The Friendship Centre movement continues to develop and grow within communities, provinces, and across Canada. There are 117 Friendship Centres across Canada and 24 of them are in British Columbia.
Friendship Centres across this province have the opportunity to strengthen capacity, services, and continue to develop and deliver "best practice" because of the support and guidance from sister Centres and the British Columbia Association of British Columbia. Friendship Centres are the largest non-profit social service organization in this province and across Canada.
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Services Offered
Addictions Services The Addictions Services Program is funded by Interior Health and sponsored by the Lillooet Friendship Centre Society. It offers various options to the Lillooet Community, depending on the individual's or group's preference. The Program is open to all, Native and Non-Native people and is provided free of charge.
Examples of some of the services provided include one to one or group counselling, referrals to detox and/or residential treatment centres, information/prevention workshops and personal development workshops.
Victim Assistance Program The Victim Assistance Program is community based. Volunteers support clients that have been affected by crime or violence. The service program delivers general information on the criminal justice system and volunteers act as a liaison between the crown counsel and client. The volunteers provide courtroom tours, support clients through the trial process and does follow up with victims and family. The Volunteers have been very busy because of several deaths in the community since September 2005. There is an increase in disclosures of residential school survivors of physical and sexual abuse. Also, increases in child sexual abuses have been reported. The Choices Program was approved for a grant. Choices Program did various workshops on promoting prevention and awareness on all forms of abuse. Women from the Choices program will work with the youth to coordinate a dinner and theatre on violence. The theatre will promote awareness and prevention on violence.
Fees and Payment
Services are provided free of charge.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.