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Green Shield Canada Community Impact Funds
In December 2020, the Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) and Green Shield Canada (GSC) announced a partnership aimed at increasing access to mental health care and dental care in the community. To make this happen, Green Shield Canada, via its Social Impact Program, created two GSC Community Impact Funds at FGM. One has a two-year term, and the other is an in-perpetuity fund.
Over the next two years, the funds will support, in particular, services to the community offered by McGill’s Faculty of Dentistry, which provides free or reduced-cost dental care to vulnerable individuals, at fixed locations and mobile clinics. More specifically, the GSC Community Impact Fund grant will allow for an increase in capacity at the clinics. These outlets serve individuals who are neurodevelopmentally diverse, disabled or living with chronic illness, or living in seniors’ residences.
In an effort to meet the needs of vulnerable youth with mental health issues, the GSC Community Impact Funds will also support, among other organizations, Head & Hands and Project 10.
Key organizations to support the community
Head & Hands accompanies marginalized youth, using an inclusive approach based on harm-reduction. The organization seeks to improve their physical and mental well-being through several services, notably various workshops and mental health consultations. Head &Hands’ practice is based on the principles of restorative justice, anti-oppression and sensitivity to complex trauma.
Project 10 works to “promote the personal, social, sexual and mental well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirt, intersex and questioning (2LGBTQ+) youth and adults between 14 and 25 years of age” by providing them with listening services, and a variety of free activities that are confidential and anonymous.
Through this agreement with GSC, FGM joins 11 other community foundations participating in GSC’s Social Impact Program across Canada. GSC is the fourth largest provider of health and dental insurance in Canada. It offers its services to nearly four million clients.
Thank you to Green Shield Canada for its lasting commitment to the health of Canadians across the country. Through the GSC Community Impact Funds we can make a difference.