Focusing on Fathers in Chilliwack

There is an encouraging trend developing in many communities across this country; a trend towards programming supporting fathers in at-risk families. As dads are stepping up and discovering new ways to parent their children, social service agencies are doing their part too. The Ann Davis Transition Society and Chilliwack Community Services are innovating and supporting this trend; both developing and delivering fresh programming to serve the needs of vulnerable families in Chilliwack.

Envision Financial is delighted to support the Ann Davis Transition Society with a $15,000 Community Endowment grant for a Parenting Time program designed to pair supervised visits with much needed parent modeling.

At present, parent modeling programs combined with supervised visits do not exist in the Chilliwack area. And research clearly shows that participation in parent modeling sessions enables children to safely return to their families faster with improved long-term outcomes in many areas.

Working collaboratively with the Ministry of Children and Families, Chilliwack Community Services, the Chilliwack Child and Youth Committee as well as other social service agencies, the Ann Davis Transition Society is building strength and resiliency in children, their families and the community at-large.

Including this grant, the Society has benefitted from over $24,000 in funding from Envision Financial since 2011.

Also in Chilliwack, Chilliwack Community Services is delivering support programs and providing opportunities for vulnerable families to make positive changes in their lives.

Thanks in part to a $7,000 grant from the Envision Financial Community Endowment, the Nurturing Fathers program is helping to stem the overwhelming barriers to healthy parenting with one-on-one support for fathers looking to explore new parenting practices that will result in stronger self-confidence, a renewed awareness of child development and a healthier parent-child relationship.

Typically the majority of parenting programs offered in the downtown area of Chilliwack are focused on both parents or on mothers. Nurturing Fathers is purposefully designed to address issues that relate to fatherhood; acknowledging the challenges that are unique to dads.

“We are teaching dads that they play a crucial role in the nurturing and development of their children’s confidence, resiliency and well being,” explains Jackie Ayer, Family Services Program Director with Chilliwack Community Services. “In this program, fathers will gain a better understanding of the impact their relationship has on their children and learn how to create strong family connections and safe places for their children to grow.”

Nurturing Fathers is a year-long, continuous intake program where participants can self-refer or can be referred through the community.

“We are so pleased to be partnering with these two agencies in Chilliwack,” commented Seline Kutan, Executive Director of the First West Foundation. “The Ann Davis Transition Society and Chilliwack Community Services are trusted, long-standing social service agencies doing wonderful work in the very essential areas of parenting education and family preservation. These services are building community at a truly critical level.”