A non-profit organization that delivers a wide range of services to families in Saanich and beyond is expanding its footprint both in the digital and in the analog world.
The Victoria Early Years Centre, run out of the Saanich Neighbourhood Place in SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Pearkes Recreation Centre, has officially launched its new website, .
Joanne Gordon, early years community engagement co-ordinator for Saanich Neighbourhood Place, said the site lists information about more than 200 centres, drop-in and support programs, and resources available to families between Port Renfrew and the [Saanich] Peninsula.
B次元官网网址淭his is a really exciting website because it is very hard for families to figure out where they can go for resources and information, especially if they live in different parts of the south Vancouver Island.B次元官网网址�
Families who may live in Colwood and drop off their children in View Royal before heading to Downtown Victoria for work may not always know where they can find resources if they are travelling across so many different boundaries.
B次元官网网址淔amiliesB次元官网网址� lives do not really correspond to those,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t makes it hard for families to know where to even look, because they donB次元官网网址檛 even know that those boundaries for services exist.B次元官网网址�
Service providers, she added, are also struggling to navigate those boundaries.
Users of the site can search for information by various sociological categories including age, marital status, sexual orientation, family status; specific topics such as child care, finances or legal help; or location. Users can save the information for future access or print it. The site also features an extensive calendar of events.
B次元官网网址淭ime and time again we see families struggling to find opportunities to connect with each other, find resources and access services,B次元官网网址� said Colleen Hobson, executive director of Saanich Neighbourhood Place.
The site also continues to accept information from providers who offer services.
Work on the project began two years ago and following a soft launch, the site launched officially Monday with several parents, children, and representatives from service providers attending.
B次元官网网址淔eedback has been overwhelmingly positive,B次元官网网址� said Gordon. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had families take a test run, some whose kids [are now] school aged,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that some parents were rather sad the site did not exist when their kids were younger.
Saanich Neighbourhood Place also confirmed Monday that it will open a satellite office in the historic Royal Oak Schoolhouse that previously hosted CrumsbyB次元官网网址檚 Cupcake Cafe that closed earlier this year.
Corinne Bains, manager of childrenB次元官网网址檚 programs, have begun to move resources into the location, from where it will offer drop-in support. The non-profit agency plans to make a formal announcement in the fall.
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