New teams to co-ordinate mental health, addiction services for youth in Delta, Surrey – Peace Arch News
Integrated Child and Youth teams help kids access clinicians, counsellors and peer-support workers
Soon-to-be-created teams in Delta and Surrey promise to provide seamless mental health and addiction services for local children and youth, where and when they need it.
On Friday (April 26), the province announced seven new Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams to serve communities in and around Delta (including Tsawwassen First Nation), Surrey, the Central Coast, Cowichan Valley, Gold Trail, Peace River South and Qualicum.
According to a government press release, ICY teams reduce barriers to accessing services, providing connections to clinical counsellors, youth substance-use and mental-health clinicians, those supporting Indigenous children and youth, as well as family and youth peer-support workers.
The teams’ co-ordinated approach ensures all members are aware of a client’s care plan and reduces the number of times young people and their families have to retell their stories, which can be traumatizing for some. Further, the teams strive to meet youth where they feel most comfortable, whether in schools or other community settings.
