Strongest Families Institute Offers High-Quality Programs to Military and Veteran Families

The award-winning non-profit charity, Strongest Families Institute (SFI), has leveraged its two decades of expertise to deliver high-quality mental health programs to military and veteran families across Canada in just a few short years.

The Canadian-made solution that has been co-created for people by people, including youth, is dedicated to supporting children, families, and adults dealing with challenges such as behaviour issues at home, daycare or school; anxiety, depression or stress, and night-time bedwetting.

Strongest Families also has an adult anxiety, depression and stress program (ICAN) shown to be life-changing for ages 18+. All programs are available in English and French, free to families and easy to access.

Strongest Families have telephone coaches standing by to support families, talk with families about challenges while providing valuable coping skills, and form strong bonds. People of all ages report very strong relationships with their Coach, such as ‘my coach is like a good friend – trusting, non-judgmental, kind and supportive.’

When people feel lonely or are struggling, they know they can depend on their Coach to be there for them. There is no need to be on video, so people can relax at home on the phone and just focus on hearing their Coach’s calming, supportive advice. This innovative, over-the-phone approach makes SFI an ideal solution for military or Veteran families who often face unique mental health concerns due to their lifestyle. Phone appointments are booked at convenient times, days, evenings or nights, so there is no missed time from work or school.

Military and Veteran Families Division

Their Military and Veteran Families Division is led by a proud military spouse, ensuring a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by military and Veteran families. Additionally, they collaborate with the Military Spousal Employment Network (MSEN) to create meaningful employment opportunities for military spouses.

Regardless of where families are located in Canada or what time zone they are in, SFI offers tailored solutions to meet their needs. By deeply understanding the challenges military and veteran families encounter—whether frequent relocations, deployments, or general mental health struggles—SFI has developed programs designed to provide real, lasting support.

“In this program, I have learned the skills I need to improve my life. Some of the problems I am facing are beyond the scope of this program, but the skills I have learned will help me manage those challenges as well. In my experience, the program is adaptable to most learning styles and personality types. I can’t see anything that needs improvement,” said a military member participating in the program.

Two Decades of Supporting Mental Health

Strongest Families services have been proven effective in clinical trials over the past 20 years through ongoing research at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre. Now, Strongest Families, as a charity, helps more than 10,000 families a year. The families report that the programs changed their lives.

Dr. Pottie, SFI’s co-founder, President and CEO, has led her career with a commitment to improving the lives of those who serve us – because her grandfather served, she has firsthand experience with the challenges military and Veteran families face. She continues this commitment by creating SFI’s Military and Veteran Family Department, guiding the development of the tailoring of the programs with her team so coaches are trained on military/veteran cultural competence.

“We saw a real need for tailor services for our military and Veteran families. Whether families are facing the challenges of deployment, frequent moves, reintegration after deployment or even transition from active duty, we stand by to support our families when and where they need help. Our tailored approach equips families with valuable coping skills they can use to deal with these unique challenges, strengthening family bonds even when separated.” explained Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie.

To address these challenges, SFI worked to eliminate barriers to care by partnering with Military Family Resource Centres and other military/Veteran-focused organizations to expand its program reach to better serve military and veteran families. It’s confidential and can also be accessed through a private self-referral.

Accessible and Flexible Programs

SFI’s programs are designed to be accessible to all families, regardless of location. Sessions can be scheduled in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night, and only a telephone is required to participate. “Families never have to travel or miss time from work, school or daycare to take part in the program,” noted Naomi LeBlanc, Senior Bilingual and Case Manager.

Additionally, SFI provides handbooks for children, youth, adults, and parents that are free of charge. If people want to access program materials online, SFI offers a mobile app for convenient access to program skills. Programs are led by highly trained Coaches rather than psychologists, fostering a more personal and approachable experience. Best of all, these services are provided at no cost to military and veteran families.

Programs for Children, Youth, and Adults

SFI offers a range of programs tailored to different age groups, addressing a variety of mental health concerns, based on a cognitive behavioural approach:

• Childhood Behaviour Program (ages 3-12): Helps parents manage childhood behaviour challenges, including temper outbursts, difficulty listening, and aggression.
• Child Anxiety Program (ages 6-11): Teaches children and parents about anxiety, relaxation techniques, and how to face worries in real-life situations.
• Defeat Anxiety in Youth (ages 12-17): Supports teens in overcoming and managing their anxiety through guided coaching and real-world exposure exercises.
• Dry Nights Ahead (ages 5-12): A bedwetting program that uses a urine alarm, a reward system, and weekly coaching support to help children overcome nighttime accidents.
• ICAN (18+ Adult anxiety, depression and stress): includes skills to overcome these issues but also includes valuable skills about effective problem-solving, making and balancing a budget, dealing with major life stressors and more.

Note: ages are adjusted for developmental delay. SFI has an enhanced program for parents with neurodivergent children called ‘Parents Empowering Neurodiverse Kids.’

Enrolment begins with a screening questionnaire to assess the child’s specific needs. Based on the results, families are matched with a coach at a convenient time. The full program consists of nine sessions; an express version is available in six sessions.

#EndSilentStruggles: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health

Earlier this year, SFI launched the #EndSilentStruggles campaign to support military and RCMP veterans and their families while raising awareness about mental health challenges.

“Our service members and their families show remarkable strength every day, but too often, their struggles remain unspoken. Through #EndSilentStruggles, we’re opening the door to connection, sharing journeys, and offering support without fear of judgment,” said LeBlanc.

The campaign includes social media initiatives, mental health resources, and community engagement to foster open conversations around mental well-being.

How to Connect with SFI

Military and veteran families can sign up for SFI programs offered in English or French without a referral by visiting their website or calling directly.

“We encourage anyone interested to take that first step and give us a call. We’re here to listen and answer any questions. There’s no stigma—nobody sees you, nobody judges you. We just want to help,” emphasized LeBlanc.

About SFI

For more information, visit Strongest Families Institute website or call toll-free at 1-866-470-7111. Families can also email inquiries to [email protected].

To get registered quickly, call us at 1-800-470-7111, and our care team will be happy to help you! We have no wait.

Strongest Families Institute relies on community support to continue providing life-changing mental health services to military and Veteran families. Your donation helps remove barriers to care, ensuring people get the support they need, when they need it. To support our mission, consider making a donation today.