March 21, 2017
Province Announces Funding for United Way Winnipeg in Support of Neighbourhood Family Centres
– – –For Every Family Initiative Benefits Children, Women and Families: Wishart
The Manitoba government will match donations to the United Way Winnipeg’s For Every Family initiative in support of 24 neighbourhood family centres, Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart announced today.
“Our government is committed to improving the lifelong outcomes of women and children in Manitoba,” said Wishart. “We know that investing early and wisely in family supports is the key to helping them get the best possible start in life and we are proud to partner with the United Way Winnipeg on this practical, prevention-focused initiative to support and strengthen families.”
The community-driven For Every Family initiative enhances preventative and community-based programming at the United Way Winnipeg’s family resource centres, and aims to increase children’s school readiness and reduce the negative impacts of poverty on families.
Specific priority areas for the funding include:
- expanded hours for family resource centres and women’s centres;
- quality early childhood development and programming;
- food and nutrition programs;
- parent coaches and counseling;
- literacy training;
- system navigators; and
- volunteering and pre-employment opportunities.
“Together we recognize this as a transformational opportunity for marginalized children and families in Winnipeg, and a way to strengthen all the neighbourhoods in our vibrant, caring city,” said David Johnston, president, Johnston Group, who leads the For Every Family volunteer working group.
Ashlyn Stevenson, an advocacy and peer support co-ordinator with North Point Douglas Women’s Centre, is a single parent who says she struggled and found critical help from the family centre when she needed it.
“Our neighbourhood family centre was there for us no matter what, and you never needed an appointment,” said Stevenson. “I don’t know how many of the families in my neighbourhood would be able to manage if these centres weren’t here and if it wasn’t for the Winnipeggers who help support them.”
Wishart confirmed a total of $7.5 million in new funding, which is designed to leverage matching donations over a six-year period. The project is supported through the Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund (ECDIF). The ECDIF was established by the Manitoba government in 2013 in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and other private and philanthropic investors.
The minister noted the Manitoba government is pleased to work together with community partners to improve the lives of children, youth and families through the Healthy Child Manitoba Strategy. This collaborative, community-based approach uses research and evidence to develop policy and implement programs in areas such as early childhood development, child and youth mental health, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, middle childhood and adolescent development, and parenting supports.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Backgrounder - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2017/03/BG-RLS-For_Every_Family-ET.doc