FamilySmart

What FamilySmart does

FamilySmart is a Canadian non-profit registered charity (legal name: National Institute of Families Foundation for Child & Youth Mental Health, BN821215860RR0001) that delivers free peer-support services to parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 4–18+) facing mental health and/or substance-use challenges. Headquartered in Langley, British Columbia, the organization operates province-wide through a network of regional Family Peer Support Workers — parents/caregivers with lived experience who are embedded in communities across BC and, via a partnership with CASA Mental Health, in Edmonton, Alberta. Services are free, confidential, and offered without a waitlist or referral requirement; supplemental offerings include the 'Help for the Hard Times' online workshop series for families after a mental health crisis, monthly 'In the Know' online events, an Open House for Professionals channel, and an annual National Child & Youth Mental Health Day awareness initiative on May 7th. The model rests on culturally responsive, multilingual peer support delivered in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, Punjabi, and Hindi, alongside a downloadable Video Resource Library and printable resources (e.g., the Say Don't Say conversation cards).

Underlying delivery is human-intensive rather than technology-intensive: the organization explicitly does not develop proprietary technology products, and instead distributes educational resources, video content, and workshop materials to supplement its peer-support workforce. Distribution is hybrid — in-person community-embedded workers (including inside BC's Integrated Child & Youth Teams, Fraser Health ER/psychiatric units, and Surrey Hospital's Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit), plus Zoom-delivered online workshops and events, plus province-wide phone/virtual access through a partnership with the BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre. No mobile app, public API, or AI/ML capabilities are offered; the digital surface is a content marketing website (familysmart.ca) plus social channels.

The revenue model is a multi-source government and philanthropic funding stack rather than commercial pricing: FamilySmart receives recurring appropriations from five named BC public-sector funders (Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, Fraser Health, Island Health), supplemented by individual donations (monthly, one-time, bequests, stock) and foundation partnerships (family, private, corporate, community foundations). All services are provided free of charge; go-to-market is community-led, combining direct family outreach, professional referrals, community partnerships, digital content, and an annual awareness campaign. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

FamilySmart

Legal name

National Institute of Families Foundation for Child & Youth Mental Health

Website

https://familysmart.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FamilySmart is a Canadian non-profit that delivers free, lived-experience peer support to parents and caregivers of children and youth with mental health and/or substance-use challenges across British Columbia and, via CASA, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family and Youth Mental Health Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Family peer support
• Child youth mental health
• Caregiver support services
• Mental health navigation
• Nonprofit mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: FamilySmart receives funding from government sources including the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development, British Columbia Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, Fraser Health, and Island Health. This government funding supports the core operations and service delivery.
2. Individual Donations: FamilySmart accepts individual donations from the public. The organization offers monthly giving programs, one-time donations, bequests/wills, and stock donations as giving options for supporters.
3. Foundation Partnerships: FamilySmart partners with foundations to actively support child and youth mental health programs. The organization collaborates with both large and small foundations including family, private, corporate, and community foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FamilySmart provides free peer support, practical resources, and system navigation to parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 4-18+) with mental health and/or substance use challenges. Core offerings include Family Peer Support delivered by trained workers with lived experience across BC and Alberta, the Help for the Hard Times online workshop series for families after a mental health crisis, monthly online and in-person events, and a video and printable resource library on topics such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, eating disorders, and substance use.

Product overview

FamilySmart is a non-profit organization offering a suite of free support services for parents and caregivers of children and youth with mental health and/or substance use challenges. The core offerings include Family Peer Support (emotional and practical support from trained peer workers with lived experience), the Help for the Hard Times Workshop Series (online workshops for families after a mental health crisis), and monthly In the Know events featuring video presentations and facilitated discussions. Supporting these core services is a Video Resource Library with educational content on topics like anxiety, ADHD, substance use, and depression, along with Printable Resources including the Say Don't Say conversation cards available in English and Punjabi. The organization also runs May 7th, National Child & Youth Mental Health Day, as an awareness initiative, and offers Open House sessions for professionals to learn how to connect families with services. All offerings are free and accessible across British Columbia and parts of Alberta.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Peer Support Free, confidential emotional support, practical resources, and mental health system navigation delivered by trained Family Peer Support Workers with lived experience. Available across BC and Alberta for families at any stage of their child or youth's mental health journey. No waitlist and no referral required for BC families.
• Help for the Hard Times Workshop Series Free online workshop series (three sessions) for parents and caregivers coping with the aftermath of a child's mental health crisis (ER visit or hospitalization). Covers safety planning, self-care, and finding resources. Offered three times monthly in BC via Zoom with registration required.
• Monthly In the Know Events Free monthly online and in-person events where parents and caregivers watch a short video on a mental health topic and connect with other parents and facilitated Family Peer Support Workers. Available to families across BC and CASA families in Alberta.
• Video Resource Library Free library of educational videos created for families covering topics including anxiety, ADHD, substance use, depression, eating disorders, OCD, school challenges, and relationship building with children.
• Printable Resources Downloadable resources including conversation cards (Say, Don't Say cards), guides, and handouts to help parents and caregivers support their children's mental health. Available in multiple languages including Punjabi.
• Open House for Professionals Information sessions for healthcare providers, educators, and service providers to learn about FamilySmart's Help for the Hard Times workshop and how to connect families to FamilySmart support services.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling province-wide phone and virtual peer support access for all BC families through Kelty Centre staff. FamilySmart Family Peer Support Workers at the Kelty Centre provide support from anywhere in BC.
• CASA Mental Health (Edmonton)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Family Peer Support services for CASA families in Edmonton, Alberta. FamilySmart offers peer support to families whether waiting for services, accessing services, or transitioned out of services.
• Integrated Child & Youth (ICY) Teams - BC GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamilySmart Family Peer Support Workers are embedded within BC's Integrated Child & Youth (ICY) Teams across multiple communities. ICY Teams are a BC government initiative supporting children and youth mental health.
• Surrey Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelp for the Hard Times workshop was created by parents with lived experience who work on the integrated team at Surrey Hospital's Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit.
• BC School Counsellors AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for National Child & Youth Mental Health Day (May 7) online event. BC School Counsellors Association Vice President served as speaker for the event.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre (BC Children's Hospital): FamilySmart's core province-wide delivery partner, embedded within BC Children's Hospital. Kelty provides family peer support, resources, and navigation for child and youth mental health in BC — overlapping mission, target families, and even staffing, making it the closest comparable.
• CASA Mental Health: FamilySmart's Alberta delivery partner in Edmonton, providing mental health services for children and families. CASA delivers clinical and family-based supports and is the structural counterparty for FamilySmart's Alberta peer-support expansion.
• Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH): National family-led organization supporting parents of children with mental health challenges through peer support, advocacy, and resources. Closely comparable in mission, lived-experience model, and free service delivery, with comparable Ontario-based national scope.

Broad incumbents

• Foundry (BC): BC-wide integrated youth wellness network offering mental health, substance use, primary care, and peer support for young people aged 12–24. Overlaps with FamilySmart on youth mental health and family/caregiver support but operates as a broader integrated-care incumbent.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - BC Division: Large national/BC-wide mental health non-profit providing education, peer support, and system navigation across all age groups. Comparable as a family-supportive, peer-support-driven non-profit with multi-source government funding, though it serves a broader population.
• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide 24/7 e-mental-health service for youth offering phone, text, and live chat support. Comparable as a free, broadly funded mental-health support service for young people in Canada, though it targets youth directly rather than parents/caregivers.

Emerging players

• Jack.org: Canadian non-profit focused on youth mental health education, advocacy, and peer-to-peer support networks. Comparable as a peer-driven mental-health non-profit targeting Canadian youth and families, with comparable government/foundation funding mix.
• Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychologists - Psychology Foundation of Canada: National non-profit delivering evidence-based programs and resources that support children's mental health and well-being through parents and educators. Comparable as a Canada-wide family/parent-facing mental health education and resource provider.
• mindyourmind: Ontario-based non-profit creating engaging mental health resources and programs for youth and young adults. Comparable as a digital mental-health resource provider serving young people and families across Canada.

Regional players

• Children's Mental Health Ontario: Provincial association representing Ontario's child and youth mental health service providers. Comparable as a child/youth mental health advocacy and resource hub, though regionally focused on Ontario rather than BC/Alberta.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FamilySmartCA
• Instagraminstagram.com/familysmartca
• Xx.com/familysmartcda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FamilySmart