In 2021, Cornerstone Co-op in partnership with the Alberta Mental Health Foundation created, “The Little Things Fund”.

The Little Things Fund was designed to make it easier for local groups to apply for funding for programs and initiatives around mental health. All funds stay local within our Cornerstone communities and from 2020-2022, the funds been accessed and spent on the following:

North Zone

St. Paul & Elk Point

Project: Mental Health & Addictions Enhancements

Goals:

1. Education & Awareness - Reconnect with the local community to help increase awareness of programs and engage with community members so that they feel more knowledgeable about accessing services and mental health care.

2. Programs - Provide hands-on tools and resources for community members (individuals and families) including workshops and programs, opportunities that support community engagement, and coping tools

3. Service & Facility Enhancements - Ensure facilities where patients are receiving mental health care are inviting, effective, and comfortable to help encourage recovery and healing.

Description of goals:

Education & Awareness

• Enhance Indigenous cultural inclusivity in clinical spaces (i.e., artwork, dream-catchers, paintings, Cultural gift giving for indigenous presenters (i.e., Tobacco etc.).

• Competency Building Workshops

• Mental Health Library: Books and resources on how to support a loved one with mental health or addictions as well as support one’s own journey with mental health and addictions

• Refreshments (i.e., water, coffee, tea, cookie etc.) for National Addiction Awareness week community events as well as psycho-educational programming offered to community members.

Programs

• Youth Coping Toolkits: includes items such as fidget toys, stress balls, journal, mindfulness cards, affirmation cards, clay, meditation beads etc.

• Mindfulness journals and mandala color therapy books

• Affirmation and mindfulness cards

• Building Family Connection: for struggling families and youth, provide gift cards to create opportunities for connection such as swimming passes, movie theatre passes, etc.

• Psycho-educational programming geared towards youth

• Community BBQ for mental health and addictions awareness (BBQ rental, food, refreshments etc.)

Service & Facility Enhancements

• Client Furniture: counselling chairs and couches for clients and their families to create a home-like environment conducive to therapeutic activities

• Day Program Art Therapy

• Music equipment and chairs for music activity

• Popcorn machine for the inpatient psychiatric unit for patient engagement activities

• Treadmill

Central Zone

Vermilion, Wainwright, Dewberry, Mannville

Project: Mental Health & Addictions Enhancements

Goals:

1. Education & Awareness - Reconnect with the local community to help increase awareness of programs and engage with community members so that they feel more knowledgeable about accessing services and mental health care.

2. Programs - Provide hands-on tools and resources for community members (individuals and families) including workshops and programs, opportunities that support community engagement, and coping tools

3. Prevention & Early Intervention - Research shows that for every $1 invested in prevention and early intervention for young people, we save $10 in long term health care costs that are linked to mental illness. Providing youth with the tools and skills they need to manage their mental health now, supports them now and as they become adults in the future.

Description:

Education & Awareness

• Building Resilient Adults - Vermilion Wellness Conference (January 2023)

• • Target Group: Adults

• • Deliverables: 200+ Adults

• Helpline Magnets – for distribution through Cornerstone Co-op stores (Vermilion, Mannville, Dewberry) Senior Centers, Vermilion Fair, and schools.

• • Target Group: Adults, Agencies, Community

• • Deliverables: 1000+ Adults

• Expected outcomes: Increase peoples knowledge of available services for mental health and addiction.

Programs

• Simple Connections, Stronger Families Open Oven Night – 8 weeks through July & August

• • Target Group: Families

• • Deliverables: 200 families, teach families how to use the SCSF Cards and Tools to learn simple ways to build their well-being and strengthen their resilience.

• Expected outcomes: Adults learn skills and strategies to manage their mental well-being and that of the children and youth they are connected to. Family mental wellness management & tools.

Prevention & Early Intervention

• An Influential Generation: education on alcohol and vaping and will provide participants with good decision-making skills and promote positive coping strategies. Research shows youth choose vaping and alcohol as a way to cope.

• • Target Group: Youth in Grades 5 – 9 in Vermilion and area

• • Deliverables: 200+ Youth

• • Expected outcome:

• Expected outcomes: Youth will increase their knowledge and skillset to adopt positive coping strategies.