Nanaimo gets a piece of $4.7M child healthcare announcement
NANAIMO — Significant funding was announced to enhance children’s health outcomes on Vancouver Island, with some of the money allowing several Nanaimo programs to continue serving the community.
Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island chief executive officer Veronica Carroll announced a record $4.7 million investment Wednesday in Nanaimo to boost their Island Kids First Fund. She said the money will strengthen 80 initiatives in three key areas on the island and surrounding Gulf Islands.
“Early intervention zero-to-six, children’s mental health and rural and remote communities. These are priority areas that have been identified by our community partners and that’s where we’re putting those dollars to use,” Carroll said.
Island Health data presented prior to the funding announcement showed a disturbing trend of rising mental health and substance use among Vancouver Island youth. The data pointed to increases of 26 and 50 per cent respectively in reported cases of psychiatric issues and substance use involving youth from 2012 to 2016.