Youth mental health service partners with Fort St. John Association for Community Living

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A youth mental health service provider is expanding its support by partnering with a long-standing non-profit in Fort St. John.

In a December 4th press release, the Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) announced Saplings Mental Health Services is becoming a part of its organization.

According to the FSJACL, the partnership is intended to streamline services and create clearer pathways between childhood mental-health supports and adult community-living programs.

“This new development is about strengthening inclusion by supporting the whole community,” FSJACL chief executive Jordan Soggie said. 

“Saplings has done incredible work meeting youth where they are. Together, we can expand that support and help people thrive from childhood into adulthood.” 

According to Saplings co-founders Laura Honey and Julia Hintermeister, joining the FSJACL will allow the team to continue that work with enhanced resources and stability.

“Joining FSJACL allows Saplings to keep growing while maintaining our commitment to youth and families,” Honey said. “It gives us stability, shared resources and the ability to reach further without changing who we are.” 

Hintermeister added that the transition is “about partnership [and] doing the work we love, only stronger.” 

According to the FSJACL, the integration will lead to broader service offerings, improved coordination between clinical and community-living teams and increased capacity to serve more people in the region. 

Existing programs and staff at both organizations will continue operating without disruption as the transition unfolds over the coming months.

Founded in 1960, FSJACL provides support and services for adults with special needs, while Saplings has offered youth counselling and other programs in partnership with Northern Health since 2021.

Last month, Northern Health announced it would not be cancelling Saplings’ outpatient services contract.