The Community Action Initiative (CAI) supports communities that identify and seek to address mental health and substance use concerns. The organization was launched with a $10 million allocation from the Province of BC and provides convening grants to help community partners connect with each other and develop potential action plans, encouraging both collaboration and participation by members of the target population. We also provide service innovation grants so the plans can be implemented. BCSCA has representation on the Leadership Council so that school counsellors' voices and concerns can be heard on these issues.
CAI knows that success comes from new models that go beyond business as usual. For us, it is not just about funded services. Rather than putting an emphasis on competing for grants, they encourage funded agencies to work together to get better results, by combining their efforts, skills, resources and objectives.
CAI was created to help address some of the most complex health issues facing families and communities in British Columbia, supporting community-led projects which recognize the community sector as an essential ally in the Province’s efforts to address these issues through its plan: Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia.
Mental health and substance use facts:
One in five people in British Columbia will experience significant mental health/ illness or substance use problems every year.
Direct and indirect costs of mental illness and substance use is estimated to be more than $6 billion for British Columbia alone.
In 2008, 23.1 percent of British Columbians, 15 year of age or or older, reported hazardous consumption of alcohol.
Read about some of the unique funded projects happening across the province:
Learn More...