North Shore (North & West Vancouver)

Provides support and navigation services to youth 12 – 24 yrs old using a lived experience peer lens. Supports some groups and sees 1-1 clients.

Primary care serves youth aged 12-24 who live on the North Shore. This geographical area includes Lions Bay and Bowen Island. Our clinic is staffed by Nurse Practitioners, family GP’s, an OAT nurse, a Primary Care Nurse and a Social Worker. Our clinic provides medical services in three ways.

1. Drop in one off medical and sexual health services. The sexual health services include; STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, IUS and Nexplanon insertions, emergency contraception and dispensing contraceptives. Medical drop in can be for any medical need. These clients who do not receive longitudinal care can be from outside of our catchment area.
2. We also share care with GP’s in the community. Our clinic will provide care for a specific medical need and then return the client (with a treatment plan) to the care of their GP once they are stabilized. Many of the clients we see for shared care have complex mental health, or are coming for gender affirming care services.
3. The third way we see clients is to be their Most Responsible Provider (MRP). For these clients we are there “GP” and they will come to our clinic for all of their medical care. They will be d/c’ed when they age out or move out of catchment.

Supports youth 12-18 years old who have symptoms of anorexia or bulimia.  Team consists of a pediatrician, dietitian, nurse and two part time counsellors.  Counselling and dietitian support is provided.  Outpatient services include assessment, early intervention and treatment. Physician referral required.

A new supported employment program which provides flexible, wrap-around services to help youth (16 – 24 yrs) who are currently not in education, employment or training to realize their education goals, develop work skills and gain paid work/study experience to successfully transition into the labour market. Provides supported employment placements to clients who have barriers to employment due to mental health and/or substance use issues.

Learn more about the Foundry Work & Education Program. 

Drop in service is intended to promote support to those youth 12-24 who are experiencing complications in functioning that are understood as mild to moderate and non urgent. The service is low barrier with immediate intervention. A single session of drop in mental Health support is offered by a team composed of BA and MA level interventionists, using a Solution Focused Brief Intervention Model. Clients can use this service as often as needed. The service is ideal for problem solving, resource development, mental health psycho education; communication skills building and coaching and should be understood as a stand alone service.

Clients 12-24 with moderate to severe dual presentation of mental health and substance misuse symptoms requiring the specialized services of the treatment team. 1:1 therapist and psychiatry services determined by therapist/case manager. Care Planning with MHSU clinician

Moderate to severe primary substance use with or without mental illness; functional challenges associated with housing, income and health; and current difficulties accessing health and social services.  Significant functional impairment and/or psychosocial risk factors. Requires outreach services and interdisciplinary team approach. Has been unsuccessful in or is not appropriate for less intensive services. Priority 1 clients that would benefit from a case a management approach to care (ex: early psychosis, high risk polysubstance use, requiring support in accessing a range of social and/or medical services. Willing to meet with an ICM worker

The Foundry would not be able to function well without the support of external partnerships that include or have included the North Shore Neighbourhood House, Capilano community services, Work BC, the ministry for social development and poverty reduction, the ministry for children and family development, West Vancouver community services, Hollyburn family services, Family services of the North Shore, Parkgate community services, Impact BC, and the Tsliel Waututh and Squamish na

The Mandate of the YURT team is to provide short-term crisis, bridging and case management support to Youth who are in crisis and/or not connected to other longer term programs. The team also follows up with youth who present to LGH ER for Mental Health or Substance Use related reasons and need to be followed until they can connect with a longer-term service. The program also attends youth mental health related calls with the police in North Vancouver as needed. The Team serves youth 12-19 who identify as in crisis. Anyone who feels they meet these criteria can refer themselves or anyone they know to our service. There is a central phone line 604 230 0389 that anyone can call to refer. The clients must live in North or West Vancouver. The team will work with families of youth who request our involvement. The team will follow youth for a period of up to 12 weeks.

Creates prevention initiatives related to substance use by liaising with special interest groups (ie. Schools, parents, community service providers, etc).   Prevention initiatives include the Parent Education Series, Let’s Talk Shop, MH/SU Webinars, and curriculum teacher training.   Also manages Foundry’s social media channels and leads engagement activities for parents (Parent Ambassadors) and the youth service provider network (Youth Coalition, Pride at the Pier, City Fest, etc).