Tweens in Control
For kids aged 11-12 who have a loved one with a mental illness or substance use disorder.
What to expect
The Tweens in Control (TwIC) program is a new program for kids aged 11-12. TwIC features curriculum and activities that are a hybrid of the KIC and TIC courses to bridge the gap for youth who may be too mature for the KIC program but not yet ready for the course for teens. TwIC is currently offered as an eight-week online group. Each session is approximately 1.5 hours long and happens once per week.
Program goals
- Connect with others in similar situations.
- Gain a better understanding of mental illness and their loved ones.
- Bust stigma and dispel misinformation.
- Provide ways to deal with anxiety and stress.
- Develop healthy coping strategies and resilience.
- Encourage self-care and boundary-setting
Sign up
Refer a child, youth, or teen to BCSS Youth support groups today. Youth 14+ can self-refer.
Frequently asked questions
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Tweens in Control mixes aspects of both Kids in Control and Teens in Control. KIC programming includes kids from 8 to 12 years old, and this includes a lot of different developmental stages and experiences. What an eight-year-old may need can be quite different from what a twelve-year-old might need. Tweens in Control aims to bridge this gap.
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We don’t have a specific ratio of how many youths’ loved ones have a mental illness versus substance use disorder, in part because a loved one does not need a diagnosis for the child to attend. Many participants’ loved ones have dual diagnoses.
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We get referrals from the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, counsellors, social workers, teachers, parents, and youth directly (ages 14+).
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Participants of BCSS Youth programs are children and youth who have a loved one with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Participants must be between 8-18 years old and live in BC. We do not offer programs specifically for youth and children experiencing mental illness themselves.
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Children and youth can be referred to the program from a variety of sources, including healthcare professionals, community agencies, social workers, teachers, counsellors, and family members/caregivers. Youth 14+ may self-refer. You can find a printable version of our referral form HERE.
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