For every family who feels there aren't enough hours in the day to deal with parenting challenges, Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) hopes it has the answer - a new family drop-in centre that's open outside of regular work hours.
"The idea came about from a variety of different sources," said SSCS family preservation counsellor Julia Bresalier.
"Different people from different programs within Sea to Sky Community Services who work with families, but don't specifically address some of the parenting challenges families are facing, became aware there was a gap for that need."
She said the family drop-in centre is designed to fill that gap.
"Let's say someone was seeing an occupational therapist or an infant development person and that same parent brought up issues that were challenging them around parenting," said Bresalier.
"They wouldn't have any resources because the issues were not severe enough to warrant Ministry of Children and Family Services involvement, but they needed some help."
The family drop-in will provide an opportunity for families to ask questions and get connected to services they need, whether it's offered by SSCS such as infant development, occupational therapy, family support, employment support services, the youth centre, or programs offered through other organizations.
Bresalier said the drop-in will also provide information on Howe Sound Women's Centre and mental health services and provide workshops, information sessions, skill-building opportunities and guest speakers.
She said SSCS workers realized there wasn't a place for families to congregate outside of regular work hours and wanted to make attending the drop-in centre possible for everyone.
"If people want information, resources and social or recreational connections outside of the 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday work days, there isn't really a place in Squamish to facilitate that," she said.
That's why the family drop-in is operating on alternating Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings.
"A lot of families are so busy that they just don't have the time during regular work hours to go and navigate these systems," she said.
Bresalier said the centre is designed to do more than connect families with services. It will optimally connect families with each other.
"Before the drop-in even started, it was brought to our attention that recreational and social opportunities are as important as parenting support services," she said.
"So we'd like this space to be a place where people can connect and perhaps partner up for social and recreational activities as well - one of the ideas that I love is having a monthly community potluck so people can come, gather, meet their neighbours and get to know each other.
She added that child minding would be available "so that parents can actually have some adult time as well."
Bresalier hopes others who attend will come forward with ideas to help shape the family drop-in into the best service possible.
"The service isn't clearly defined at this point, because our hope is that this will be sort of an organic, evolving service that really reflects the needs of the community," said Bresalier.
"So rather than coming at it as - 'these are the six things we do and fit in where you can' - it's about, 'Here's the space, here's some of our ideas, now what should we do with it, what do you need, how do we meet you in the middle?'"
Bresalier said the family drop-in is open to all families with children ages zero to 19 and is free of charge.
"It's for everybody - everybody has strengths that they can share and challenges that they contend with," she said.
The drop-in will be at the Early Learning and Childhood Development office in downtown Squamish. Refreshments are provided and interested families can check out www.squamisheventsguide.com or call (604) 892-5796 for more information.
