BELLA COOLA – New Democrat MLA Jennifer Rice says children, youth and families in Bella Coola and Bella Bella will benefit from seamless mental-health and addiction services as B.C. expands Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams to the region.

“It’s so important that we meet children and their families where they’re at, and that their supports are culturally responsive, accessible, and comfortable so that everyone involved can feel safe,” says Jennifer Rice, MLA for the North Coast. “ICY teams help connect young people and their families to so many life-changing resources, and I know the new ICY team is going to make such a positive impact on the children here in Bella Coola and Bella Bella.”

The team in the Central Coast will connect children and their caregivers to services such as, peer and cultural supports, and counselling. Services will be offered by clinical counsellors connected to schools, youth substance-use and mental-health clinicians, Elders or workers supporting Indigenous children and youth, as well as family and youth peer supports. Together, they will meet the youth where they feel most comfortable, whether in schools or other community settings.

The teams are an integral part of the Province’s work to provide more mental-health and addictions supports to youth closer to home. The Province has committed $55 million to implement ICY teams in 20 school districts by 2024 to be operational by 2025.