Series s00012 - MCC Canada Mental Health Program Series

Identity area

Reference code

US MCC s00012

Title

MCC Canada Mental Health Program Series

Date(s)

  • 1983-1992 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

.

Context area

Name of creator

(1986-1992)

Administrative history

Before the development of an MCC Canada Program concerned with Mental Health or Disabilities, MCC worked with and advocated for the well-being of people with mental and physical disabilities through its Voluntary Service program.

In 1982, the Council of Moderators and Secretaries called for MCC to recognize mental health as a legitimate agenda for MCC. In response, MCC Canada appointed a Mental Health Advisory Committee in 1985. As a result of the work of the committee, MCC Canada established the Mental Health Program in 1986. The goal of the program was to build practical support and understanding for people with mental illness within Mennonite churches and to create a network of mental health professionals within these communities.

In 1992, the Mental Health program and MCC Canada’s Handicap Concerns program amalgamated to create the Mental Health and Disabilities program within MCC Canada’s National Program Department. The new program took on the mandates of both previous programs, continuing the work of both under one new entity.

Name of creator

(1963-)

Administrative history

MCC Canada is a peace, relief, and service agency of Canadian Mennonites and Brethren in Christ. It was founded in December of 1963 through the merger of seven regional Mennonite and Brethren in Christ service organizations: the Non-Resistant Relief Organization (NRRO), the Canadian Mennonite Relief Committee (CMRC), the Canadian Mennonite Relief and Immigration Council (CMRIC), the Conference of Historic Peace Churches (CHPC), the Historic Peace Church Council of Canada (HPCCC), Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), and the MCC Binational Kitchener Office. This merger into one national inter-Mennonite body in Canada was intended to allow for more effective use of time, volunteers, and resources in conducting relief work.

Upon establishment, MCC Canada worked closely with MCC Binational (also known as MCC International); MCC Canada conducted most of its overseas relief and development work through MCC Binational, while all Canadian programs were administered by MCC Canada. MCC Canada was given a broad mandate to work in the areas of peace education, relief and development, voluntary service, immigration, government lobbying, and other areas of concern. Provincial MCC offices were also established to work alongside but independent of MCC Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, MCC Canada’s activities expanded, especially in terms of the number of national programs administered across the country. MCC Canada’s Canadian Programs Department established programs to raise awareness on peace and other social issues, to advocate on behalf of Indigenous communities, to bring reconciliation into the justice system, to assist people with disabilities, to bring attention to women’s concerns, and to provide resources for those experiencing economic hardship. In 1976, MCC Canada established a Food Bank as a means of channeling surplus grains grown by Mennonite farmers to countries around the world. In 1983, this Food Bank became the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Since 1969, MCC Canada has received matching grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) of the Canadian government to administer its many programs.

In the late 1970s, conversations began between MCC Binational and MCC Canada regarding responsibility for MCC international programs. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, some MCC international programs were transferred from MCC Binational to MCC Canada; these included the Kanadier Concerns program, USSR Mennonite program, Refugee Sponsorship program, some control over the delivery of material aid overseas, and the Ten Thousand Villages program in Canada.

Beginning in 2008, MCC began a process of consultation and discussion concerning the purpose and structure of MCC Binational, MCC Canada, and MCC U.S.; this process was called New Wine/New Wineskins. The goal was to more effectively and efficiently administer MCC’s international programming. At the conclusion of the New Wine/New Wineskin process in 2012, MCC Binational was dissolved and ceased to be an MCC entity, leaving MCC Canada and MCC U.S. to jointly administer a single MCC International Program.

MCC Canada continues to provide national programs within Canada and deliver international programs jointly with MCC U.S. The MCC Canada Canadian Programs Department offers programs that address social and economic issues in Canada and form the core of MCC Canada’s mandate. MCC Canada’s commitment to international programming continues through the Shared International Program’s material aid, peace work, and assistance in economic development.

Archival history

Since 1976, MCC Canada has regularly deposited records at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives. The records in this series were maintained in MCC Canada's central files in the Winnipeg office until transferred to the Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives in regular intervals throughout the years.

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Content and structure area

Scope and content

This series contains records created by MCC Canada’s Mental Health Program, dating from 1983 to 1992. The records within the series include records of the Mental Health Advisory Committee, program records, records relating to associated mental health associations and assemblies, publications and research material, records of programming within the provincial MCCs, committee and meeting minutes, and educational resources.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The records in this series are arranged according to volume and file numbers which usually correspond with the year of the record’s creation.

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Conditions governing access

Restrictions to materials may apply. Contact Archivist for further information.

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Note

A note for researchers: Initially, in 1963, all the work of MCC Canada was done by the MCC Canada Executive Office. In the years that followed, departments and program offices were formed, dissolved, merged, and restructured, and projects and areas of responsibility shifted within the organization. This means that multiple record series may contain relevant material detailing MCC Canada's work with specific areas, programs, and projects.
For example, if researchers wish to examine all of MCC Canada's activities regarding mental health, they should consider MCC's Mental Health Program series, Mental Health and Disabilities Program series, Executive Office series, Ottawa Office series, Voluntary Service Program series, and records of the Disabled Peoples Program (MCC International).

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Status

Draft

Level of detail

Partial

Dates of creation revision deletion

Created by Chantel Fehr, April 6, 2020.

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