For 10+ years, Strongest Families Institute (SFI) has been providing mental health support for children and youth experiencing anxiety, depression, and other behavioural issues. Our cognitive behavioural  approach is based on 20+ years of social science research.

Initially, SFI’s mission was to give children access to badly needed mental health services that they simply couldn’t get without waiting for months and sometimes years. Most recently, our programming has been expanded to include adults, military families and some marginalized groups with current research focusing on Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Through our work, we strive to remove barriers to quality mental health care – whether that barrier is a waitlist, technology access, treatment cost, travel or the stigma of seeking treatment for mental health issues. Our goal is to help people whose mental health issues are impacting their well-being and empower them to improve their quality of life.

SFI offers five different 12-week programs to children and youth between the ages of 3-17 and one program to adults 18+. All programs have the option of 1:1 weekly phone-based coaching sessions or group-based peer-to-peer, complemented by written information, video skill demonstrations and a mobile app. These programs are customized to meet clients’ specific needs, see our direct family impact HERE.

Our services are offered in 10 provinces and two territories under service contracts with provincial governments supported by generous donations from philanthropic organizations and donors. We also have a national contract with Military Family Services Ottawa & Veterans affairs Canada to service military/Veteran families across Canada.