SchoolsPlus & Community Resources

SchoolsPlus & Community Resources

SchoolsPlus is a confidential, free service available in every school in Nova Scotia. Our goal is to build positive relationships between families, schools, and communities.

SchoolsPlus Can Help You Manage Complex Situations

Sometimes students and their families are already connected to many services like Mental Health, Justice and Community Services. This can often be confusing and overwhelming for families. Our Facilitators offer comprehensive case management support to ensure everyone involved is communicating clearly, working on shared goals and families are receiving the best support possible.

Group Programming

Our staff offer group programming for students as well as parents and caregivers. This can include lunch time and after school programs, as well as full-class presentations. Some examples of past programming include: parent coffee hours, social skills groups, healthy relationships programs, and more!

Supporting School Communities

Child and Youth Care Practitioners work as part of our SchoolsPlus team. They provide in the moment support throughout schools to help students stay in classrooms and support positive spaces to engage in academic work and positive social interactions. They engage in the creation of programs for lunch time, March Break and Summer Programs offered by SchoolsPlus. 

Parents, guardians and students (12+) can self-refer to SchoolsPlus 12 months a year! Just contact the SchoolsPlus Facilitator at your school. Call 902-464-2000, ext. 2331 or email schoolsplus@hrce.ca.

Our facilitator will arrange a time to connect by phone or in person to discuss how our service maybe able to offer support.

Click here for the contact information for the SchoolsPlus Facilitator in your school community.

Our SchoolsPlus Community Outreach workers help connect families to resources in the community to meet a wide variety of needs. This includes tutoring supports, recreation and organizations connected with food security.

  • Calling 211 is great way to access resources for services and supports across Nova Scotia. Click here to learn more.

MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning 
902-469-2851
info@macpheecentre.ca 

Empowers youth between the ages of 12-19 by connecting passion with purpose through the arts. By bridging the learning gap in those who are disengaged from traditional education, or with barriers to accessing creative learning, MCCL helps in the development of confidence, lifelong learning skills, an appreciation for the value in giving back to the community and increased potential for employment in our communities 

Phoenix Youth Programs 
902-422-3105 
phoenix@phoenixyouth.ca

16 locations (and counting!) across Kjipuktuk (Halifax) provide a continuum of care for youth ages 11-24 and their families. We offer important services and programs including shelter, food, housing support, health care, parenting support, recreation, education, and employment services, and clinical therapy. 

Anchor Youth Space

Anchor is a welcoming, low-barrier space designed to support the health and wellbeing of youth and their caregivers in the North End of Halifax. No appointments needed. No fees. Just a space built for you — open evenings and weekends. 

SchoolsPlus Mental Health Clinicians provide counselling in schools, for students in grades 7 to 12. Students and parents self-refer by calling IWK Central Referral at 902-464-4110.

  • For information about Mental Health Central Referral For Adults in HRM, click here.
  • For information about Mental Health Services for Children and Youth in HRM offered by the IWK, click here.
  • To reach the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line, call 1-888-429-8167.
  • To reach Kids Help Phone, call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
  • For general health inquiries, reach Community Health Teams here.

Laing House  
(902) 425-9018 
http://www.lainghouse.org 

Laing House is a peer-support organization for youth with mental illness. Laing House youth are between the ages of 16 and 30 and have a diagnosis of mood disorder, psychosis, and/or anxiety disorder. It is a youth-driven, community-based organization where young people who are living with mental illness can get the support, they need to rebuild their lives and make new connections.

  • The Nova Scotia Homework Hub - From Sunday to Thursday evenings, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Students use their GNSPES credentials to sign in, and can access a tutor as needed. This is a free service. 
  • The Halifax Helpers - Free online tutoring program. Registration is required, and scheduling a tutoring time ahead of time is also required. Tutors availability are posted online each Sunday.
  • African Nova Scotian Student Tutoring - Offered for grades 6-12 through Dalhousie IMHOTEP 

  • Nova Scotia Brotherhood - Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative is a free program for Black men to access health care in the community to improve overall health and wellbeing. A team of health care professionals provide culturally-appropriate primary medical care plus health and wellness services for men of African descent across Halifax Regional Municipality. Located within the North Grove.
  • Nurturing Strong African Nova Scotian Families - The Nurturing Strong African Nova Scotian Families parenting program is based on the belief that the family and the community have a shared responsibility to care for and protect their children which is best captured in the African proverb, ”It takes a village to raise a child.” it also focuses on cultural pride reinforcement (CPR) which includes teaching and modelling for children how to feel good about themselves and their cultural heritage
  • African Nova Scotia Service – IWK Mental Health and Addictions Services - The IWK African Nova Scotian Service (ANSS) treats African Nova Scotian children, youth, and their families up until the youth's 19th birthday. The service is designed to assist with meeting the needs of historical African Nova Scotian families who have been underrepresented within traditional Mental Health and Addiction services. Our goal is to provide culturally relevant responsive care for African Nova Scotian children and youth within a family-focused context to increase meaningful engagement in services. Call 1-855-922-1122. 

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre

non-profit, community-driven organization that provides culturally appropriate services and supports for Indigenous people living in urban areas. We are a safe, welcoming place for all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people and their families. 

prideHealth
902-487-0470 
prideHealth@nshealth.ca

prideHealth, part of NS Health, works to improve access to safe, coordinated, comprehensive primary health care for people who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. prideHealth provides the following services for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community: 

  • Information and navigation support for gender affirming primary care providers
  • Information about sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) testing and treatment services
  • Information about community resources such as peer support, advocacy, and social groups  

The Youth Project
902-429-5429

Dedicated to providing support and services to youth, 25 and under, around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. They provide a variety of programs and services including support groups, referrals, supportive counselling, a resource library, educational workshops, social activities, and a food bank.

  • HRCE's Newcomer Welcome Centre - Let us support you in registering for school.
  • Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia - ISANS is a non-profit organization that provides settlement and integration services to immigrants who are in or are destined for communities across Nova Scotia. 
  • YMCA Immigrant Services - The YMCA provides newcomer children, youth, and their families with a variety of programs and outreach services. Our approach is to deliver community-based support that is inclusive and welcoming. They provide services for students at several partner schools. The YMCA Centre for Immigrant Programs helps newcomers to Canada settle into their new communities while also supporting the community in understanding the issues and barriers they face.
  • Halifax Refuge Clinic - Provides legal representation and settlement support for those claiming refugee status in Nova Scotia.  

  • Parents & Children Together - Parents and Children Together (PACT) is a family resource centre that offers programming, workshops, and activities to contribute to the wellbeing of families.
  • Family SOS - Family SOS is a local, non-profit, child-centered organization directed toward building strong and healthy families. As an inclusive family support agency, Family SOS offers FREE comprehensive programs that will benefit all family members. 
  • Parenting Journey | Nova Scotia Department of Community Services - Parenting Journey is a home visitation program that provides support for families experiencing complex social, emotional, and familial challenges that may impact overall family functioning, parent-child relationships, and the well-being and development of children and youth.
  • Strongest Families Institute - Strongest Families Institute (SFI) offers a range of programs to support parents, children and youth with mental health and behavioural concerns. Coaches to deliver evidence-based mental health programs (in both English and French). All our Programs are co-designed with youth and adults with lived experience.  

  • KidSport Nova Scotia - KidSport provide grants to help cover the costs of registration fees so that all kids aged 18 and under in Halifax Regional Municipality can play a season of sport.
  • Affordable Access Program - Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to get 50 to 100% off Halifax Recreation programs at all Halifax Recreation Facilities.
  • Jumpstart - Jumpstart grants fund allow youth ages 4-18 to participate in sport/physical activity they may not be able to otherwise. Programs should last at least five weeks, one or more times per week.