The Psychology Foundation of Canada

Mental Health and Schools Symposium

DATE: April 21, 2008

Mission & GoalsOur Mission

Sharing sound psychological knowledge to better people’s lives

Our GoalsTo develop, promote, support, and distribute programs that: Help “bring psychology to life”, so people across Canada can

function more effectively in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities

Help children and adolescents recognize, understand and manage the stresses in their lives

Help parents and caregivers become more aware of children’s ongoing needs to enhance their resilience and build healthy relationships

Help newcomers to Canada and their communities build bridges to minimize barriers and maximize access to support

About Us The Psychology Foundation of Canada (PFC) is a

national registered charity dedicated to supporting parents and strengthening families through a number of initiatives

Founded in 1974 with the support of The Jackman Foundation

Focuses on promoting the understanding and use of research-based psychological knowledge to help people in their daily lives

Programs are focused on building resiliency in children and families – prevention is key!

Program Overview

Kids Have Stress Too! -- helps parents and caregivers understand childhood stress and how to provide children with the tools to deal with stress effectively

Parenting for Life -- Canadian award-winning public education program to promote positive parenting skills and the well-being of families

Diversity in Action, Adapting Mental Health Services for Newcomer Families – a pilot project intended to deal with the mental health needs of newcomer groups in Scarborough

Kids Have Stress Too!

KHST! Facilitator Training for Parent/Caregiver Education This facilitator program is designed for professionals to assist

parents and caregivers in recognizing and understanding how stress affects children.

Provides participants with information, tools and strategies, designed to help young children cope more effectively with stress

KHST! Preschool Program Designed for Early Childhood Educators and other childcare

providers who work with children ages 2½ to 5 years. Provides participants with information, tools and strategies, that

help childcare providers create an environment that reduces undue stress and supports children by helping them to begin to effectively cope with stress

Kids Have Stress Too!

KHST! School Program PFC has just completed focus testing to see if there is a need to

develop a KHST! program for teachers and other professionals who work in the school system, to then be used with students in the classroom.

Feedback is very positive for the development of a school-specific KHST! program for a variety of age groups. Materials would be adapted for classroom use and possibly for teachers themselves

Some teachers have already adapted the materials and several public health units have trained facilitators to deliver the program to parents, childcare workers and teachers

The workplace as a venue for program delivery- the school as a workplace- 2 brochures for stress in the workplace: one for managers and one for employees

Parenting For Life

Parenting for Life Booklets Yes, You Can! Positive Discipline Ideas for You and Your Child Hands-on Dad: A Guide for New Fathers Let’s Play! A Child’s Road to Learning You and Your Pre-Teen: Getting Ready for Independence Focus on Self-Esteem: Nurturing Your School Age Child

Facilitator’s Guide: Parenting the School Age ChildA guide to help facilitators leading parenting groupsIncludes a CD with booklets and work sheets

Diversity in Action: Scarborough

Pilot project intended to address the mental health needs of newcomer groups in Scarborough

Aim of the project: Connect newcomers to the agencies that deliver traditional

mental health services Work with representatives of the relevant ethno-cultural

groups to develop new approaches that will enhance the ability of service providers to help newcomer children and families

Development of a model for use in other newcomer groups