The Province is investing $300,000 in a program that will bring more certified community support workers and community mental-health workers to Northern BC.
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction is providing the funding to the Canadian Mental Health Association, to deliver, together with its partners, the community support worker diploma training project.
The primary focus will be on training young people aged 30 and under in the North, as well as Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, immigrants, people with multiple barriers to employment, and survivors of violence and abuse.
“We all want young people to have both meaningful work and more services, to build better lives,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
“Through this training, youth in northern B.C. will get in-demand jobs, while people living in the region will have more support workers in their own communities.”
As many as 12 participants will receive 27 weeks of essential, employability, and occupational skills training, six weeks of on the job training, and one week of followup support to prepare participants for work as certified community support workers and community mental health workers.
Participant activities will start on October 23rd, 2023, and end on June 21st, 2024.