DESCRIPTION OF INDIVIDUAL YES PROGRAMS

YES Office [533 Drop-In]
offers daytime drop-in services providing assistance with issues such as education, employment,
housing, counselling, medical, etc. Computer access and nutritional snacks are also available
for youth. Youth are assisted in acquiring personal identification, resumes, a phone/message
system and bus fare to connect with family, social workers, school, doctor, employers, etc.
YES Office services are provided by all YES staff.

Alliance Club
is an evening drop-in facility for youth 13 to 19 years old that offers basic necessities such as
meals, showers and laundry facilities, counselling and referrals. [Funded by the Ministry of
Children and Family Development].

The Liaison Worker [SEY]
works with sexually exploited youth 13 to 19 years old. This Counsellor coordinates with other
agencies in order to provide integrated services that help youth resist becoming involved in
the sex trade, leave the sex trade and support them so that they are able to remain exited.
[Funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development].

Kiwanis Emergency Youth Shelter [KEYS]
is a 10 bed emergency shelter for youth 13 to 8 years old who are experiencing a crisis and
seeking support services. This program provides service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
KEYS offers services that include: individual and family counselling, information on community
resources and referrals for support. [Funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development
and the Victoria Kiwanis Club].

Youth and Family Support Services [YFSS]
run out of KEYS with the aim of providing support to families/caregivers in crisis and,
when appropriate, assistance with reuniting the youth with their family/caregiver. An important
component of the program is to maintain youth safely within their current family system while
increasing the family?s capacity to deal with their issues. [Funded by the Ministry of Children
and Family Development].

The Youth Outreach Team [YOOTS]
is a partnership which pairs a Victoria City Police Officer with a YES Outreach worker. The
Team acts as an outreach arm for various systems dealing with the youth, such as families,
social workers, probation officers, teachers and other police officers. They provide crisis
intervention, counselling, family mediation, referrals and follow-up for at risk youth. [Funded
by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the City of Victoria,
Downtown Victoria Businesses and fundraising].

Specialized Youth Detox [SYD]
is a voluntary, non-medical withdrawal management program for youth between the ages of
13 and 18 years who are in need of acute physical withdrawal services. SYD provides
residential withdrawal services dependant on the individual youths needs.
Services and support to youth and their family/caregivers in the program include: assessment, home
visits, outings, individual counselling, education, support and assistance with post withdrawal
treatment planning [Funded through the Vancouver Island Health Authority].

Summer Opportunities Program [SOP]
provides a summer "daytime" program for youth 13 to 19 years old. SOP provides a safe and positive
alternative for youth who gravitate to the downtown core during the summer. SOP includes a healthy
lunch, laundry services, referrals, arts and crafts, and recreational outings.
[Funded by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), the Souper Bowls of Hope and the
City of Victoria].

Victoria Youth Clinic [VYC]
has established itself as a unique clinic addressing the needs of vulnerable youth in the Capital
Health Region. The VYC serves individuals aged 12 to 24 years old, with a focus on street
involved youth and other high-risk health issues. VYC and YES have formed a partnership
to provide a clinic at YES's 533 location. Youth Clinic Web Site

Youth Hospitality Training Centre [YHTC]
The YHTC includes courses on employment expectations and responsibilities as well as
hands on hospitality skills training for entry level positions in hotels and restaurants.
The program has a variety of training opportunities in local restaurants, hotels and retail sites.

Mental Health Liaison
The Mental Health Liaison provides support by working to improve access and coordination of
mental health and addiction services for predominately marginalized youth. The Mental Health
Liaison helps in promoting early identification and intervention with the aim of averting the
development of serious emotional disorders.