About Us

The PACE Program provides a range of early intervention as well as treatment services to young children and their families, where there may be ongoing concerns about the child’s emotional well-being and/or challenging behaviours.

This continuum of services ranges from support within neighbourhood childcare settings, to more intensive services for children and families who have experienced significant distressing events in their life. PACE believes in providing a “wrap-around” service to families, working in partnership with parents, caregivers and other professionals.

The PACE Program, operated by the PACE Child & Family Society, has been a resource for children, families and the community since 1984. 

The agency is primarily funded by the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD).

Many of the services are accredited by CARF.

To see PACE Mandates, Missions and Values click here.

To see an overview of all PACE Programs with descriptions click here.  To get more detailed information about each program please refer to the program’s section of the website.

Acknowledging that we live, work and play on the traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples – sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

We believe that attachment is the cornerstone of emotional well-being and resilience. We seek to nurture and support this throughout our services by creating a space of trust and safety, where children and families experience connection – a foundation from which they can learn, develop and blossom.

We work to recognize and honour each child’s environment, including history and culture.  By working collaboratively with parents, caregivers and/or professionals, we strive to develop increased capacity and resilience now, and in their future.

We work together to support children and families with upcoming changes so they can feel safe and connected.  Creating a space for the range of feelings that everyone can experience with changes that can occur in life, can help children and adults strengthen their ability to cope with future changes / life events.

We believe strongly that in working together, and by sharing information and resources, where each person’s wisdom is acknowledged and respected, the support provided is richer, more integrated and more meaningful.

We strive to be flexible and responsive to client and community needs; and to provide confidential, accountable and client directed service delivery.

We believe in supporting families to connect to those important in their lives and to broaden their natural resources. We believe that a strong family unit ultimately minimizes the need for professional supports.

PACE services are based on a systems model in supporting families. This systemic model sees the child as being a part of a family system which is in turn, part of a wider system. What happens in one part of a system may effect other parts of it.

We believe strongly in collaboration as the most effective way to support children and families.

We work in close partnership with the Indigenous Community and Indigenous Services. PACE contracts with Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society (VACFSS) to provide support to Indigenous children, and partners with Vancouver Native Health Society and the Aboriginal Head Start Programs.

PACE also works collaboratively and in partnership with:

• Alan Cashmore Centre – part of Vancouver Coastal Health
• Ayas Men Men Child & Family Services
• Centre for Ability
• Coastal Health – including Child Care Licensing
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver
• Metis Family Services
• Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD)
• Richmond Supported Child Development Program
• Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society
• Vancouver School Board
• Vancouver Supported Child Development Program
• Westcoast Family Resources Society

Board of Directors – 2024-2025

The PACE Board of Directors bring a wealth of skills, resources and wisdom to the agency. Many are long time members and we greatly appreciate their dedication and time.

• Heather Whiteford – Co-Chair
• Helen Francis – Co-Chair
• Eric Wilson – Treasurer
• Yong-Jae Kim – Member at large
• Ian Macnaughton – Member at large
• Deborah Nelson – Member at large
• Terry Sumner – Member at large
• Miriam Webber – Member at large
• Dr. Sandra Witherspoon – Member at large
• Olivia Phua – Member at large

Consultants

Dr. Manfred Kuchenmuller – Manfred is one of the consultants to the program who brings a wealth of expertise and wisdom. He has been involved with PACE since the program began in 1984. Manfred has his Ed.D. in Clinical & Counselling Psychology as well as being a Registered Supervisor of Counsellors and Therapists.

Dr. Sarina Kot –  Dr. Kot has provided Clinical Superision to the PACE Child Therapy Services since 2018.  She is a registered psychologist and a register play therapy supervisor.  Dr. Kot is also affiliated with BC Children’s Hospital.

Staff

• PACE clinical consulting team all have doctorate degrees in counselling, education, or social work.
• PACE therapists all have post graduate training.
• PACE Child & Family Workers have a range of qualifications including Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Child & Youth Care, Special Education, Play and Art Therapy, and Family Therapy.
• PACE team is supported through regular clinical supervision by therapists who are recognized experts in the field.

Management Team

• Executive Director – Michèle Aderem
• Financial Director – Sharon Hamer
• Program & Office  Manager – Brayden Fald
• Family Program Team Leader – Amy Ives
• Family Program Service Coordinator, Training and Consultation – Deborah Mollica
• Clinical Consultant – Dr. Manfred Kuchenmuller

The PACE services accredited with CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) are:

• Outreach Support Services
• The Family Program
• The Supporting Healthy Transitions Program

CARF sets out a series of standards and requirements to ensure that organizations are providing services that are accountable, consistent and that are providing quality service to the persons and community they serve. The agencies who become accredited have shown that they have met the defined requirements.

The Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) is working with many publicly funded agencies to become accredited. For more information, please see the MCFD website or visit CARF Canada’s website.

Confidentiality of Your Child & Family

We recognize the importance of confidentiality and have a number of policies and procedures to ensure your personal information is protected and maintained.
All personal information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

The agency follows the requirements to keep personal information confidential as outlined in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Further information on privacy and individual rights in regard to personal information may be found on the website of the Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC

Your Satisfaction and Feedback

PACE staff check in with clients regularly to ensure service delivery is meeting defined hopes and needs. This helps us work together towards achieving meaningful goals for each child and family.

We connect with other professionals and supports involved, whether directly or indirectly, and invite feedback throughout the service period to help us improve.

We greatly appreciate your insight and feedback so we can better meet children and families needs. You are not required to answer the questions if you do not want to.

Satisfaction Survey:  

Download here:  PACE – Satisfaction Survey (pdf)

or complete online: Click HERE

If you have any complaints or concerns about service provided, click here.

Each year our Board of Director’s meet to review our agencies performance and achievements. The following reports were shared at the Annual General meeting held in September.

PACE AGM Reports – Click Here