Kids Help Phone

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Kids Help Phone
Kids-Help-Phone-Logo.svg
AbbreviationKHP
FormationMay 16, 1989 (1989-05-16)
TypeNGO
Registration no.13000 5846 RR0001
Legal statusCharitable organization
PurposeYouth mental health support
Location
  • Canada
ServicesTelephone counseling Online counseling
President & CEO
Katherine Hay
SVP, Advancement and Chief Development Officer
Aaron Sanderson
SVP, Innovation and Chief Youth Officer
Alisa Simon
SVP, Operations and CFO
Susan Morris
Lynn Roger (Chair)
Key people
  • Katherine Hay
  • Aaron Sanderson
  • Matthew McLaughlin
Main organ
Board of Directors
AffiliationsChild Helpline International, Jack.org
Revenue (2019)
$20,729,995[1]
Expenses (2019)$20,423,655[1]
Volunteers (2020)
1,000+
Websitekidshelpphone.ca

Kids Help Phone (French: Jeunesse, J’écoute) is a Canadian charitable organization that provides online and telephone counselling and volunteer-led, text-based support in English and French to youth across Canada. Kids Help Phone also provides information on how to access community support services for youth.[2]

Since May 16, 1989, the organisation has provided counselling to youth via a toll-free number. The service received its one millionth call in 1993, and the organisation launched its anonymous online counselling system in 2002.[3] In 2010, Kids Help Phone partnered with Sandra Hanington and Eric Windeler to create "The Jack Project @ Kids Help Phone" (re-branded to Jack.org in 2013) to develop programs and workshops targeted at young people. With their assistance, Kids Help Phone was able to create an online chat service and mobile app to reach young people.[4] It then launched BroTalk, a dedicated online service for teenage boys, in 2015 as an outreach program to reduce stigma around men seeking mental health support.[5]

History[]

Since taking the first call on May 16, 1989, Kids Help Phone continues to deliver mental health services to young people across Canada. The organization’s Founding Partners are Bell Canada, BMO Financial Group, Nestlé Canada and Parmalat Canada.

The following provides an overview of some of Kids Help Phone evolution's to date:

  • In 1996, Kids Help Phone published its website - www.KidsHelpPhone.ca. In 2002, web-post counselling began (Ask Us Online) and ran until 2015.
  • In 2002, Kids Help Phone kicked off their major annual national fundraising event, Walk so Kids Can Talk, a five-kilometre walk in communities across Canada.
    • In 2020, as a result of COVID-19, the event was reimagined to take on a digital format - Never Dance Alone-a-thon, which happened on May 31, 2020, on social media.
  • In 2012, Live Chat (online counselling) was introduced and in 2013, Kids Help Phone’s chat app for iOS and Android, Always There, became available.
  • In 2013, Ontario’s post-secondary student mental health helpline, Good2Talk, was introduced. The service is a partnership between ConnexOntario, Kids Help Phone, Ontario 211 and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. It is funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Good2Talk Nova Scotia opened in 2018 as part of the HealthyMindsNS initiative.
  • In 2014, Resources Around Me, an interactive map-based tool and Canada’s largest online database of mental health and support resources for youth, was made available on Kids Help Phone’s website.
  • From 2015 to 2017, Kids Help Phone ran BroTalk, a service and digital outreach strategy offering tips, support and a direct line to counselling for teen males. The service was funded by the Movember Foundation.
  • In 2018, Kids Help Phone partnered with Crisis Text Line to launch a national texting service for youth in Canada, which has provided an additional resource that enables youth to text CONNECT to 686868 to connect with a counsellor.
  • In 2019, Kids Help Phone and its Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) implemented Finding Hope: Kids Help Phone’s Action Plan for Supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Young People, which is being implemented and continues to guide Kids Help Phone activities.
  • In March 2020, in response to COVID-19, Health Canada, Kids Help Phone, Stepped Care Solutions and Homewood Health launched Wellness Together Canada, a mental health and well-being support portal for everyone in Canada. Kids Help Phone supported the launch of Crisis Text Line Canada, a service for adults and young people in Canada. For access to the counselling text service, adults can text WELLNESS to 741 741 to be connected with a counsellor.

Governance[]

The group's President and CEO is Katherine Hay.

Kids Help Phone’s Board of Directors is a panel of corporate, community and service leaders who oversee the direction of the organization.

Kids Help Phone’s National Youth Council is a group of young people aged 14-24 from across Canada who are passionate about youth mental health and well-being.

Kids Help Phone’s Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) is composed of Inuit, Métis and First Nations experts, half of whom are youth. Finding Hope: Kids Help Phone’s Action Plan for Supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Young People is being implemented under the council’s leadership.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Financial Statement 2019" (PDF). Kids Help Phone. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Who is Kids Help Phone?". Kids Help Phone. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "Stats & Resources - Kids Help Phone". Kids Help Phone. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. ^ "About". Jack.org. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  5. ^ "Kids Help Phone launches new 'BroTalk' service for teen boys". CTV News. Retrieved October 8, 2015.

External links[]

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