For over 25 years the Board, staff and volunteers of the Youth Empowerment Society (YES), in partnership with 1,000’s of youth and families and various service providers have systematically developed a service delivery system for youth and families. Over the years, YES has continued to grow and develop programs and services based on identified needs in our community.
YES, as a multi–service agency offers the following services delivery to address the various and often complex needs of the youth and their families.
- A safe place off the streets.
- A broad range of services that are designed to meet the needs of vulnerable youth and their families that are integrated with other community services/professionals and use non-adversarial methods.
- A flexible drop-in component, that is available beyond the regular business, with counsellors who are available without appointments.
- An accessible, welcoming, non-judgemental environment which will encourage youth with mistrust and anxiety issues to access services.
- A multidisciplinary staff that takes on a key worker relationship dealing with the entire spectrum of a youth or family’s concerns regardless of the issues. Counsellors act as a single contact point whereby they will assist with/coordinate services regarding housing, employment, education, health care, substance abuse and mental health issues, parent/teen mediation, literacy, life skills etc.
During the past year YES has continued to assist hundreds of youth and families through our various programs: the Kiwanis Emergency Shelter, Specialized Youth Detox, the Youth Outreach Team, the Mental Health Support Worker, the Supported Independent Living Services, the Life Skills Program, and the Youth and Family Counsellors (among others). On the website, we will periodically feature an individual program so that community members get a greater sense of the work YES does.
The Alliance Club
The Alliance Club is an evening drop-in centre for youth( ages 13-19). The Club provides a safe, healthy alternative for youth who may be hanging out in the downtown core, as well as providing a connection point for street entrenched youth who may wish to explore a more positive lifestyle.
A few of the Club’s 2012 highlights include:
- Over 1000 individual youth and parents received services in 2012.
- Over 250 youth were connected to addictions or mental health supports.
- Over 400 youth were assisted with the acquisition of enhanced life and social functioning skills such as: goal setting, time management, education, anger management, communication, conflict resolution, and group dynamics.
- 300 youth participated in targeted educational sessions (both individually and in group settings) in areas such as: abuse, alcohol and drug use, risk reduction, decision making, sexual health and safety, dealing with anxiety and depression, and healthy relationships.
- Over 150 youth were assisted to connect/remain in the school system.
- Over 100 youth were assisted with the transition to adulthood including agreements for independent living, housing searches, connection to employment training, budgeting and improved self-directed living skills.
- More than 5500 meals and snacks were served in the Club in 2012.
- Over 400 individual youth used the the laundry and shower services, storage and clothing supports provided by the Club.
In 2012, the Alliance Club also noted some developing trends, which include:
- An increase in female youth accessing the Club.
- A dramatic increase in use of laundry and shower facilities and requests for clothing.
- A concerning and significant increase in younger youth (aged 13-14 years) accessing the Club.
- An increase in the number of youth who are ageing out of our services.
If you are interested in ways that you can becomes involved with our agency, please check out the volunteer section as well as how you can become a member of our Society.
