Self-help/mutual-aid clearinghouses and groups in Canada: recent developments.

Abstract

This paper reports on recent developments in the self-help movement in Canada based on the findings of a country-wide survey of self-help clearinghouses and interviews with key informants. Among the outcomes of this survey are an estimate of the number of self-help groups in various communities in Canada as well as a presentation of current trends in the growth of these entities. The author also explores recent fiscal and policy trends in the Canadian context and discusses their impact on the development of self-help groups and clearinghouses in the country.