The Youth Services Program provides case management/service coordination and support services to:

• assist homeless/high-risk youth to address personal barriers to becoming independent; and/or
• support sexually exploited youth to reduce their involvement in sexual exploitation related activities.

Eligible youth must be at least 16 and under 19 years of age; or under 16 years of age and married (but not living with the spouse) or a parent or expectant mother. Youth must be 'homeless' and not attending school or work or therapy (and prepared to develop a plan to address those issues). Youth must also have difficulties related to two of the following factors: addiction or severe substance misuse, significant behavioral or mental health disorder, involved in sexual exploitation.

Case management support and service coordination is provided in cooperation with MCFD Youth Services team and other involved service providers.

Youth on an agreement with the Ministry are provided individual counseling and support services to develop skills and awareness in relation to daily living, interpersonal relationships, health, education, employment and training, and the impact of substance misuse.

This program component also provides individual counseling and support to assist youth to decrease their involvement with, and reduce the harm associated with, sexual exploitation-related activities. A hands-on outreach approach is provided to support youth to exit the sex trade or related activities, and enter into a Youth Agreement, return to their family or another residential placement/option.

A Youth Agreement is a contract between the youth and the Ministry. The youth will commit to working towards specific goals, and participating in support or other treatment services. The core of a Youth Agreement is the Plan for Independence, which describes the services needed to help the young person make a successful transition to adulthood, family, work, and independence. The plan may outline residential support, educational or other support services, employment, dental and medical benefits including financial assistance through MCFD.

Each youth is assigned a Support Counselor in the program. The youth and counselor will develop an Individualized Service Plan, describing the services to be provided and the process for achieving the goals of the Youth Agreement. The goals and services will address the youth's barriers to achieving independence, such as substance misuse, employment skills, education, housing, etc.

Anyone can refer youth to this program, including the youth themselves. There is an orientation session held every Thursday, starting at 10:00am, at the Youth Services Office on Ellis Street. Contact us for further information.

Collaborative Youth and Family Services Program

The Collaborative Youth and Family Services Program provides an intensive strength-based, solution-focused short-term intervention process for a small case load of youth and families, through an outreach family-centered approach. ARC Programs facilitates integration in service delivery through collaboration with youth, families and Ministry social workers in the referral, intake, assessment, service planning, case management and evaluation process, for the youth and families referred to the program. The program counselor is co-located with ARC Youth Services, within the MCFD Youth Services team environment in Kelowna. However, the program services are provided to youth and families on an outreach basis in the community and family’s homes.

The services of the Collaborative Youth and Family Services Program are focused on achieving the following Program Outcomes:

1. To reduce the admission of children and youth to the care of the Ministry.
2. To reduce conflict between youth and their families.
3. To enhance the skill of families in supporting an at-risk youth in their homes.
4. To increase the likelihood of youth remaining in their family home.
5. To facilitate the successful reintegration of youth to the family home.
6. To facilitate the successful integration of youth to school, employment, and/or other pro-social activities.

The program counselor cooperates with the youth, parents and Ministry social worker in the assessment of the youth and family’s needs, while initiating direct services to address the immediate needs of the family (ie; youth safety and residency). Services are provided on an intensive basis, and include service coordination, family mediation, parenting education and support, collaborative problem-solving, conflict resolution, individual counseling and skills development for the youth and family.

Referrals to the program are directly from MCFD social workers, and youth referred to this program should be:

• between the ages of 12 years and 15 years, yet specific exceptions could be made if the youth and family meet other criteria.
• be residing at home or have recently left the family home (family home can be described in broad terms).
• considered to be in conflict with their family, such that their continued residency and care by the family may be at risk, and have a willingness to resolve that conflict.
• reside in the Central Okanagan area.
• may have secondary issues including but not limited to substance misuse, criminal behaviour, mental health issues, etc.

Families referred to this program should be willing to engage in and commit to an intensive intervention process.