the children have every opportunity to have a healthy and fulfilling life.

"Family Resource Programs provide wonderful opportunities for parents, family members and interested community partners to become informed of and involved in supporting the development of young children," said Ms. Jones. "These programs are another means by which to help children reach their full potential and help families support their children in strong communities."

These investments are part of the province�s Early Childhood Development Initiative which is a unique agreement that was reached between provincial and territorial governments and the Government of Canada. It recognizes the importance of the early years and the valuable role families and communities play in supporting children. Together, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada committed $36.6 million to this initiative in June 2001 and are committed on a long-term basis to programs under the Early Childhood Development Initiative.

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2002 03 13                        12:30 p.m.