Youth in northern B.C. will now have easier access to mental-health, addiction services and primary care with the expansion of Foundry centres to more communities throughout the province.
The government is adding 12 new Foundry centres to provide young people aged 12-24 and their families and caregivers free and confidential services to fit their unique needs.
Supports include mental-health and addiction counselling, physical and sexual health care, peer support and social services.
The provincial budget 2023 includes nearly $75 million for Foundry expansion and enhanced services.
An additional eight new Foundry centres are in development in Burns Lake, and Fort St. John, as well as East Kootenay (Cranbrook), Port Hardy, Surrey, Tri-Cities, Kamloops and the Sunshine Coast.
This builds on previous investments that supported the expansion of the Foundry network across the province and the creation of the Foundry virtual services for young people who are not able to access a centre.
Foundry's provincial virtual services can be accessed from anywhere through the Foundry BC app, phone or virtually:
There are 15 Foundry operating in B.C. including Prince George and then Vancouver-Granville, North Shore (North Vancouver), Campbell River, Ridge Meadows, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Victoria, Penticton, Terrace, Comox Valley, Langley, Richmond and Cariboo-Chilcotin (Williams Lake) and Sea to Sky (Squamish).
"What makes Foundry's vision so particularly unique is our unwavering commitment to not just provide wellness services to youth, but to really revolutionize the entire health and wellness landscape for young people", said Karen Tee, associate executive director, Foundry BC.
"The well-being of our young people will ultimately determine the well-being of our society. With our eyes set to the future, we want to transform what it means for a young person to take charge of the quality of their life. This expansion is another step towards achieving our goal."
