The FRIENDS program is a school-based early intervention and prevention program, proven to be effective in reducing the risk of anxiety disorders and building resilience in children. It teaches children how to cope with fears and worries and equips them with tools to help manage difficult situations, now and later in life. To learn more about the program, read the brochure, "FRIENDS For Life".

The FRIENDS program is sponsored by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. This initiative enables school professionals to deliver FRIENDS as a classroom-based universal prevention program or as an early intervention to children who may be at higher risk for anxiety disorders.

After three successful years implementing the FRIENDS For Life Program throughout BC, more than 50,000 grade 4 and 5 students have been exposed to FRIENDS. Our ultimate goal is to expose all BC children in grades 4 & 5 to FRIENDS, to provide them with life-skills that will help them cope with worries and stress and to reduce the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

Training for FRIENDS is available to BC School personnel supporting grades 4 and 5 students (independent and private schools included). To view the 2008/09 FRIENDS training schedule click here.

FRIENDS Parent Training: 2-session parent training is available to provide parents with the opportunity to become informed about the tools and life skills that their children are learning with the FRIENDS program. They will also learn how best to support their children in using these skills.

For the past two years, the parent training component has been delivered to fifteen school districts/communities each year. The 2007-08 communities will be: North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Mount Currie, Pemberton, Nanaimo, Prince George, Burns Lake, Terrace, Abbotsford, Langley, Burnaby, Lillooet, Nelson, Merrit, and Vancouver Catholic Schools.

For more information about the FRIENDS Parent Training component, contact Donna Murphy at: bellgirl@telus.net

Aboriginal Primary Prevention Pilot Project This pilot project involves adaptations to the FRIENDS program to make it more appealing to Aboriginal children and to engage them in more culturally relevant methods (e.g.: healing circles, storytelling, etc.). The pilot is led by Dr. Lynn Miller, UBC and began in 2005. The pilot will be completed by December, 2007

For more information about FRIENDS For Life in BC schools or if you are interested in hosting a training event or refresher/booster workshop in your area, please email mcf.cymhfriends@gov.bc.ca