N.B. government invests in social program for children and their families
A social program that supports vulnerable children and their families will receive a funding boost from the provincial government.
Bee Me Kidz provides programming and services for low-income families like social and emotional skills development, nutritional support and parental education.
It’s designed to improve the resilience of children and their families, enhance their well-being and support children’s learning potential.
The Department of Social Development announce Friday it would provide $600,000 over two years.
It brings the department’s total contribution to the program to $900,000.
“Bee Me Kidz is a proactive investment aimed at reducing future mental health and behavioural challenges, as well as school disengagement for kindergarten to Grade 5 students in New Brunswick,” executive director Claire Ashton said in a release.
The program is free, held weekly on Saturday and focuses on improving children’s social connections and emotional development.
It currently serves more than 3,500 children and more than 650 parents in Fredericton, Saint John, Sussex and Charlotte County at nine elementary schools and five program centres.
Social Development Minister Cindy Miles said the new funding will keep the important services provided by Bee Me Kidz getting to families.
“Bee Me Kidz is a strong example of the kind of early, community-based support that helps children and parents thrive,” Miles said in a statement.
Ashton said the program is committed to expanding, working with francophone communities, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
