A mental health awareness program designed for children in Grey and Bruce County schools will continue for another three years.
A grant of $325,700 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will see the Grey Bruce Friends and Neighhours Club visit more schools in the two counties.
The F.A.N. Club uses puppets to deliver stories and convey the message about the impact of childhood bullying. The presentation is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 11.
The Trillium Foundation grant will see the program increase monthly visits for up to 12 schools a year over the next three years. The money will be used to help with salaries for staff, youth honorariums, as well as materials for the shows, promotion and administration.
"We are so excited for this amazing opportunity to grow an existing valuable program. With the additional funding, we will be able to literally blanket a school with access to information and resource awareness to students from [Kindergarten to Grade 8] including sharing all the messages with parents and families," said Jackie Ralph, education and awareness coordinator.
The grant includes support for data collection and examination to further show the benefits of access to information, early intervention, increasing family mental health literacy and involvement of youth peer presenters.
Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker attended one of the recent puppet shows for students at Bayview Public School in Owen Sound.
"This funding will support the positive development of strong emotional and social skills in children and youth by providing programs and services that enhance, maintain and promote the mental and emotional health of people in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound," says Walker.
