Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc., kidsLINK's parent company, is a thriving, dynamic child and family service organization offering a wide range of integrated programs and services. Founded as an orphanage in 1858, today Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. is a registered charity, making an impact on social and emotional well-being by reaching out to children, youth, families, caregivers and related professionals.
Mission
It is the mission of Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc., building upon its tradition of service since 1858, to improve the lives of children and families so that they may achieve their potential and be responsible contributing members of their community.
Vision
By 2017, kidsLINK will be an international professional resource centre linking research, training and practice to improve the lives of children, youth and their families through mental wellness.
kidsLINK recognizes that:
•many children and youth globally are traumatized or at risk of developing social, emotional and mental health difficulties
•government funding, where available, cannot keep up with the level of need for specialized treatment services
•many professionals and parents can contribute effectively to young people's mental wellness
•many children are deprived of basic rights that the world, through the United Nations, has endorsed, including the right to mental wellness.
kidsLINK
•is knowledgeable and skilled in effectively addressing problems and contributing to mental wellness, as well as training professionals to do so
•has a proven track record of achieving very good service results and measuring them
•is committed to continuous learning and sharing its "intellectual capital" with others working with children and youth who are vulnerable, traumatized or disadvantaged
•sees itself as a member of a "global village" with responsibility for helping to improve the lives of children and youth so they may achieve their potential
kidsLINK is prepared, in the spirit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), to "trust and dare" to take on this ambitious vision and redefine its way of living its mission in the world.
Values
kidsLINK's key values are embodied in the 2017 Vision. Special attention will be given to three areas over the next decade:
1.We will invest in maintaining an organizational culture grounded in our values, which reflect the values and spirit of service of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
2.Our belief in the right and ability of all persons to learn, grow, change and achieve their potential for wellness and well-being, and thus contribute to their communities and a better world, is central to the 2017 vision, and will be extended through:
a) the adoption of a "rights-based" approach to serving children and youth, and
b) a visibly holistic and ecological approach to kidsLINK's service offerings and operations.
3.The belief that youth have wisdom, skills and perspectives that point most directly to the future and are of great value in inspiring and informing kidsLINK's work will be demonstrated through the involvement of people under the age of 24 years in our governance, planning and operations.
kidsLINK's strategic service vision is to be:
•mission-driven
•values-based
•results-focused
•client-oriented