Two Richmond programs are being highlighted by the Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) as ways to help build stronger community connections in the city.
Richmond Colts Daycare and Young Parent Program as well as the Richmond Family Friends program aim to provide support young and expecting parents as well as new immigrant and migrant families living in Richmond, respectively.
The Colts program, a childcare facility on Richmond Secondary School grounds, is an education and day care program that allows young parents, up to the age of 26, to complete their high school education while building parenting and life skills.
Maria Howard, CEO of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, said this program is a safe support system for young parents who don’t know what to do and the “best chance” to bring them into a space where they can be confident in themselves.
“Just to be a parent in today’s world, with all the decisions you have to make … is just incredibly overwhelming,” said Howard, adding that young parents shouldn’t have to choose between education and family.
“It can be hard and it puts them at a big disadvantage because many people don’t have great support around them.”
Howard told the Richmond News that the program aims to also tackle the stigma around youth who have children.
“There are some that feel ostracized from their peers in the community, which can prevent one from having the courage and confidence to make the decisions and take the steps that they need. This program is to give them the support, knowledge and skills and remind them that they can move forward and they can make the best decisions for themselves and their children.”
Meanwhile, a second program, the Richmond Family Friends Program, pairs new immigrant or migrant families with Richmond families to help them get to know the community better.
The program, said Howard, is a peer support program that helps those settle into the city including help with housing, banking and grocery questions.
“The families who are new to Richmond and B.C. get to build a connection with local residents and learn the ropes of how the certain parent child groups or school system works as well as community events to get them settled,” she said.
Richmond Family Friends, Howard added, “accentuates” the importance of community when residents help each other, specifically for those who are overcoming trauma.
“These programs are so essential to help people get those pieces into place where they can get support, whether it be financial, education, counselling for trauma, and give them the confidence to start making decisions that their family needs.”
The FSGV recently launched its Stronger Families Fund that is used for support programs connecting B.C. families to counselling and trauma services as well as workshops for youth.
FSGV will also be hosting a Fam Jam Kitchen virtual cooking event where funds will be used towards support programs to families in the Greater Vancouver area.
