BC Council for Families

November 2 2011 VANCOUVER BC -- The BC Council for Families is pleased to announce the recent gift of $13,000 from the Telus Community Fund.  On October 26th, Metro Vancouver YWCA CEO and Telus Vancouver Community Board member Janet Austin presented the Council with the donation, which will be used to further the work of the Council's My Tween and Me program.  On hand to receive the cheque were My Tween and Me provincial coordinator Pilar Onatra (L) and BC Council for Families Acting Executive Director Marilee Peters (R).

My Tween and Me is a one-of-a-kind parent education and support program for parents of tweens. Developed by the BC Council for Families, My Tween and Me's combination of information, discussion and interaction helps parents become aware of the risks tweens face, and how to identify the protective factors that are unique to their family: factors that will help prevent risk-taking behaviours later in their tween's life.

My Tween and Me encourages parents to sustain strong relationships with their tweens, because children between the ages of 7 to 12 need active, involved parents.
Current research tells us that parents are the most powerful influencers in their tweens' lives, and that enjoying a close relationship with their parents can keep kids from experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and from other risk-taking behaviours.