Parents, caregivers and service providers of children and youth with support needs are encouraged to participate in a series of special conversations designed to discover how to create a better network of services and supports.
The free meetings in Castlegar are being held as part of the larger Community-Led Collaboration Project in partnership with Inclusion BC.
Target participants include families and caregivers of children and youth with support needs that are 0-19 years of age, have a disability (diagnosed or undiagnosed), need support, and/or are at risk of any kind of developmental delay. Youth are also welcome to attend.
Participants will be encouraged to share their ideas about: What services and supports for children and youth with support needs are working well in Castlegar and surrounding areas? What gaps in services and support exist? What does a better network of services and supports look like in Castlegar and surrounding areas?
There will also be space for dialogue, refreshments, child care options, support for transportation, quiet space and follow-up support.
Youth, families and caregivers are invited to attend sessions at Kootenay Family Place on Thursday, June 15, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. or at COINS (Circle of Indigenous Nations Society) on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. - noon. Zoom options are also available.
Local service providers are invited to attend a session at Kootenay Family Place on Friday, June 16, from 10 a.m. - noon.
Registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but not required. People are welcome to drop in and join the conversations. To register call BC Inclusion at 1-844,488-4321; or contact Crystal Laren at COINS at 250-304-8920 or crystal.coinations@gmail.com; or talk to Michelle Scannell at Kootenay Family Place at 778-460-5094.
These meetings are just the first phase of engagement in the area. The second phase will be a broader, regional conversation in the fall with additional communities in the West Kootenays.
For more information or to register online go to inclusionbc.org/campaigns/clcp-castlegar/.
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