Image Credit: Interior Community Services

By Ashley Legassic

FOUNDRY BC

Social agency pledges to push for one-stop-shop youth mental health service in Kamloops

Nov 14, 2019 | 2:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — An organization in Kamloops is hoping to take the lead in advocating for a Foundry centre here in the city.

Valerie Janz is the Chief Operating Officer at Interior Community Services — a service that’s been advocating for a one-stop-shop for youth mental health services since 2015.

That one-stop-shop is how Foundry BC brands itself, and the organization has just put out a call to hear from communities who want a Foundry centre in their area.

“We as a community have come together and we’ve actually been working on a Foundry… since about 2015, and we haven’t been successful,” Janz explains. “In 2015 we put in an expression (of interest), Kelowna got it, and then there was a direct award in 2017 to Penticton, so this is the second time the expression of interest has come up. So we’re ready as a community to hopefully get to the next stage.”

Expressions of interest will be accepted by Foundry until Nov. 26. Although the City of Kamloops doesn’t have plans to put an expression of interest in, Janz hopes council will support ICS if its pitch makes it to the next round.

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“(Councillors) probably were more aware in 2015, because this expression of interest only came out two or three weeks ago, so it’s a quick turnaround time,” Janz says. “Although our committee has been working for a long time and Natalie (Serl) who’s part of the social development arm of the City is well aware, but City councillors probably at this point wouldn’t be — but don’t worry, they will be if we make it to the next round.”

Janz expects to hear in mid-December if Kamloops will make it to the second phase of discussions for getting a Foundry centre.

She adds Foundry is basically an arm of a not-for-profit, and ICS is the lead organization for the expression of interest.

“Really it is a community project… The lead organization submits their name as the lead and they would have to run the books and really, they ultimately are responsible for the financial security and sustainability of the Foundry, but with lots of help with the community,” Janz says. “But they have to have a lead organization just to be ultimately responsible and… manage the fundraising and manage the [administration].”

Janz says if Kamloops eventually does get approved to have a Foundry centre, there will be a grant-writing and fundraising component to help with funding.