Due to Covid-19 the Fraser River Indigenous Society offices open with appointments. We are modifying our programs during these times
FRASER RIVER
INDIGENOUS SOCIETY
family strengthening program
BUILDING STRONGER CONNECTIONS
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The Family Strengthening Program is a short-term intervention program. The service start date commences on the day of the foundation meeting.
The program is open to Indigenous families whose members reside in the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows area and are delivered in community or in a family home setting.
In-home support is utilized where risk is higher, or where barriers prevent the individual or family from participating in other programs.
FRIS employs 2 Family Strengthening workers that will be providing outreach services to families.
Family Strengthening Workers
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Stephen Schumacher
CHAR
Carruthers
Family Strengthening Worker
He has completed his Family Community Counselling Diploma at the Native Education College, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree with the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) and continued with a Certificate with the Chemical Addictions program (CHAD) at NVIT.
In his career, he had worked as an ABI (Acquired Brian Injury) Community Support Worker, Mental Health Transition Worker, and Temporary Housing Program Coordinator/Housing Outreach Worker.    
Some of his hobbies includes, chess, playing tennis, bike riding, and walking.   
Family Strengthening Worker
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Char was raised first at the Burin Peninsula Newfoundland and then in Innisfail Alberta. Char visited Vancouver when she was 16 and decided at that time that once she could, she would live on the West Coast and that dream came true when she turned 21, Char came out to visit friends, returned home and in 3 days packed up her Chevy Sprint with her schoolbooks, all her clothes and her cat.
Char completed her BA in Child Psychology at UBC followed with her BA in Child and Youth Care from UFV and is currently completing her MA for Counselling Psychology. Char worked in the non-profit world in her early years and after being a social worker in the lower mainland for 8 years has followed her heart back to non-profit.
Char comes from a very large, loud Irish family. Char resides by the beaches of White Rock and loves spending time at the water with her family and 2 beloved dogs Scout and Maverick.