The PACE Program

1524 West 65th Avenue,

Vancouver, BC   V6P 2R1

 

Phone:  (604) 266-3141

Fax: (604) 266-3041

 

Email: [email protected]

Web:  thepaceprogram.ca

 

Agency Overview   

 

ABOUT THE PACE PROGRAM

 

The PACE Program is a therapeutic and educational centre for children and families, primarily funded by the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD).  The PACE Program, operated by the PACE Child & Family Society, has been a therapeutic resource for children and families since 1984.    PACE offers a range of services to support families of young children who struggle with significant emotional and / or behavioural challenges. 

 

As part of the Therapeutic Family Program, there is a therapeutic preschool, child therapy (play and art therapy), family counselling, in-home support and parent groups.  PACE also provides outreach support and consultation to daycares, preschools and school-age programs.  As a sub-contract with Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) and Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Support Services (VACFSS), PACE also offers child therapy to children aged 3-10.  In addition, PACE provides training to professionals in the community and support to children, parents and foster parents where children are moving to birth or adoptive homes from foster care.

 

 

SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS OFFERED:

 

 

²  A Therapeutic Family Program (including a therapeutic preschool)

 

²  Outreach Support Services (to daycares, preschools & school-aged programs)

 

²  Therapy for Children ~ Play, Art & Expressive Arts

 

²  Parent and Foster Parent Education & Support

 

²  Supporting Healthy Transitions Program 

 

²  Training to early childhood educators, parents, foster parents and other professionals working with children and families

 

 

The goal is to provide services which promote the emotional health and well being of children and families.  PACE models a systemic, caring and flexible service that is strongly committed to the potential of every child and family to realize growth and change in their lives, and in their community. 

 

In a therapeutic and educational environment, children can grow, develop competencies and the necessary communication and social skills for successful integration into the school system and their community.  By working with young children and their parents, the child, the family, and society benefit in both the immediate and the long term.  PACE provides a range of therapeutic and educational supports to children and families.

 

All programs are available throughout Vancouver.  The Outreach Support is also available to centres in Richmond.  The programs are primarily funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and are free of charge to families. 

 

 

MISSION: 

 

We are a not-for-profit organization providing a systemic, collaborative, innovative and caring support that empowers children and families who have experienced significant emotional challenges.  Through a range of services, we are partners in building capacity and strengthening community.

 

 

CORE VALUES:

 

 INTEGRITY ~ We demonstrate honesty, respect and caring in our work with the children, families and professional system, as well as with each other.  We recognize and honour each child and family's unique personal and cultural heritage.

 

GROWTH ~ PACE supports children, families, staff and others in the community to develop belief in their own inherent abilities and to reach their potential.

 

COLLABORATION ~ We believe strongly in collaborating with families and professionals as each partner brings strengths, expertise and ideas.

 

HEALING ~ PACE provides opportunities to heal past trauma and to foster healthy attachments, the cornerstone of optimal emotional development.

 

RESPONSIBILITY ~ We strive to empower children and families to find their voice and be able to play an active part in contributing to their own lives and their community.  PACE supports families to connect to those important in their lives and to broaden their natural resources.  We believe that the stronger family unit ultimately minimizes the need for professional supports.

 

COMMUNICATION ~ We practice and encourage open and clear communication with the children, the families, the professional system and each other.

 

FLEXIBILITY ~ We are flexible in service delivery and responsive to client and community needs.

 

 

CORE BELIEFS:  

 

² Supporting the inherent ability of the family so as to empower children and families to realize their potential.

 

² Believing in families as the most important resource in the child’s life.  

 

² Believing that healthy attachment is the cornerstone of optimal emotional development. 

 

² Recognizing and honouring each child and family’s cultural heritage.

 

² Providing children with therapeutic outlets interwoven with limits and structure to give them a sense of safety and a vehicle for release of emotions, as well as learning social skills.

 

² Providing opportunities for children and families to heal from pain.

 

² Assisting families in dealing with the emotional demands of family life and parenting.

 

² Stabilizing placements of children in foster homes and community programs.

 

 

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY:

 

The PACE Program believes in working in partnership with each family (whether biological parent/s, foster parent/s or other primary caregivers) to develop and build skills and resources so as to strengthen the family unit.  

 

We value our connection with parents, foster parents, extended family and other significant people / professionals and work together to provide a “wrap around” service that fits for each family.  We strive to provide a service which is accountable to families and to those involved with the child/family.  

 

In situations where the child is in foster care, PACE works closely with the foster parents as well as with the birth parents (if they are involved in the child’s life, and with Ministry approval). PACE also works in partnership with social workers, resource workers and family counsellors from the Preservation Program.

 

PACE is based on a multi-generational systemic model in supporting families, with the belief that the child is part of a family system which in turn, part of a wider system.  What happens in one part of a system may effect the other parts.  Thus we view it as critical, in the therapeutic work with any individual child, to involve the whole family.  It is an essential element of our program to understand and respect the "family context" - its culture, living environment, religion and relationships.  We acknowledge that the family (immediate and extended) is the most consistent support system in the child’s life.  As such, we focus on strengthening the family's ability to recognize and utilize resources, both internal as well as professional and community.