Children, Youth and Family Services

Healthy families build healthy communities. Throughout life, our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being is directly influenced by our family. At Connexus, we work with children and youth directly, but we also support parents to build a strong family framework and a setting for personal growth. After all, Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life.

Children, Youth, and Family Monthly Calendar

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at Connexus!

Check back here monthly to view our monthly activity calendar.

*Please note this may not be a complete listing of all activities.

Child and Youth Mental Health Program

The Child & Youth Mental Health program supports for children and youth aged 18 and under that are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing a mental illness. CYMH services promote the emotional health and wellbeing of children, youth and families. Support is also available to parents and caregivers. The CYMH program is designed to support children and youth to improve or optimize their functioning so that they can thrive in relationships, in school, and in life. CYMH clinicians also facilitate groups for wellbeing, and referrals to psychiatric services where they are needed.

Cost of registering: No cost
Who can register: Referrals are accepted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, schools, doctors, parents, self, or other agencies.
Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James

Sexual Abuse Intervention Program

The Sexual Abuse Intervention Program is for children and youth aged 18 and under who have been sexually abused, and for children under the age of 12 with sexually intrusive behaviours. The program is designed to provide a range of appropriate, timely and accessible assessment, treatment, and/or support services to children and youth. Support services for the affected families are also an integral part of our approach.

PEACE Program (Children & Youth Experiencing Violence)

The Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) program formerly known as the Children Who Witness Abuse Program provides assessment, treatment planning, and intervention programs for children, youth and caregivers who have experienced violence or abuse. Services will be extended to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the children or youth, as well as community members, in the form of psycho-educational presentations.

Youth Justice

The Youth Justice program offers counselling and support services for youth who are involved with the Criminal Justice System and referred by Youth Probation Services. Counselling includes direct treatment intervention through individual, group, and family counselling sessions using a variety of therapeutic techniques. When needed, referrals for psychiatric, psychological, or socio-educational assessment can be made.

Cost of registering: No cost
Who can register: referral from Youth Probation Officer
Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Fort St. James and Burns Lake

Child and Youth Care

The Child and Youth Care program provides short-term, intensive, and outcome-focused interventions and services to children and youth aged 5 – 18 to promote growth and improve family functioning. This program focuses on developing the personal, social and familial competencies in children and youth.

The CYC program assists individuals with:

Communication skills
Conflict resolution skills
Behaviour management skills
Other topics of interest and relevance

This program also offers Peer Support Groups.

Child and Youth with Special Needs

The Child & Youth with Special Needs (CYSN) Program focuses on enhancing life skills, emotional regulation, and social skills by facilitating activities that foster these abilities in a natural and fun way. This program supports children and youth who have received a diagnosis of Autism or Mild Intellectual Disability.
The CYSN program assist individuals with

Building life skills
Building skills on safety
Increasing social skills
Group / individual activities
Accessing community resources

Cost of registering: No cost
Who can register: referral from CYSN Social Worker through Ministry of Children and Family Development
Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James

Family Support and Education

The Family Support program is for families who have experienced child protection interventions and for families who self-identify as needing support to improve family functioning, need for developing or enhancing skills that support strong and resilient families can also benefit from the program. The transition from the Family Preservation Program to the Family Support Program helps to promote families’ continued stabilization.

Family Preservation

The Family Preservation Program provides services for Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) referred families who have been identified as medium to high risk for out-of-home placement for their child/children. Services are short-term, intensive, in-home interventions for crisis support and family stabilization. Family Preservation Program Services provide crisis interventions that reduce immediate risk to children; stabilize the family situation and engage the family in services and activities that prevent a reoccurrence of crisis.

Cost of registering: No cost
Who can register: Referrals are accepted from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James

Family Connections

The Transport & Supervised Visits Worker provides supervision at family visits and transportation to and from those visits to children and youth who are in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), to enable their continued connection to their families and community. During supervised visits, the worker ensures that the safety and well-being of the children is maintained. At times there may also be requirements to provide supervision and transportation for a child or youth in the care of MCFD to attend a meeting or appointment for services.

Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James

Victim Services

The Victim Service Worker provides assistance and support to men, women, youth and their families, who have been victims of crime, witness to a crime, or those who have had their lives impacted by crime or a traumatic event. Any victim of a crime, including power based crimes of assault, criminal harassment or sex crimes, property offences and other crimes may receive crisis intervention and on-going support, including court accompaniment through this program. Clients may receive assistance in completing a Crime Victim Assistance Program application and information on what to expect as a witness in court.

Communities offered: Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James

Families Matter

Families Matter is a virtual drop-in service that provides families with a simple, accessible way to ask questions and connect with support. The service is available for parents, caregivers, and family members who have questions about resources, family wellness, or challenges affecting their family.

Families Matter offers a supportive first point of contact for those who may be unsure where to start, are looking for information, or need help identifying what supports may be available. Staff are available to listen, provide guidance, and help connect families to appropriate Connexus programs or community resources.

The service is intended to be low-barrier, welcoming, and responsive. Families do not need a formal referral to reach out. Whether a family is struggling, looking to increase their overall wellness, or simply needing someone to talk through options with, Families Matter provides a caring connection and an opportunity to explore next steps.

To connect with us, call (250) 567-9205, drop into the office during regular office hours, or email us at info@connexus.ca anytime.

Accreditation

Connexus is fully accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This accreditation ensures we are meeting internationally developed standards in the provision of quality services and is achieved through an independent, external review to identify strengths and areas for improvement based on objective program expectations and guidelines.

We provide services to a 150 km² area with offices in three communities:

Vanderhoof
157 W Victoria St.,
Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0

Phone: 250-567-9205
Monday to Friday 8:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:30

Fort St. James
349 Stuart Dr West
Fort St James, BC V0J 1P0

Phone: 250-996-7645
Monday to Friday 8:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:30

Fraser Lake
298 McMillan Ave.
Fraser Lake, BC V0J 1S0