Parents & Community
Schools are at the heart of every community, serving as centres for education, recreation, and social connection. In the Abbotsford School District, we cultivate strong partnerships with a wide range of agencies and organizations dedicated to supporting student success. These collaborations reflect our community’s deep commitment to education and the future of our children. Below, you'll find a variety of resources that may be helpful to your family. If you need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to your school counsellor, youth care worker, principal, middle or high school mental health clinician, or one of our community partners.
Insuremykids® Accident Insurance
For your convenience, we’ve made arrangements for families to voluntarily purchase student accident insurance through the Insuremykids® Accident Insurance program.
Insuremykids® Accident Insurance offers protection against the unexpected costs of injury from accidents and is especially valuable for families who:
- do not have medical or dental plans,
- have limited plans, as it may help supplement health and dental benefits, or
- have active children who enjoy sports and outdoor activities.
For complete plan details, please visit insuremykids.com.
Community Childcare Information
- Abbotsford Child Care Resource & Referral - Providing child care information services and support to families and child care providers in Abbotsford.
Community Supports for Families of Students with Diverse Abilities
- Find Support BC - We connect families of persons with disabilities with resources available to them.
- Information regarding provincial funding - to assist families of children with Autism with getting support or services in the community.
- The AT home program- is designed to support students and teens with a severe disability or complex health needs (Provincial Community Support).
- Children and Youth with Special Needs Staff Information - (Ministry of Children and Development)
- Fraser Valley Child Development Centre – they offer a variety of programs from Speech and language pathologist, Occupational Therapists, Behavior Consultants, key workers, etc.
Educational Links
- B.C. Ministry of Education Special Education Policy Manual
- Color in Colorado - A bilingual site for educators and families of English Language Learners.
- Freerice - an educational trivia game that helps you get smarter while making a difference for people around the world. Supports for numeracy, literacy, etc.
- Full Day Kindergarten
- Ministry of Education - Full Day Kindergarten Program Guide
- Ministry of Education early learning webcast #1: Self Regulation and Project Based Learning
- Ministry of Education early learning webcast #2: Project Based Learning
- Curriculum Full Day Kindergarten – Ministry of Education’s Full Day Kindergarten page
- K-12 Reporting Student Reporting Policy
- Storyline Online - An Emmy-nominated program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Storyline Online features actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading worldwide.
Financial Supports for Loss of Wages, etc.
- Shaw Open Hot Spots - Free Wi-Fi
- Telus Internet for Good
General Community Supports and Supports for Early Learning
- Abby EarlyYears
- Archway
- Home | 211 British Columbia Comprehensive resource listing by category. Phone option available for resourcing and referrals, including crisis response
Options When Facing Food Scarcity or Housing
- Abbotsford Food Bank (Archway Community Services) 33914 Essendene Ave. 604-859-5749, Monday – Thursday, 9:30 – 12:00 (proof of address, Picture ID, and care cards required)
- MCC Fraser Valley Rental Assistance Program – Help with securing stable housing, avoid utility disconnection/re-connect utilities, build financial literacy skills, connect clients with other community resources.
- Youth Shelter - Cyrus Centre. Shelter beds for youth up to 24 years. Walk-in 2616 Ware Street, Phone #: 604-859-5773 (24/7)
- Food Rack (Salvation Army – Centre of Hope) - 34081 Gladys Ave. 604-852-9305, lunches and perishables available daily, 12-1 (Monday to Saturday)
Supporting Mental Health and Wellness
- Kid’s Help Phone — 1-800-668-6868 Call to speak to a professional counsellor — available 24 hours a day.
- Health Link — 8-1-1
- ERASE - is all about building safe and caring school communities.
- Kelty Mental Health - The BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre has resources for parents to support their youth’s mental health.
- Here to Help - Information about Bullying is provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.
- Abbotsford Hospice & Grief Support Society- The Abbotsford Hospice & Grief Support Society helps children, youth, adults and their families as they cope with grief, death and dying through skilled and compassionate support, education, and advocacy.
- Abbotsford Youth Commission website has links to many different community resources for youth and families coping with depression.
- Anxiety Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre- Comprehensive website for parents/professionals with information on mental disorders & substance use, treatment strategies, medication overview, how to access parent support, healthy living, & a resource library of articles, videos & podcasts.
- Child and Youth Mental Health Intake Information – Abbotsford office 604-870-5880
- In an immediate mental health crisis, START is available to consult with caregivers and youth over the phone at 1-844-782-7811 (direct line to START East team which serves Mission to Boston Bar is 604-743-0765). START may provide assessment, brief crisis stabilization support and referrals for youth in acute crisis.
- EASE at Home (Kindergarten - Gr. 3)
- EASE at Home (Gr. 4-7)
- Foundry (ages 12-24) 604-746-3392 - NEW offering virtual drop-in counselling sessions (foundrybc.ca/virtual). For same-day counselling in person/virtual/telephone via Foundry Abbotsford, click here and select Same Day Counselling. Foundry also offers a full primary care medical clinic, groups, peer support, parent support, and support with systems navigation.
- Impact Abby - https://foundrybc.ca/abbotsford/
- We Are Indigenous: Big Worries/Fears, Parent & Caregiver Support Program-Offers a free, virtual parent and caregiver coaching program to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit families across BC, whose children are struggling with the experience of big worries and fears, or what the Western worldview calls anxiety.
- Get support with these mental health resources - Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or Text 686868 Free 24/7 crisis support for youth.
- Fraser Health Crisis Line 1-877-820-7444 Free 24/7 crisis support for all ages
- KUU-US First Nations B.C.- wide Crisis Line 1-877-588-8717 Free 24/7 crisis support for all Indigenous people
- Native Youth Crisis Hotline 1-877-209-1266 Free 24/7 crisis support for all Indigenous youth
- FamilySmart - Together-Centred™ for Child & Youth Mental Health Support and information for parents with children struggling with their mental health. They offer parent peer support workers, as well as webinars, workshops and articles on parenting and mental health.
- BC Association of Clinical Counsellors – Find a private counsellor. Fee for service.
- Find Therapists and Psychologists in Abbotsford, BC - Psychology Today - Psychology Today Find a counsellor – fee for service.
- HealthyMinds BC Home - HealthyMindsBC (gov.bc.ca) Offers education and information on responding to mental health challenges especially for parents (anxiety, depression, self harm and suicidal ideation)
- Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program - Fraser Health Authority - Early psychosis intervention program assesses individuals between the ages of 13 and 30 who are showing symptoms associated with Psychosis or are experiencing a recent decline in function at school, work or home AND have a family history of Psychotic disorder.
Supporting New Immigrant Families
- Archway - Archway Community Services offers 90+ programs for community members in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Langley as well as an international program in India.
- SWIS- Settlement Workers in Schools- Support for new immigrant families with school-aged children.
- Talking Points - Communicate with the school in your home language to build strong partnerships all year long.
- SayHi - Translation App
- Storybooks Canada - a free open educational resource that promotes literacy and language learning in homes, schools, and communities.
Violence in the home
- SARA for Women 604-852-6008 (24/7)
- VictimLinkBC 1-800-563-0808 (24-hour help line), or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca
- Stopping the Violence: Archway Community Services Counselling and support for female-identifying victims of domestic violence.
Exploitation, gang involvement, criminal activity
- Archway Stop Exploiting Youth - Supporting Abbotsford youth (12 to 18 years of age) who are sexually exploited or at high risk of sexual exploitation.
- AbbyPD Pathways - The Abbotsford Police Department’s PATHWAYS program (for 12 to 19 years of age). Offers services to youth and young adults identified as being at-risk for gang-participation or other criminal activities. The intent is to divert these individuals away from the criminal lifestyle.
- Archway - Youth Education Support - For youth ages 12 to 18 who are engaging in high-risk behaviors (i.e., shoplifting, gang violence, etc.). A committee will decide if they get accepted or if other referrals are a better support.