Social Paediatrics in Saskatoon in Association with St. Mary's

Psychology
Dr. Myrna Willick began providing psychological counseling, therapy, and
behavioural consultation services in association with the St. Mary's Pediatric Clinic in
November of 2008. She began on a part-time basis and expanded her hours to
approximately 3 days per week, beginning in September 2009. It has been necessary for
Dr. Willick's services to be funded by external/private sources; at this time, Dr. Willick
has two billing sources, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) via the Non-
Insured Health Benefits Crisis Counselling Services; and the Ministry of Social Services
(M.S.S.) for foster children who are referred to her by the paediatricians. Currently Dr.
Willick is accepting referrals primarily from the paediatricians with the clinic, school
administration, and school social workers and counselors within both school systems.
The goal of Dr. Willick's service with the Paediatric Wellness Program is to
provide clinical psychology services to disadvantaged children/youth and their families,
particularly those children and youth who have not connected well with other existing
mental health services for a variety of reasons (e.g., family circumstances making it
difficult to access services; distrust of the provincial mental health system as a result of
the history of institutional racism experienced by Aboriginal people; poor fit between
services offered and family's comfort level with seeking mental health support).
St. Mary's Paediatric Clinic
© Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division 2011 28