There’s nothing simple about parenting, but getting help in Manitoba can be.
Strongest Families Institute provides free, evidence-based mental-health and wellness support for families across Manitoba.
Get one-on-one or group coaching for you and your family, at your pace and on your schedule.
WHO DO WE HELP?
Kids, Teens, Adults, and Families.
There’s no waitlist, no judgement, and we have an over 85% success rate. Hope is here when you’re ready to talk.
Self-refer or learn more about our programs below.
Our Programs in Manitoba
All programs are free to the client (you and your family), evidence-based, and have no waitlists.
Category: Programs for Children and Youth
Challenge: Overcoming Childhood Behaviour Problems
Program: Parents Empowering Kids
Ideal For: Families with children 3-12 years old
Learn how to manage challenging behaviours and situations such as temper outbursts, not listening, verbal and physical aggression, and difficulties paying attention.
Free to the client, and available in English and French as well as the choice of one-on-one coaching or group-based with other parents dealing with similar challenges.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Program: Parents Empowering Neurodivergent Kids
Ideal For: Families with children 3-14 years old with a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis
Learn strategies to help with behaviour and communication challenges you’re experiencing. We customize and adapt strategies to meet our families where they are. Your coach will work with you to build a plan, learn new approaches, and practice them consistently. You’ll build routines, comfort, and better communication.
Free to the client, and available in English and French as well as the choice of one-on-one coaching or group-based with other parents dealing with similar challenges.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Program: Dry Nights Ahead Program
Ideal For: Families with children 5–12 years old
If your child wets the bed at least 2 times a week with no known underlying medical cause, then this program is designed to help.
Overcome nighttime bedwetting with the use of a urine alarm, reward system, and weekly telephone support from a Coach.
This program, including the urine alarm, is free of charge. Available in English and French, as well as the choice of one-on-one coaching or group-based with other parents dealing with similar challenges.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Category: Programs for Children and Youth
Challenge: Anxiety
Program: Child Anxiety
Ideal For: Families with children 6–11 years old
Caregivers and children learn relaxation skills and how to face worry in real life, like difficulties separating from loved ones, worry about performance, and specific fears. In this program, your child will explore what anxiety is, practice techniques to help ease anxiety, and use their imagination and learn how to take control of anxiety by creating a plan to defeat worry.
Free to the client, and available in English and French as well as the choice of one-on-one coaching or group-based with other parents dealing with similar challenges.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Program: Defeat Anxiety Program
Ideal For: Youth 12–17 years old
12–17-year-olds learn skills to overcome, control, and gradually face their anxiety. They are guided, by their personal Coach, to overcome anxiety surrounding school, social situations, peer acceptance, applying to university or jobs, going to job interviews, getting a driver’s license, and many other common challenges they face.
Free to the client, and available in English and French.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Category: Programs for Adults (Ages 18+)
Challenges: Anxiety, Stress, and Depression
Program: ICAN Program
(I can Conquer Anxiety and Nervousness)
Ideal For: Adults 18+ with anxiety
The ICAN program helps adults manage anxiety, depression, and the stress that comes with life’s challenges. You’ll learn practical skills for managing emotions, problem-solving, building healthy lifestyle habits, and coping with difficult situations.
You can also access additional information and resources on topics such as budgeting, pain management, and more, tailored to your needs.
The program includes weekly telephone support through one-on-one coaching or a group with other adults facing similar challenges.
Free to the client, and available in English and French.
Learn more about this program and sign up
Category: Military, Veterans, Active RCMP & Their Families
Ideal For: For families with military members or veterans
All our programs are available for active Canadian Military, Veterans, and their families from Coast to Coast to Coast, as well as active RCMP.
You are strong, resourceful, and like all families, need support for mental health issues impacting family functioning and well-being.
All our programs are co-created with people who have lived experience so that you can feel comfortable knowing that our Coaches are trained on military and Veteran-specific experiences.
All programs are free of charge to the client and available in English and French.
Learn more about our Military supports
About Strongest Families Institute
We Focus on What Works
Strongest Families Institute (SFI) is grounded in over 25 years of social science research. Our 100% FREE mental health services are available for children/youth, adults, and their families in both English and French.
How can you access our programs, free of charge?
You can self-refer via this form in Manitoba, or get a referral from a healthcare partner.
What happens after you refer yourself?
You’ll talk to one of our Client Care Support team members who will explain the range of support we offer and help you decide on a schedule and style of coaching. You might choose one-on-one support with you and your family, or group coaching with families experiencing similar challenges.
We offer stepped care, which means you get the support you need when you need it, and how much you need of it, instead of a rigid routine that doesn’t fit into your daily life.
Our support is also evidence-based, which means it is grounded in decades of research on what actually works for families like yours.
That’s why families who have been through our programs told us:
“My kiddo seemed to really take to the accountability aspect of the program.”
“The program materials were clear, practical, and genuinely useful, making each step easy to follow and apply.”
“I really appreciated the gentle accountability that kept me on track and practicing skills.”
“The encouragement and mentorship I received from my coach helped me believe in my potential and overcome my self-doubt.”