Following its success with younger children, the Manitoba government has expanded the COACH program to offer youth ages 12 to 15 in Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) care intensive mentoring, academic and treatment services to help them succeed in school and into adulthood. This announcement was made by Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross.
“During the past 14 years, the COACH program has helped children ages five to 11 develop the coping skills needed to succeed in school and in society,” said Minister Irvin-Ross. “We’re now expanding the program to help older children and youth in CFS care. These young people have complex needs and face huge hurdles every day in their lives. The mentoring, academic and family supports they receive through COACH will give them hope for a better future.”
Since 2001, the Manitoba government has worked with the Winnipeg School Division and Macdonald Youth Services to deliver the COACH program to up to 15 children a year in the intensive phase and about 40 children in the integration and followup phase. Through the COACH program, mentors, teachers and principals support children and youth with profound mental health, behavioural and academic needs, the minister said, adding these children and youth receive intensive, year-round academic, community and clinical supports.
“When we first conceived the idea of COACH, we knew we could reach those children who needed the kind of emotional support and social skills that could result in positive behavior outcomes,” said Pauline Clarke, chief superintendent, Winnipeg School Division. “The announcement means the legacy of COACH will continue, and provide that support and training for even more students as they navigate their adolescent years.”
The expanded COACH program ($1.45 million annually) increases the total annual investment for children and youth with complex needs to $2.42 million and doubles the number of participants in the intensive phase to up to 30. COACH is part of Healthy Child Manitoba’s commitment to children and youth with complex needs, and a priority in the provincial child and youth mental health strategy, the minister added.
The COACH program is founded on a year-round, interdisciplinary approach to supporting children, youth and their families or caregivers. Coaches are available for children and youth during the day, during the evenings and on the weekend.
The program includes intensive day treatment and academics for participants as well as reintegration into a satellite school. It also includes community activities, volunteer work and long-term followup. Programming at COACH also involves cultural teachings, parenting supports, social skills training, and after-school sports and arts programming.
“COACH is an example of how multiple systems can work together by providing wraparound services to meet the needs of children, youth and families. Many of the children and youth have experienced significant obstacles that impeded their ability to learn and be successful in school and their community,” said Erma Chapman, chief executive officer, Macdonald Youth Services. “This program has a positive impact in the lives of the children and youth we work with, their families and the community.”
PAX, a mental health promotion strategy, and Roots of Empathy, a program which teaches compassion in a classroom setting, are also offered, Minister Irvin-Ross added. Some COACH mentors are certified in providing special wraparound supports to high-needs children and youth, and are recognized as ‘high-fidelity wraparound facilitators’.
Evaluation shows children and youth in the COACH program have improved behavioural, mental health and academic results, the minister said, adding that evaluation also shows participants attend school much more regularly, have better social skills and perform better in class.
The Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet guides the development, implementation and evaluation of cross-departmental policies and programs for children, youth and families. Currently chaired by the minister of children and youth opportunities, the committee also includes the ministers of Aboriginal and northern affairs; education and advanced learning; family services; health, healthy living and seniors; housing and community development; jobs and the economy; justice; and labour and immigration.
