Kids Help Phone Announces New Clinical Advisory Board Member

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Kids Help Phone, a Canadian leader in providing vital, innovative and professional counselling services to children and youth, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Cheryl Fix as its Clinical Advisory Representative, Western Canada, on the organization's national Board of Directors. Ms. Fix brings to her role 20 years' of senior experience within the child and family services sector both in Canada and in the United Kingdom, extensive board involvement, and a passionate commitment to the mental health and well-being of young people in Canada.

"The clinical knowledge that Ms. Fix brings to our Board of Directors will ensure that Kids Help Phone continues to offer the highest quality service possible, informed by the best available evidence," says Kerry Arbour, Kids Help Phone Board Chair. "We are delighted to welcome her to our clinical advisory team, where her expertise will benefit a service that is a lifeline for the *6.5 million young people in Canada."

"Ms. Fix will add significant value to our work, and we are pleased to have her joining our clinical advisory committee," says Sharon Wood, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "I know Cheryl will make an important contribution to the strategic development of our professional counselling service, and also play a key role in a number of emerging and priority areas for us. These include our work within the mental health sector, engagement with youth so they can contribute meaningfully to the direction of our organization, and our continued efforts as a national and international advocate for young people's well-being."

About Cheryl Fix
As Regional Manager of Adoption, Permanency and Transitional Planning for the Edmonton Region of Child and Family Services, Cheryl Fix is responsible for supporting the organization, its staff, and community partners in assisting more than 2000 children and youth to attain permanency, and to ensure children and youth are supported appropriately at every stage of care. She has also served in more than 20 volunteer leadership positions (for local, provincial, and international organizations) as a board member, board chair and board treasurer. She holds an undergraduate degree in criminology from Simon Fraser University, and is currently completing her Master of Science degree in social work through London South Bank University. Ms. Fix has a strong familiarity with urban, rural, Northern, and Aboriginal contexts in Canada, and has lived and worked in both British Columbia and Alberta. Her expertise also includes knowledge of youth engagement practices and multicultural contexts and challenges for children and youth.

For a complete list of Kids Help Phone's Board of Directors, please visit kidshelpphone.ca/board

About Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is a Canadian and world leader, known for our expertise in providing vital, innovative, and professional counselling services to children and youth. Since 1989 we have offered children, teens and young adults in Canada a critical lifeline of hope and support, through our free, anonymous and confidential service. Our professional counsellors support the mental health and well-being of young people ages five to 20, in urban, rural, and remote communities, by providing one-on-one counselling, information and resources online and by phone. Our internationally recognized, award-winning websites are considered a model of child-focused interactive design, and offer online counseling forums and engaging, therapeutic games, tools and information to encourage resilience and self-care. A community-based national charity, Kids Help Phone receives no core government funding and relies on community and corporate support to keep our essential service available. We're available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and in French.

* Source: represents the age group Kids Help Phone serves (from 5 to 20) according to Statistics Canada, CANSIM, table 051-0001. Last modified: 2010-09-29.

SOURCE: Kids Help Phone

David Gray
Vice President - Marketing, Communications + Strategic Development
[email protected]
416.581.8951