Connect Youth Inc To assist support and refer

Connect Youth Inc. To assist, support and refer young people in need. To advocate for youth in partnership with our communities

Who are we: Connect Youth Inc. formed first as a Community Mobilization Program in late 2001 after the suicide of a teenage youth from the South Grenville Area. Shortly thereafter a board of directors was formed and grants were applied for- the first being a Crime Prevention Grant which allowed for the hiring of our first employee.

How it works • Youth between the ages of 14 -21 are referred to Connect Youth for a variety of reasons, by a variety of resources including self referral and referral by friends • Crisis takes many faces to youth from abuse to substance use to suicide to not having eaten for a day.

Who are they and Where do they come from • Areas the youth come from are tracked by where they are ‘in the moment’ not necessarily where their family home is. • Augusta- 17 (18%) • Edwardsburgh-Cardinal- 22 (24%) • Prescott- 47(50%) • other- 7 (8%)

• Females- 66 Males- 27 Total- 93 • Various reasons Youth are referred

• The majority of our Clients are 16 -18 years old

• The youth aged 16 -18 are a unique culture of their own. • They are too old most often for Family and Child Services. • They are too young to qualify for social assistance without a guarantor or trustee • Often they just want to have boundaries, rules and expectations. . . they want parents

• Connect Youth has implemented a Basic Life Skills program which is just an expansion of what the employees were already doing. • Youth can come to non-judgemental, safe environments in a variety of locations to access service • The employees react and advocate for the individual needs the youth bring forward

• Service is provided in 3 main locations: • SGDHS- there is a ‘drop in’ program, food, computers, office and board room for use by the youth • Students must sign in each time they enter the room and if they are in a class the teacher is notified. • Students have access to one on one service at this location

• Food Bank • Our location at the food bank in Prescott was renovated for our use in the Fall of 2010 • Additions of a washer/dryer, shower, small appliances and kitchen sink were added to the location • Our life skills programming runs out of here

• TR Leger- Alternative School in Prescott • Our Life Skills worker has created a wonderful relationship with the school • They are running workshops together focussing on everyday issues: stress, relaxation, cooking, budgeting, job applications, clothing etc. • Those who cannot attend at either school make use of the Food Bank for all services

• Other important programming: • Connect Youth Closet- donations of clothing and planned clothing exchanges. This program is becoming a youth led initiative- over 1000 items of clothing have been exchanged since Sept. 2010 • Bats Fitness- They have provided us with 6 ‘blank’ memberships which allows the workers to take different groups to the gym every day. Great for self esteem, stress relief and healthy living lessons.

• Annual Youth Fair- held in May- Agencies and Services are invited to SGDHS for a day involving the entire student bodyfamiliarizing them with what is available to them. • Prescott Golf Tournament- 1 st annual was held to benefit Connect Youth last year. • Day of Silence- in recognition of youth sexual orientations

Snack Cupboard- in partnership with the food bank; a variety of non-perishable foods are donated to both operating locations for the Clients Employment readiness seminarsconducted in conjunction with Employment counseling services and the Education and Employment Centre

• Eating Disorder Panel • Partners – Girls Inc. , South Grenville District High School, Child and Youth Wellness Centre, Doctor, Canadian Mental Health, St. Lawrence College Student, Connect Youth

Where does our funding come from? • • • Trillium United Way of Leeds and Grenville Homelessness Partnership Strategy Trans. Canada Pipelines Municipalities Criminal Court Community Fund Clergy Private Donations Prescott Golf Tournament Fundraising In-Kind donations and expertise

• • • What is next. . 6 recommendations- explain feasibility study Homelessness Task Force Transitional Home for youth Continuing Connect Youth as is Partnership building Community Collaboration Strengthening sustainability Transportation

Success stories. . “Young people need models, not critics” John Wooden