CASINO FUNDS TO HELP PRINCE ALBERT CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Released on March 6, 1998

Energy and Mines Minister Eldon Lautermilch and Prince Albert Carlton

MLA Myron Kowalsky, on behalf of Municipal Government Minister Carol

Teichrob, today announced that six Prince Albert community

organizations will receive $115,775 of casino profits through the

Associated Entities Fund.



The P.A. YWCA will receive $8,100 to establish a Baby Substance

Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) support group for mothers.



The P.A. Metis Addictions Council will receive $27,300 for drug

and alcohol counselling for children and youth.



The City of Prince Albert will receive $40,075 for interagency

youth programming.



The Roman Catholic School Division No. 6 will receive $25,300 for

the Aboriginal Wisdom and Youth Elder (AWAY) program.



Catholic Family Services will receive $1,000 for parenting skills

and support programs.



The Mobile Crisis Unit will receive $14,000 for a transportation

program for low income families.



"The province established the Associated Entities Fund to distribute a

portion of casino profits for the benefit of Saskatchewan people,"

Lautermilch said.



"Since the beginning of 1997, more than $1 million in casino profits

have been distributed throughout Saskatchewan for programs that

support children, youth and families - almost $200,000 for Prince

Albert and area," Kowalsky said.



Baby SAFE is a demonstration project offering weekly group

support to pregnant women from the Child Mothers Futures program,

Pine Grove Correctional Centre and the Successful Mothers

Program. The program will support efforts by women to maintain

abstinence from addictive substances in order to prevent

life-long handicaps in their babies. The program will include

self-help groups and developing supportive social networks.



The drug and alcohol counselling program is designed to improve

the lives of children and youth through counselling, education,

early intervention and prevention through dealing with

abstinence, relapse prevention and early intervention.



The interagency youth program includes the development of youth

councils, recreation and cultural activities for vulnerable youth

and will focus on providing healthy and safe alternatives to

street life.



The AWAY program will partner the Catholic school division with

the West Flat Citizens' Group to support youth and families with

an Aboriginal Elder providing counselling and modelling for

Aboriginals students and families with the goal of increasing

retention rates in school.



The shared parenting groups will provide support for families

experiencing divorce, custody issues and dysfunction through

parallel parent and children's groups meeting family needs

through transition periods.



The transportation program will address the issue of lack of

access to needed services for low income families through a

pre-planned and participatory transportation program.



The Associated Entities Fund receives a portion of the profits

from Casino Regina, the Gold Eagle Casino, North Battleford, the

Northern Lights Casino, Prince Albert and the Painted Hand

Casino, Yorkton.



The Fund provides grants to community organizations for programs

and services that support children, youth and families.



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For more information, contact:



Sandy Cameron

Communications Branch

Saskatchewan Municipal Government

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-0531