Learning how to parent can be hard. How do you know if you’re making the right choices? And, should you feel guilty about your parenting choices? How do other parents do it? Are your kids ‘normal,’ or are you doing something wrong? All of these are questions that can be answered, believe it or not. There are not only support groups for parents who can relate to what you’re going there. There are also professionals in the field who have ‘seen it all,’ and can give advice.
But, for some families, paying for professional parenting coaches can be out of the question. Thankfully, there are nonprofit and government-funded resources available for anyone to use. Below we’ll list some of the free parenting classes and learning resources in the Vancouver area.
Note: The list below is not meant to be comprehensive, as there are a lot. These are just some of the ones we found, which can help you on your search to finding family support.
Reach Child & Youth Development Society
Website: Reachchild.org
Main location: Delta, B.C., with services in Surrey and Langley
This organization offers support to families in various ways, especially for those with special needs or developmental setbacks. Some parenting programs require a referral from a social worker. Others are drop-in support groups held in community spaces, like libraries.
Examples are:
- Positive Connections Program – a parenting education class and consultation program, to help with behavioural problems.
- Parent ASD orientation sessions – these are mainly for families who have received an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
- Parent Support Network (parenting groups) – a gathering of parents to simply support each other and talk about issues facing families, especially if member of the family has a learning disability. These also take place specifically for Punjabi parents.
See a full list of programs at the following link:
https://reachchild.org/programs/
The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program
Website: http://nationalpcmgp.ca/ and http://nationalpcmgp.ca/programs/listing/#BC (for a listing of providers in B.C.)
Main location: across Canada
This is a program held at community centres, learning centres, churches and other nonprofit or government facilities. It teaches parents how to connect with their young children through rhymes and songs.
Burnaby Family Life
Website: https://www.burnabyfamilylife.org
Main location: Burnaby
This organization provides support for families in different ways. Their educational programs, some of which are free, include:
- Single Mother’s Support Group
- Parenting for Immigrants
- Nobody’s Perfect (a parenting program also held at other locations)
For a full list of parenting education programs, see the following link:
https://www.burnabyfamilylife.org/programs/family-life-education/
They also provide pre and post-natal programs, which you can read about at the following link:
https://www.burnabyfamilylife.org/programs/pregnancy-outreach-program/
As well as counselling for trauma victims:
https://www.burnabyfamilylife.org/programs/counselling-2/
Cameray Child & Family Services
Website: http://cameray.ca/ and specifically
Main location: Burnaby & New Westminster
Along with other family-related services, this organization offers a completely-free parenting support program, with parenting classes for Burnaby and New Westminster residents. Learn more at the following link:
http://cameray.ca/parent-support-program/
They also offer counselling for various needs:
http://cameray.ca/counselling-programs/
See their event calendar at the link below:
Information Children
Website: http://www.informationchildren.com
Main location: Burnaby
This nonprofit organization focuses on providing parenting education through workshops, events and even one-on-one coaching sessions. They also offer e-mail support, and other resources to help with healthy parenting.
Many parenting services are free, though some do cost a little. The topics in parenting workshops can vary. You can see their calendar of upcoming sessions at the following link:
http://www.informationchildren.com/parenting-workshops-events/
Parent Support Services Society of BC
Website: https://www.parentsupportbc.ca/
Main location: across B.C.
This is a nonprofit and charity committed to solving abuse, and creating healthy parent-child relationships. They offer parenting education workshops, among other services. The topics and locations vary, since this is a BC-wide organization.
See more info at the following link:
https://www.parentsupportbc.ca/parenting-education/
Note: their website also has links to plenty of resources, including legal information and even more organizations offering related services (though, not all are free).
Vancouver Family Connections
Website: https://www.vancouverfamilyconnections.org/
Main location: community centres and facilities across Vancouver
This organization provides free, or near-free programs for parent education and family services. Some programs are free for members only. Examples include:
- Baby Group (0-24 months) – to discuss raising children in this age-group.
- Aboriginal Family Support Program – help for all aspects of family life for those in the Aboriginal community.
- Family Drop-in – getting parents together for workshops and child-centred fun.
- Dad and Me – breakfast and circle time for dads and their young kids to connect.
- Circle Time – group activities for parents and their children, to build social skills.
See a full list of programs at the following link:
https://www.vancouverfamilyconnections.org/our-programs/
Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society
Website: http://www.vacfss.com
Main location: Vancouver
This social work organization offers a special program to Aboriginal families, catered to parenting education, as well as child social skills. It is called Strengthening Families, and is tailored towards families experiencing drug and alcohol abuse. Joining the program requires a referral from VACFSS Family Preservation and Child Protection Services. See more info at the link below:
http://www.vacfss.com/programs/family-preservation/strengthening-families/
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Website: https://fsgv.ca
Main location: Vancouver and the Lower Mainland
This is a charity offering events to help parents. Programs include support for teen parents, counselling for trauma victims, and event titles such as:
- Parents Connect – Discussion group for moms with young children
- Single Moms’ Support Group
- Raising Exceptional Children – Support group for parents of children with special needs
- Positive Discipline Parenting
See a full listing of parenting-related programs at the following link:
https://fsgv.ca/find-support/parenting-and-families/#parents
Deltassist
Website: http://deltassist.com
Main location: Delta, B.C.
While this organization is not solely dedicated to parenting, they do offer the “Nobody’s Perfect” parenting sessions. See below for more info:
http://deltassist.com/counselling/nobodys-perfect-parenting
They also provide counselling and family social services in Delta, under the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). This includes help for those who have witnessed abuse, or for families who are dealing with special needs. You can read more about their offerings at the following link:
http://deltassist.com/counselling/services-for-families-referred-by-mcfd
Langley Community Services Society
Website: https://www.lcss.ca/
Main location: Langley, B.C.
This organization offers free parenting education programs. One is called, “Build a Strong Relationship with your Child.” It is a parenting group focused on teaching parents to form bonds with their children, control emotions and parent responsibly.
See the following link for more info: https://www.lcss.ca/programs-and-services/family-counselling/parent-education/
They also offer counselling to families and other family-related services. Some require a referral.
See more on our blog:
- What is a balanced parenting style for toddlers and preschool-aged children? Here are 3 answers.
- How to decode parenting acronyms used on forums and articles (definitions listed)
- What is a parenting coach and do I need one?
- How to be patient with toddlers and preschool-age children
- 5 significant ways to show children they are loved, and why it’s important
