À propos
Our Vision
A Canada where YOUNG CAREGIVERS and their families are recognized, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.
Our Mission
Young Caregivers Association is the leader in service, awareness, and empowerment for YOUNG CAREGIVERS and their families across Canada.
Our Values
Resilience
We bounce back from adversity by adapting and remaining strong with a focus on moving forward. We lead by example and use opportunities to grow and further develop as an organization
Some of us go through a lot, but we know we can move through it with Powerhouse
Caring
We are welcoming, accepting, and are committed to providing support with compassion and empathy.
YCA helps us understand we are not alone and make us feel like we matter.
Quality
Our focus is on the people we serve – young caregivers and their families. Through a client centred and research informed approach, we strive for excellence through evaluation and continuous improvement. We are committed to measuring, achieving and reporting results.
YCA takes into account the feelings and thoughts of the kids in the program.
Integrity
We stand out as role models to others because of the way we value the people and things around us. We hold ourselves accountable and expect honest and genuine action.
The staff teach by example how to have good attitudes and good morals.
Learning
We are dedicated to continuous teaching, learning, and development as we foster an environment of collaborative dialogue in order to advance the profile of YOUNG CAREGIVERS in society.
Everyone has a story we can learn from.
Who We Are
Our work began in 2003 when the Young Carers Initiative Niagara was created as a special project of the Alzheimer Society of Niagara in response to the children and youth they identified as participating in the caregiving of a loved one with dementia. It became clear that these children were struggling with stress, anxiety
In 2006, public awareness efforts included the first conference about YOUNG CAREGIVERS ever to be held in Canada. The “Bouncing Back” conference in Niagara Falls attracted 100 participants from across Canada, as well as Florida, Texas and the U.K.
In 2007 the Young Carers Initiative became a registered charity and with the results from Dr. Chalmers’ study and with the support of Alzheimer’s Society of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton, a year later the Young Carers Initiative received funding from the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network (HNHB LHIN) to begin delivering the Powerhouse Project programming.
As the first YOUNG CAREGIVER program in Canada and the established Canadian expert organization in supporting YOUNG CAREGIVERS, our organization has evolved over the years. With a dedication to
WHAT WE DO
Young Caregivers Association™ is a registered charity with the mission to be the leader in service, awareness, and empowerment for YOUNG CAREGIVERS and their families across Canada.
Our vision is to have a Canada where YOUNG CAREGIVERS and their families are recognized, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.
Through our strategic plan, we are focused on achieving our goals under our new brand and purpose. We strive to achieve our mission and goals through leading, supporting and empowering.
Our main focus is providing supportive programs and
As a result of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, we took our programs online to offer support groups, life skills, and counselling through video conferencing.
Niagara Centre
318 Ontario St
Unit 7A
St. Catherines ON L2R 5L8
Ph: 905-932-4201
Fx: 289-362-2342
CENTRE HALDIMAND-NORFOLK
c/o Haldimand Abilities Centre
42 Main St.
Hagersville, ON N0A 2H0
Ph: 905-768-1034
Fx: 905-768-1034