At-risk Youth Will Benefit From Services in Yarmouth Area
At-risk youth in the Yarmouth area will soon have more support to find housing, stay in school, find jobs, get involved in the community and get help with family problems.
Community Services has reached a new agreement with the non-profit group Split Rock Learning Centre to provide additional youth outreach services in the area.
"We want to be able to reach out to more youth," said Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse. "It has always been important to us to be able to provide comprehensive services for vulnerable youth to prevent homelessness."
Research shows at-risk youth need help connecting with transitional housing, treatment services, education, volunteer and job opportunities. Emergency services alone are not enough to decrease homelessness, which is why Community Service is working with a partner that provides access to a wide variety of services.
"We are committed to helping young people who are at-risk all across the province," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "We have found a partner for the Yarmouth region to embrace a way of providing services that is progressive and consistent with the rest of the province. Split Rock has experience and networks of support in the local community."
In addition to a wide variety of services, in emergency cases Split Rock can arrange for temporary overnight accommodations through a number of supports in the community, including approved homes.
The department is providing $61,400 for the outreach worker program.
"Split Rock is pleased to have been selected for the new youth worker position," said Joe Paquette, board chairperson of Split Rock. "The mandate fits perfectly with the work that people are doing in Split Rock and the Yarmouth Homelessness Project.
"It is our hope that this renewed focus, our new youth worker and the spirit of the people of the area will enable Split Rock and this community to assist all of our youth in navigating their way to a full life."
Tanya Bain, executive director of Tri-County Restorative Justice, said the benefits extend beyond youth.
"It is also very beneficial for our community partners to work together more effectively." said Ms. Bain. "Involving an outreach worker at an early stage can ultimately help prevent youth from a negative downhill spiral. Collaborating on our resources will benefit our community as a whole."
"Young people have a variety of needs and this will focus existing community resources to support them in making better decisions and achieving their potential," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "We are making life better for families by adding to the continuum of services that are already available."