Caring for the Community
All media inquiries are welcome. Please contact Sue Bauman 604-988-5281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
E Newsletters
Helping Kids Make Wise Choices - March 3rd, 2011 Event at Kay Meek Centre (FSNS February 2011 E-Newsletter)
Subscribe to our Family Services of the North Shore and Jessie's Legacy enewsletter
Jessie's Legacy E- Newsletter March 2011
Family Day at the Northshore Auto Mall
Sunday, August 7th, 2011 Noon - 4:00pm / Rain or Shine Read more...
2011 Family Services of the North Shore Winter Family Ball -
December 4th, 2011 at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. For further inquires and to register, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Help Kids Make Wise Choices
An evening with Anita Roberts (Safe Teen Founder) and Mayor Pamela Goldsmith Jones.
Date: Thursday, March 3, 2011
Sponsored by: Northshore Auto Mall
On Thursday, March 3, 2011 Family Services of the North Shore with Safe Teen founder Anita Roberts, Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and Bill Pozzobon brought Safe Teen’s unique message of youth empowerment and assertiveness to the Kay Meek Theatre. With their engaging presentation styles, Anita and Bill offered parents and youth powerful tools for dealing with the “creepy guys,” social exclusion and the realities of sexual assault and sexual harassment that kids face every day. Safe Teen offers parents, teachers and students the tools to respond to difficult situations with wisdom and strength when the advice of “ignore them and tell an adult” just won’t work.
In the second half of the evening West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith Jones spoke with Anita Roberts in depth about some of the skills SafeTeen brings into the classroom with their school-based workshops for kids in grades 4 through 12.
Response to the program was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees felt they had a better understanding of the issues their children faced, felt more able to talk to their children about how to protect themselves and had the skills to coach their kids through difficult times.
A few comments from attendees:
· “...[this was] helpful for me as an adult woman.”
· “This was hugely powerful and effective – very inspiring and well-structured – I have a better plan.”
· “An empowering experience indeed!”
· “As an educator I got great ideas to help my students.”
If you would like to bring this program to your school or organization, please contact Valerie Lev Dolgin, FSNS Safer Places for Children & Youth Coordinator, at 604-988-5281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Congratulations to Inga Angermann for winning the draw prize of a brand new Blackberry Torch Smartphone! A big thanks to our corporate sponsor, Telus for providing this generous gift.
“It is clearly not enough to say, don't do drugs, abstain from sex / use condoms. We need to be able to teach our children how to negotiate these potentially life-altering moments -- How to say, no and stay cool. How to walk away without giving up power. How to access the part of themselves that can make wise choices - even in the heat of the moment.” ~ Anita Roberts
Creating a Social Safety Net at Ridgeview Elementary
We know that we can do a lot to help keep our children safe from social exclusion (bullying), sexual assault, and sexual abuse if we work together, find creative solutions, and focus our prevention efforts in sustained ways. This is exactly what is happening at Ridgeview Elementary over the next few months as part of Family Services of the North Shore’s Safer Places for Children and Youth Program.
We are creating a social safety net.
This social safety net will teach young girls how to get away from a “creepy guy” at a bus stop and help young boys not be a target of the lunchtime bully. It will support teachers and school counsellors who spend too much time managing children who “act out” in class. It will help parents understand the world their children are living in and give them concrete tools to help their children develop into “wise women” and “solid guys.”
Who will be involved?
Family Services of the North Shore’s (FSNS) clinical counselling staff is partnering with Safeteen International’s Founder Anita Roberts and her “Agents for Change” facilitators to provide comprehensive education and support to students, parents, teachers, administrators and school counsellors.
Here is a description of the Safeteen Pre-Teen Program.
SAFETEEN for Preteens is all about prevention and protection. Preventing unhealthy choices, redefining what is “cool," coping with peer pressure and protecting the fragile self-esteem of the young girls and boys who are just stepping into the potentially treacherous world of adolescence.
What will the program look like at Ridgeview? (February / March 2011)
- Safeteen youth workshops (8) for grades 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each workshop is 3 hours and girls and boys are in separate classes with same gender facilitators.
- In partnership with Ridgeview PAC, Anita Roberts will facilitate a 3 hour workshop for all parents.
- In partnership with the Ridgeview Principal, Michelle La Bounty, Anita Roberts will facilitate a separate 3 hour workshop for teachers, school counsellors, and administrative staff.
- Resources for parents, children and teachers will be made available
If you are interested in creating this type of program at your school, please contact Valerie Lev Dolgin, FSNS Safer Places for Children & Youth Coordinator, at 604-988-5281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For more 2010 Winter Family Ball Photographs click here
25th Anniversary 2010 Winter Family Ball
THANK YOU! On behalf of Family Services of the North Shore thank you to our guests, corporate partners and donors for supporting our 25th Anniversary Winter Family Ball.
Our milestone event was a great success, raising necessary funds to support North Shore families over the coming year and also celebrating a community that continues to care. Funds raised will ensure the continuation of services including the I hope family centre, Safer Places for Children and Youth, Stopping the Violence and the recently launched Jessie’s Legacy program for the prevention of eating disorders.
We recognize that many organizations request assistance and are especially grateful that you chose to support the health of our community at a time when demand for our programs is greater than ever. The Winter Family Ball Committee, the Board of Directors and the staff at Family Services of the North Shore are humbled knowing that they live and work amongst people who really do care for one another and are prepared to help.
We may be a small agency but our reach is wide and your contribution will change lives.
Sincere thanks,
Susan Green & Monica Soprovich
Co-Chairs, Winter Family Ball 2010
CONGRATULATIONS to our TWO WINNERS of the 25TH Anniversary 2010 Winter Family Ball Raffle held on December 5, 2010.
BC Gaming License # 29361
Kim Baxter, winner of the ROLEX Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust watch.
Retail value $9,300.00. Generously Donated by Lugaro and ROLEX .
Remco Daal, winner of the Private Beluga Encounter his family, including a year’s membership to the Vancouver Aquarium.
The Winter Family Ball delights the entire family with spectacular entertainment, a compelling silent auction, fantastic food and magical opportunities for families to experience the spirit of the holidays. Your generous support of the Winter Family Ball ensures representation at one of the key family galas in the city that holds a special place in the hearts of all those who attend. For further information email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thank you to the following companies who have generously supported our 25th Anniversary Winter Family Ball
Jessie's Legacy Launch
Thanks to everyone who attended the official launch. Click here to view the Fat Talk presentation, which was part of Dr. Gail McVey's key note address.
Wendy Carter (CENTRE) TELUS VANCOUVER COMMUNITY BOARD presents Mimi Hudson, Director Community Services Family Services of the North Shore (left) and Janice O'Sullivan FSNS Foundation Board Member with a $20,000 cheque for Jessie's Legacy.
