FOR 75 YEARS… A FRIEND TO LEAN ON
Catholic Family Services Bureau was established in 1931 as the first Social
Service Agency in the province. And now despite the idyllic nature of this
island, PEI families and individuals often find themselves threatened by
society’s pressures. For more than three quarters of a century, we have been there…
a friend to lean on when those pressures become intolerable.
The mission of the Bureau is to strengthen and promote the quality of
family life on PEI. This is carried out through professional counseling
services for individuals, couples and families; through family education
programs and advocacy services. Fees for these services are charged on an
“ability to pay” basis.
The Bureau has always been committed to providing services to those who
are in need and in particular to those who would not otherwise be able to
access them. As a result, fee recoveries don’t come close to covering the
costs of our professional services. In fact, fees cover only 33% of the
costs. To support these services to our community, the Bureau relies on
significant external funding and since traditional funding sources have
declined by over 50% in recent years, we must rely increasingly on the
generosity of concerned Islanders.
HOW ARE THE FUNDS USED?
Funds support the delivery of counselling and family education services
that benefit:
- People facing short term crises that threaten or even destroy families
- Individuals and families in crisis who lack a reliable support network
to “lean on”
- People of all beliefs and orientations: Bureau services are
non-denominational
- The Island community as a whole, since families in crisis affect those
around them and …
- Those facing turmoil who by working through their issues can become,
or continue to be, functional and contributing members of society.
