Children and Youth Matter - Comox Valley (CYMCV) are a local group of caring community members who work to increase awareness and access to services supporting physical, mental, cultural, sexual and social health for children and youth in the Comox Valley. We know all children and youth benefit from timely, affective, coordinated and culturally appropriate supports and services in our community, so that they can lead healthy, happy lives.

Our Working Directives:

We advocate and work collaboratively to:

• Increase the level of Trauma Informed practices in our community to support people from prenatal to adulthood
• Increase our community’s capacity to provide integrated services and supports for child and youth wellness

What Guides Our Work:

• Youth Involvement
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Cultural Safety
• Evidence Based
• Innovation
• Harm Reduction
• Social Determinants of Health

Our Group's Goals:

1. Integrated youth services: To support and inform the care and services provided at the Foundry Comox Valley 
    
2. Develop a trauma-informed ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)/Touchpoints community

Resources:

Parenting:

• Parenting Support Resources - Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use [CYMHSU]

Adverse Childhood Experiences Resources:

• Reports
  • CYMCV - ACES Trauma Informed Community Plan - May 2021
• Tools
  • CYW Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) Child
  • CYW Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire Teen (ACE-Q) Teen:
    • Parent/Caregiver
    • Self Report

Autism Resources:

• What is autism? - Click here to learn more
• Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
  • What is PDA? - General Information Booklet
  • Tips for Parents or Carers
    • Using the PANDA approach
    • Preparing for special occasions 
  • Comox Valley Resources - updated April 2024! 

Our Membership

• Boys and Girls Club
• Child Psychiatry
• Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
• City of Courtenay
  • The LINC Youth Centre​
• Comox Valley Child Development Association
• Comox Valley Community Health Network
• Comox Valley Community Justice Centre
• Comox Valley Division of Family Practice
• Comox Valley Family Services Association
• Comox Valley Housing Task Force
• Community members of lived experience
• Family Physicians
• Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society
• Island Health
  • Public Health
  • Mental Health and Substance Use​
• John Howard Society
• Military Family Resource Centre
• Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD)
• Ministry of Mental Health and Additions
  • Integrated Child and Youth Teams (ICY Teams)
• North Island College - Nursing Program
• Private Counsellors
• RCMP
• School District 71
• Comox Valley Hospital
  • Adolescent Day Therapy Program​
• The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids Mental Health
• Upper Island Women of Native Ancestry
• Wachiay Friendship Centre
• Youth as Caregivers Program (sponsored by Comox Valley Community Justice)