BC Parent Peer Support

Corinna is a mom of three and has lived in and around Abbotsford for 21 years. Her experiences as a parent, including parenting foster children, drew her to this work in a desire to make a positive impact. She values being able to support other parents and offer them hope for their child’s future.

Corinna is a mom of three and has lived in and around Abbotsford for 21 years. Her experiences as a parent, including parenting foster children, drew her to this work in a desire to make a positive impact. She values being able to support other parents and offer them hope for their child’s future.

Sandra is a mom of three and a grandmother of three. She has lived in the Fraser Valley her entire life. She values being able to offer parents a space to share the hard things and their successes; to be themselves and let it all out if they choose – they are not alone.

Graeme is a dad of two. He was drawn to this work to share with other parents the same kind of support his family received from FamilySmart when they were struggling. It’s important to him to let parents know that they are not alone, and that they are not to blame for their kids’ situation.

Carolyn is a mom of two who was drawn to this work after a number of challenging years helping her child get the support they needed. She found great value in connecting with other parents on similar journeys along the way, and hopes that she can be a source of support for others. She wants families to know they are not alone and there is hope for the future.

Cherie is both a mom and a grandma who has lived in and around the Tri Cities for the past 30 years. Cherie was drawn to this work by the desire to give support to parents that she wishes she had in her difficult moments. Cherie believes it may be comforting for parents to know that many of us have also walked a similar path and are able to share resources and compassionate conversations centered around understanding and hope.

Kelley is a mom of two young daughters. She was drawn to this work by the opportunity to support families through her own lived experience. She values being able to offer a non-judgmental, compassionate space for families in order to show them that there is help available and that they are not alone.

FamilySmart offers Parent Peer Support to all BC parents & caregivers at the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre through a collaboration with BC Children’s Hospital.

Diane is a mom to two young adults. She was drawn to this work because she wanted to come alongside parents that are in situations similar to where she found herself while raising her kids. She values being able to support other parents when they are vulnerable and going through difficult situations.

Mirella is a mom of two wonderful youth and a dog-mom to a rescue. Grateful to call Vancouver her home since 2002, Mirella is a political refugee and a person with living experience with mental health. She has learnt the importance of being the caring adult in her children’s lives and wants others to know they are not alone. Languages: English, Polish

Melina has been a parent peer support worker since 2019. She values being able to come alongside families in whatever way they need so they feel less isolated in the challenges they face, whether this is offering guidance for how to navigate services or offering empathetic and non judgmental space.

Sheila is a mom of two young men and has called Kelowna home for the last 11 years. Sheila was drawn to this work by the chance to give to families the support she wished she had herself, to let them know they are not alone in their mental health journey’s and that there is help out there.

Jeannie is mom to three and has called Maple Ridge home for 33 years. She was drawn to this work by the opportunity to support other families through her lived experiences. What matters most to Jeannie is helping others feel less alone, to know they are enough and to see where they shine.

Monica is a mom of two daughters and has called Mission home for the last 11 years. She was drawn to this work because she knows how hard it can be to feel alone and experience the stigma and the shame. She values being the person she wished she’d had during the years she advocated for her daughter.

Aty has been living with her son in the North Vancouver community for the past few years. She values being able to provide families a safe space to talk openly without being judged, the space she wished she had while she was raising her son.

Kathy is a mom of two daughters and has called Prince George home for 27 years. She was drawn to this work in a desire to help others feel heard, understood and less alone. For Kathy, what matters most in her work is validating parents’ feelings and experiences, sharing hope, and compassion.
Tammy is a single parent of two teens and thrilled to also be a support person to a number of “bonus” teens. A resident of Prince George for 35 years, she has experienced first hand the value of shared experience from FamilySmart and knows that reaching out takes strength and shows commitment to growth and healing.

Amy is a parent to two young adults, and has been part of the Richmond community for over 25 years. Amy was drawn to this work when she learned that sharing her own lived experience could help support other parents just like her to know that they are not alone and to recognize their own strength in supporting their children and youth who are struggling with their mental health. Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese

Sarah is a mom of three who has called Coquitlam home for the last 15 years. She was drawn to this work by the opportunity to offer the kind of support that her family needed when they were struggling. What matters most to Sarah is to help parents feel seen, heard, accepted, resourced, and hopeful.

Michaela is mom to one daughter and has called Delta home for 20 years. She was drawn to this work by a strong desire to help others and give back the way others helped her along the way. She wants other parents to know that they are not alone and reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

Sandra is a mom of three and a grandmother of three. She has lived in the Fraser Valley her entire life. She values being able to offer parents a space to share the hard things and their successes; to be themselves and let it all out if they choose – they are not alone.

Tammy is a mom of three and has been a Parent Peer Support worker for ten years. She values the ongoing learning in this work and being able to share with other families what might help. Tammy wants other parents to know “You are not alone, you are important and there is help and hope for your family”.

Sandra is a mom of three and a grandmother of three. She has lived in the Fraser Valley her entire life. She values being able to offer parents a space to share the hard things and their successes; to be themselves and let it all out if they choose – they are not alone.

Nicole has been living and raising her two children in the community of Squamish for 20 years. As a parent who has reached out to FamilySmart in difficult times, she is able to come alongside families to offer support in the challenges they face. She values helping parents understand that they are their child’s best asset and that no matter the struggle, they are not alone.

Jamie, a Parent Peer Support Worker since 2015, values providing parents and caregivers a space where they feel heard and validated so they can continue growing their capacity and skills to manage the hard and enjoy the good.

Melina has been a parent peer support worker since 2019. She values being able to come alongside families in whatever way they need so they feel less isolated in the challenges they face, whether this is offering guidance for how to navigate services or offering empathetic and non judgmental space.

Lisa is a mom who followed her heart when parenting her two sons. She has called Victoria home for 24 years and was drawn to this work to give hope and inspiration to families whose children are struggling. In her work, it matters most to help parents understand they are their child’s biggest asset.

FamilySmart offers Parent Peer Support to all BC parents & caregivers at the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre through a collaboration with BC Children’s Hospital.

Diane is a mom to two young adults. She was drawn to this work because she wanted to come alongside parents that are in situations similar to where she found herself while raising her kids. She values being able to support other parents when they are vulnerable and going through difficult situations.

Mirella is a mom of two wonderful youth and a dog-mom to a rescue. Grateful to call Vancouver her home since 2002, Mirella is a political refugee and a person with living experience with mental health. She has learnt the importance of being the caring adult in her children’s lives and wants others to know they are not alone. Languages: English, Polish

Melina has been a parent peer support worker since 2019. She values being able to come alongside families in whatever way they need so they feel less isolated in the challenges they face, whether this is offering guidance for how to navigate services or offering empathetic and non judgmental space.