1) $60M Student and Family Affordability Fund
August 29th - the Minister of Education and Child Care announced one-time funding, through the Student and Family Affordability Fund, The one-time funding will be provided directly to school districts to help them expand school meal programs, make sure students have the school supplies they need and cover any additional fees so that students in need can take part in activities, such as field trips. Districts will work with parent advisory councils and school communities, as well as local First Nations and other Indigenous organizations, regarding local priorities that will best meet the needs of diverse student populations. More communications will be sent home by SD 63. See the news release for more details: New funding helps make back-to-school more affordable for families that need it most | BC Gov News
2) Upcoming mental health and substance use seminars, workshops and youth and caregivers
(i) "In the Know" seminar for parents & caregivers who are parenting a child or youth with a mental health and/ or substance use challenges (Register & Dates: familysmart.ca/events):
September - Parenting When Anxiety Shows Up As Anger Speaker: Karen Peters, RCCOctober - Building Connection With Our Kids When It Feels Impossible Speakers: Diane Evans & Tammy Music, Parent Peer Support WorkersNovember - It’s Never Too Late: Healing Parent-Child Relational Stress Using Emotion-Focused Family Therapy Speaker: Dr. Adele LafranceDecember - ADHD - The Real Deal Speaker: Dr. Don Duncan Join us to watch a video and talk with other families about what helps.
(ii) "Help For The Hard Times" Workshops: These run every month for parents and caregivers whose children have been at the ER or have had a hospital stay for mental health or substance use issues. For more information and registration please visit:www.familysmart.ca/workshops
(iii) Online Youth ADHD Group Program - Starts September 7th!! :https://caddac.ca/programs-events/youth-adhd-group-coaching-program-16-24-years/
(iv) Y Minds Anxiety program with sessions coming up in the fall. Y Mind Groups are a free, weekly psychoeducational support group for teens 13-18 and young adults 18-30 experiencing stress, worries and anxiety.
(v) Y Mind Teen (13-18) Is looking to do community groups - Location and dates, TBD. Some schools, as well as a number of Y and community partner sites will be offering these groups this winter both in person and online. Website:https://vancouverislandy.com/program-services/community-health/mental-wellness/ For more information - please contact Lana: lmillott@vancouverislandy.ca
More info available here, and here
3) PST refunds available for some goods and softwares purchased by your PAC
Examples include awards for students, computers, furniture and appliances, science lab equipment, sports equipment. For playground equipment, if you enter into a contract under which a contractor will supply and install playground equipment that will become part of real property once installed (e.g. climbing structures, swing sets), the contractor must pay PST on the goods they use to fulfil the contract. You do not pay PST on your charge for the contract unless you (the customer) and the contractor have entered into an agreement that specifically states, in writing, that the customer is liable for the PST on the goods. You cannot apply for a refund of PST if the contractor paid the PST. (See Bulletin for more information)