To engage youth (13 to 24 years of age) and parents to help address issues related to healthy interactions between families and communities through support, group programs, mentoring programs, and referral to appropriate external agencies.

When you should seek family counselling:

• If you are struggling with violence and substance abuse you may need family services to help you find a solution.
• If you are struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts you may need family counselling to assist in providing guidance.
• Parents and Youth who want to strengthen their relationships should choose the right program from our counselling services.
• Parents and Youth who want to learn better communication and life skills.
• Improve on self-awareness, decision-making and problem solving.

What is the Sahara Better Families Program?

The Sahara Better Families Program (BFP) provides support to youth ages 12 to 24 years old and their families and also to parents of children aged 1 to 11 years old and parents that are mandated by legal obligation related to children or youth issues. Areas covered by the program are mental health, cultural conflict, violence and substance abuse. These family service programs provide 1 to 2 hour sessions to individuals or in group sessions, individualized assessment and planning, service co-ordination, supportive counselling, monitoring and evaluation of services provided to recipients, systems advocacy/resource co-ordination and outreach in the community.

Goals

• To provide life skills training to youth and parents.
  To keep youth and parents safe by teaching safety planning.
• To help youth and parents identify and address mental health, substance abuse and violence issues.
• To link youth and parents with appropriate programs and services.

This program offers:

• Linguistically and culturally appropriate services.
• Services are provided in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.
• Assist clients in reaching their goals.
• One-on-one and group programs.
• Work closely with family members.
• Work with other partners/agencies who specialize in child and youth

The Case Manager meets with clients at a location that is most convenient and comfortable for the client.

Sahara Parenting Program

This support group runs the first Thursday of every month from 6pm to 8pm for parents and their children. This is designed to raise awareness and provide education on the issues of building positive healthy relations.

The topics include:

• Parenting in Canada
• Eastern and Western differences
• Nurturing wheel
• Communication
• Developing listening skills
• Discipline (two part session)
• Setting limits for children
• Understanding the Canadian legal system
• Understanding Children Aid Society
• Understanding the education system
• Developing positive relations with children
• Community Resources
• Help seeking behaviours

Youth Drop in Program

This program runs every Thursday 6pm to 8pm. This is designed to raise awareness and provide education on variety of useful topics.

These topics include but are not limited to:

• Bullying
• Education options
• Communication and healthy relationships
• Anger management
• Impacts of overusing technology
• Beating procrastination
• Self-esteem
• Conflict resolution
• Financial literacy in youth
• Professions in Canada

PCHS is committed to provide clients with services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disability. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in a similar way as our other clients. 

If you require accommodations please submit a Request for Reasonable Accommodation. Click here to download.