Government of Canada provides more than $300,000 to support families and children

November 10, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND — Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, today announced funding of $314,567 for the Adventure Group, to support the social development needs of rural and isolated families with children aged three to six, by establishing the PEI Rural Parents Network.

“The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening communities,” said Minister Dryden. “Through this project, we can equip parents and children with valuable tools to help them deal with conflict and challenge, which in turn helps to build strong communities and strong neighbourhoods.”

“We are proud to take part in a project that will lead to including and integrating rural families and children into our communities,” said Mr. Murphy. “This project will provide a support network that will have long-term benefits for the healthy, social development of families with young children.”

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is committed to addressing the social development objectives of the Government of Canada by delivering contribution funding to non-profit sector organizations.

“This project supports the healthy development of our young children by providing their parents and caregivers with information, tools, and supports necessary to assist them in gaining positive parenting and discipline skills,” said Roxanne Carter-Thompson, co-facilitator for the project. “It supports inclusion, requires active participation, and promotes awareness while responding to the needs of today’s families and our Island communities.”

The Adventure Group will organize a series of workshops, focused on effective problem solving and conflict resolution for rural and isolated families with children aged three to six in Prince Edward Island. Participants at these workshops will also be actively involved in developing a Rural Parents Network that will provide ongoing support once the project is complete.

The Adventure Group is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the healthy social development of Prince Edward Island children, youth, and their parents. The organization develops and implements programs using experiential and adventure-based curriculum. These programs help individuals develop and nurture their own self-esteem, confidence, problem-solving, and team-development skills.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department’s administration of its grants and contributions program.

- 30 -

This news release is available in alternative formats, on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY). For more information, please contact: Connie Livingston Office of the Honourable Shawn Murphy, M.P. Charlottetown (902) 566-7016 Media Relations Social Development Canada (613) 941-1110 Website: www.sdc.gc.ca

Backgrounder

Social Development Partnerships Program

The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) is a grants and contributions program that provides financial support to organizations working in the social, non-profit sector. The SDPP addresses the social development and inclusion needs of people with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded groups.

The program has a mandate to help strengthen organizations in the social non-profit sector and to foster partnerships that advance social goals and enhance the quality of life of Canadians. The program also promotes the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices.

Social Inclusion of Children and Families

The purpose of the SDPP Social Inclusion of Children and Families stream is to promote the generation and dissemination of knowledge, foster partnerships to achieve shared goals, and facilitate public dialogue to address the social development needs of vulnerable populations in Canada.

The Adventure Group

PEI Rural Parents Network

$314,567

This project will include a series of effective problem-solving and conflict resolution workshops for rural and isolated families with children aged three to six across Prince Edward Island. Participants at these workshops will also be actively involved in developing a Rural Parents Network that will provide ongoing support once the project is complete.

The objectives of this project are to:

Engage parents and caregivers of young children across PEI to provide them with knowledge, information, tools, and supports to practice positive parenting, effective problem-solving, and meaningful conflict resolution
Promote awareness of the services available to families with young children
Increase support for children and families by establishing a network of parents and young children in rural and isolated communities