**NORTH EASTERN ONTARIO FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES NEWS RELEASE**

The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC), Brighter Futures (BF) program is proud to be celebrating its 25th anniversary of supporting children and families in Timmins and surrounding areas. Hosted by North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, CAPC is a community-based children’s program promoting the healthy development of young children from birth to age six.

In recognition of the 25th Anniversary of CAPC, as well as National Child Day, NEOFACS is hosting a celebration event at the Brighter Futures/EarlyON Child and Family Centre at 707 Ross Avenue East on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include program information, activities for kids, and refreshments. All past and current participants, families with children six and under, and community partners are invited to attend.

National Child Day is celebrated each year on November 20 across Canada. This signature event marks Canada’s signing of the United Nations (UN) Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This year’s theme is a child’s right to an identity. This involves young people developing a positive sense of who they are and feeling they are valued and respected as part of a family and community.

Most importantly, it is a day to raise awareness of the rights of children and remember they need support, encouragement, and respect to help them reach their full potential. We each have an essential role to play in the well-being and safety of children and youth whether you are a parent, a teacher, a social worker, grandparent, aunt or uncle, or community helper.

For more information about the celebration event, please contact Rachèle Pelletier, Brighter Futures Program Coordinator, at 705-360-7100 ext. 5029 or rachele.pelletier@neofacs.org, or visit neofacs.org/CAPC25.

Quick Facts
? The Public Health Agency of Canada funds 415 CAPC projects across Canada serving over 223,000 vulnerable children and parents/caregivers in over 3,000 Canadian communities each year.
? Local programs include the Young Parent Hubs, Playgroups, Positive Parenting, Collective Kitchens, Physical activity and Me My Baby Our World with the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU).

Quote
“We are very pleased to celebrating our 25th anniversary this year. Since 1993, our local CAPC program has supported children and their families facing challenging life circumstances. Our program works by creating partnerships within communities to strengthen local support for vulnerable children and their families. Over the past 25 years, the program has provided child and parent programs, and nutritious food and grocery cards to children and families. Thank you to all of our partners for the ongoing support and collaboration to provide quality service to our families and their children.”
Rachèle Pelletier, Brighter Futures Program Coordinator at North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services.

Background Information
The Public Health Agency of Canada’s Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) is an exciting, innovative, community based response to a national concern. It springs from the awareness that communities are best positioned to recognize the needs of their children and have the capacity to draw together the resources to address those needs.

CAPC encourages early investment in children so that they get a better start in life, are ready to start school, and their chances to participate fully in society as adults are enhanced.

The project offers a wide variety of programs, such as young Parent Resource Rooms, Supper Clubs and outreach to local high schools to support young parents’ continuation in school; Parenting Programs to assist in strengthening parenting skills and the parent-child relationship; Early Learning/Family Literacy Programs to enhance children’s school readiness skills; and other programs tailored to meet the needs in each community.

CAPC strives to improve outcomes for children (prenatal to age 6) living with parents/guardians who are young, have low incomes, are new to Canada and/or socially isolated. We do this by providing supports and services that enhance, or are in addition to, services available to all families with young children.
About NEOFACS
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) is an integrated agency, providing services to children, youth and their families in the Districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming. Client responsive programs and services are innovative, evidence-based, and designed to meet the unique needs of those we serve.

Our Agency provides Child Welfare, Children’s Mental Health, Youth Justice and Prevention programs along with many other programs and services. NEOFACS is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose funding is received primarily from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Several other funders support programs as well. To learn more, visit neofacs.org.

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