St. Catharines, ON – In 2021, Attachment and Trauma Treatment Centre for Healing (ATTCH) Niagara received a $39,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. This funding allowed ATTCH Niagara to install two openable windows, providing fresh air and improving circulation in counselling offices for the comfort and safety of clients and staff. Many of ATTCH Niagara’s clients have required in person sessions during the pandemic as they do not have access to technology, internet or a safe private space to meet. This renovation allows clients and therapists to conduct their sessions safely, even amidst the pandemic.
“I believe firmly that mental health is health care, so I take great pleasure in seeing the province financially support an organization that helps bridge community members affected by trauma with services to support them,” said St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens. “This work is important because it creates spaces that provide support for individuals to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and beyond.”
This support from OTF also helped ATTCH recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by supporting staffing costs, providing access to secure tele-health platforms, and rejuvenating wellness programs with online wellness resources for staff and therapists. ATTCH Niagara is very thankful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support and is pleased to let supporters, staff and clients know about this generosity in our communications.
ATTCH Niagara’s Board Chairperson, Gail Richardson, said, “the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, especially for a new organization like ours which has seen dramatically increased referrals due to COVID-19, has provided a significant benefit for marginalized people in Niagara who are experiencing complex mental health issues.”
ATTCH Niagara’s mission is to provide free and low-cost, attachment and trauma-specialized therapy in a safe, structured manner to disadvantaged individuals and families to promote better mental health. Their vision is to promote health through the provision of free and low cost attachment and trauma specialized treatment with a focus on holistic wellness and preventative care (early intervention) to facilitate healing.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non‐profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non‐profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID‐19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
More information about ATTCH Niagara is available on our website: www.attchniagara.com or by calling Executive Director Lori Gill at (905) 684-9333.
