Community Service Agencies
Quick Links
What do they do?
Community Service Agencies in general provide different forms of counseling and support services for individuals, children and families who are facing challenges in life. But they also provide a variety of services that are "wellness" programs such as parent-child drop-in playtimes, Life after Birth and parent training. Programs that are geared to parents and children socializing together have often been so fun and successful that people make friends and connections they never expected.
This list of will give you an idea of what is available. Not all services are offered in every geographical area (this list is not complete):
- Aboriginal Family Support
- Family Group Conferencing
- Pregnancy Outreach
- Life After Birth
- Drop-in playgroups
- Child and Youth Counseling
- Parent/teen mediation
- Mental Health Advocacy
- Pre-school dental programs
- Victim's Assistance
- Addictions Counseling
- Youth Addictions Counseling
- Women's Transition and Safe Houses
- Children Who Witness Abuse
- Food Resources
- Women's Services and Counseling
- Family Support and Counseling
- Nobody's Perfect (Parenting training)
- Toy Libraries
- Dad's Groups
- General Counseling
- Welfare Advocacy
And more...
What are the benefits of Community Services?
- Good and helpful information/questions answered
- Empathic and useful supports for wellness and healing
- New friends through parenting programs and drop-ins
- Finding needed resources
- Finding quality childcare
Kootenay Kids - Nelson
Kootenay Kids provides a broad range of services in the Nelson area to promote the healthy development of families with children 0-6 years old. They do this by providing education, support and childcare programs.
Kootenay Kids is located in the comfortable surroundings of the Family Place in Nelson. There is a kitchen, art room, playroom and outdoor space with outside toys.
Some programs are:
- Little Robes (Aboriginal Program)
- Pregnancy Outreach
- Life After Birth (provides in home care, support group etc.)
- Mother Goose
- Nobody's Perfect
- Toy Library
- Drop-in playtimes
- Dad's groups
- Child Care Resource and Referral
- Childcare provider network gatherings
- CAPC programs
- Three daycare facilities at other locations in Nelson and area
www.kootenaykids.ca
www.kootenaykids.ca/contact/contact.html
312 Silica Street
Nelson, BC V1L 4M5
General - (250) 352-6678
Nelson Community Services Centre
Statement of Philosophy - "We believe in each person's inherent ability, responsibility, and right to be heard, to be safe, to have information, to make choices, and to take control of one's life. Recognizing that all individuals at some time experience difficulty in their lives, the Nelson Community Services Centre is here to assist people to define the issues and to determine their own resolutions."
- Aboriginal Family Support Worker
- Parenting services, support and classes
- Counseling for children
- Abuse counseling
- Individual, couple and family counseling
- Parent/teen mediation
- Counseling Groups both adult and children's
- Youth services/transition to independence
- Youth outreach
- Youth housing support, referral and advocacy
- Art therapy
- Aimee Beaulieu Transition House
- And more...
701 Front Street
Nelson, BC V1L 4B8
Call 352-3504
Kootenay Family Place - Castlegar
The Kootenay Family Place serves hundreds of children, youth and families each year from five locations. Their regional programs serve the entire West Kootenay Boundary area. Programs such as drop-ins/playgroups and Little Robes are housed in comfortable and safe facilities in downtown Castlegar.
Some of their services include:
- Hobbit Hill Children's Centre
- Kinnaird Kids Club
- Selkirk College Children's Centre
- West Kootenay Infant Development Program
- West Kootenay/Boundary Supported Child Care Program
- Speech Therapy
- Physiotherapy for preschoolers
- Occupational Therapy
- Behavioral Support Services
- Family Resource Drop-in
- CAPC programs
- Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
- Young Parent Program
- Youth Services at "The Station"
- Little Robes
Call them or visit their web-site for times, dates and more info.
www.kootenayfamilyplace.org
767 11th Avenue
Castlegar, BC V1N 1J7
General - (250) 365-8448
Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society
Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre (F.A.I.R.) offers free, confidential, professional services for all members of the community. They are housed in a comfortable facility in downtown Trail.
- Child Care Resource and Referral
- Family counselling and support
- Child and youth counseling and support
- Drop-in playgroups
- Pregnancy outreach
- CAPC programs
- Mental health advocacy
- Specialized victims assistance
- Women's shelter
- Much more...
- Their web-site has an excellent online directory, just click on the Community Services Directory on the home page and then scroll down to the on-line directory. www.trailfair.ca
2079 Columbia Avenue, Trail, BC V1R 1K7
(250) 364-2980
Toll free - 1-800-223-8966
Castlegar & District Community Services
Offering several different free, confidential professional services:
- Children Who Witness Abuse
- Women's services/Stopping the Violence Program
- Family Support
- Clubhouse program
- Castlegar Safe Homes Program
- Seniors Services
- Aboriginal Family Support Program
- Police Based victim services
1007 2nd Street
Castlegar, BC V1N 1Y4
You can call (250) 365-2104 for more information.
Salmo Community Resource Society
The Society operates a number of programs and projects some of which are:
- The Family Resource Centre is designed to offer a range of programs and services of interest to parents, especially those of young children. Though support and resources are provided by staff, participating parents take a lot of responsibility in planning activities, inviting guest speakers, raising funds, and arranging for day care.
- Parent and Tot Drop-in Group
- Community Action Program for Children
- Nobody's Perfect - a six week parenting course
- Children Who Witness Abuse - serves children between the ages of 3 and 18.
- Family Support
- Women's Services and Counseling
- Counseling Services
- Food Bank
- Victim's Assistance
311 Railway Avenue
Box 39
Salmo, BC V0G 1Z0
Call (250) 357-2277 for more information.
www.scrs.ca
North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society - Kaslo
- Victim Services
- Child, youth and family counselling
- Family support
- Mental health and addictions
- Nobody’s Perfect parenting program
- Parent Child Mother Goose Program
- Parenting support and programs
- Toy lending library
336 B Avenue
Box 546
Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0
(250) 353-7691
Boundary Family and Individual Services Society - Grand Forks
- Child, youth and family support programs
- Women’s programs
- Infant development programs
- Parenting programs
- Pregnancy outreach
- Aboriginal Family Support
- Childcare Resource and Referral program - www.childcarechoices.ca
486B 72 Avenue
Box 2498
Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0
(250) 442-5571
Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services - Nakusp
The purpose of the society is to actively promote and participate in the development of activities which enhance the physical, mental, social and economic well-being of the residents of the Upper Arrow, Upper Slocan and Trout Lake Regions.
Because of the multi-purpose nature of Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services, services will be varied from time to time but will include chiefly the following programs:
- Meals on Wheels
- Volunteer Coordination
- Family Services
- Counseling
- Women's shelter
- CAPC programs
- Services to Victims of Crime
- Home Support Services
- Employment Outreach
205 6th Avenue NW
Box 100
Nakusp, BC V0G 1R0
(250) 265-3674
NelsonCARES Society
NelsonCARES Society houses several important programs:
- Earth Matters www.earthmatters.ca/is a youth-driven environmental organization based in Nelson BC. We focus on developing and running innovative experiential education programs and community development programs, while providing meaningful work experience to youth
Earth Matters involves itself in projects focusing on:
- Sustainable Agriculture/Community Gardening
- Waste Reduction / Composting
- Environmental Education
- Eco-forestry
- Sustainable Building
- Community Development
- Appropriate technology / Alternative Energy
- Ecological Restoration
- Social Justice - Supported Employment Program Assists special needs adults in obtaining employment.
- Services for Community Living Provides housing and lifestyle needs for special needs adults.
- The Advocacy Centre Go to "Law, Status, Advocacy, Education, Employment and Business"in the links to the left to find out more about The Advocacy Centre.
Call 352-6011 for all the above.
182 Baker Street, Nelson, BC V1L 4H2