Brighter Horizons

Why?

The children we serve at the POP Centre often have high Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) scores. These scores reflect exposure to poverty, neglect, violence, parental substance use, or family instability. Without intervention, these early traumas can lead to lifelong challenges in mental, physical, and emotional health. The children served through the Brighter Horizons program are those who tend to be underserved and systematically excluded from the kinds of resources, relationships, and opportunities that foster healthy development. Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) give access to essential developmental, social, and emotional opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach, and that are widely understood among experts to buffer the effects of ACEs. 

What?

We work to ensure that children excluded due to economic hardship have equitable opportunities for growth, inclusion, and success. Brighter Horizons removes financial and systemic barriers to such opportunities, ensuring that every child referred to the program has a chance to experience joy, belonging, and meaningful connection - all of which are protective factors that can significantly change a young person’s life trajectory. These Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) include but are not limited to:

​

-Counselling therapy for children, youth, and their caregivers

-Summer camp and other recreation

-Occupational and speech therapy

How?

Brighter Horizons funds are allocated based on each family's unique needs identified by our clinical team. Once a need is recognized through trusted physician referrals, strong family engagement, and a holistic understanding of each family, an internal application is submitted to a review committee consisting of staff from both our clinical and charitable teams. This ensures that each request is thoughtful, appropriate, and conducive to improving the child’s well-being. Once approved, funds are distributed as quickly as possible