For Immediate Release 2016CFD0022-000750 May 10, 2016 NEWS RELEASE More than $1.2 million to bolster youth services in DTES VANCOUVER Government is adding more than $1.2 million to enhance staffing and expand youth outreach, while working to create a new "no-questions-asked" safe housing option to better support vulnerable youth on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Informed by the results of an extensive file review of 124 children and youth residing in or frequenting the DTES and building off of lessons learned from the first six months of operation under the rapid response team model, the is investing in and realigning services to respond to the specific identified needs of at-risk youth in the area. A dedicated adolescent services unit will be created at the ministry s Cambie Street office location at a cost of approximately $800,000. The office will focus its services on homeless youth or those involved in intravenous drug use and prostitution, while existing child protection services will be shifted to other offices within the service delivery area. To accommodate this change, eight new full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions will be added. The adolescent services unit will offer outreach and extended night-time hours (to 12:30 a.m.) to give young people every opportunity to access supports when and where they need them. Given its success and continuing demand for services, two additional FTE positions will also be added to the rapid response team to permanently establish the team s coordination and administrative functions. The rapid response team has been in place since October 2015. This integrated and coordinated team of on-the-ground service providers including police, community outreach workers, mental health and addictions counsellors monitors and supports youth who are deemed to be in the highest risk category. It also provides influence to remove systemic barriers and address any identified service gaps. One of the gaps the team has identified is the need for on-the-ground service providers who can reach out directly, finding and connecting with vulnerable young people to offer them services where they live. To address this issue, the ministry will work with its partners to provide more than $400,000 to service delivery organizations. This new funding will allow partners experienced in these services to expand youth outreach, extend their hours of operation and enhance their staffing complement as further support to the ministry s new adolescent services unit. Another service priority is the availability of housing where tenants are not expected to abstain from using alcohol and other drugs and involvement in a rehabilitation program is not necessarily a requirement for entry. Known as a "no-questions-asked approach," the ministry is
working with the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation, the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Housing to establish a low-barrier resource that would provide temporary housing as well as substance use, mental health and public health supports specifically for vulnerable youth. The home will be targeted to open late 2017. Quotes: Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development Service providers on the Downtown Eastside are doing a better job of talking to one another and working together to support street-entrenched youth. We need to build on that. We ve learned a lot about this vulnerable population over the last six months and we are using those lessons to reduce organizational barriers and gaps to service. That means that when we hear about a young person using hard drugs and sleeping on the streets, we seek them out, we offer services, we find them a safe place to stay and we give them a chance to rest and get clean on their terms, while we connect them with the counselling and support they need to make those changes stick. Terry Lake, Minister of Health Vulnerable youth facing an uncertain future need specific supports, ones that we have been working hard to provide through projects like the Granville Youth Health Centre and through funding provided to Vancouver s Covenant House for at-risk young women. We re glad to see care providers recognize the needs of youth and help them address these life roadblocks. Caroline Bonesky, executive director, Family Services of Greater Vancouver Keeping youth who are on the streets of Vancouver safe has been a priority of Family Services of Greater Vancouver since 1988. We are encouraged by the announcement that funds will be directed to the vital work of keeping youth connected to resources, through street outreach. This service provides valuable support to youth who are not able or willing to come off the street to access services. We have been working collaboratively with our colleagues and MCFD towards better outcomes for youth. This announcement demonstrates the Ministry of Children and Family Development has listened to community recommendations. Quick Facts: As part of its operational response to the Representative for Children and Youth s report, Paige s Story, government implemented a rapid response team model in the DTES with representation from: Vancouver Coastal Health Addiction Services Vancouver Coastal Health Child and Youth Mental Health Services BC Housing Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS) Vancouver Police Department (Car 20) Community Youth Outreach (Watari and Directions Youth Hub) MCFD Youth Outreach Staff The ministry also undertook a file review of children and youth in care or receiving reviewable services who reside or frequent the DTES. Read the complete report: ow.ly/ez3q3003ng9
Two backgrounders follow. Media Contact: Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-1639 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
For Immediate Release 2016CFD0022-000750 May 10, 2016 BACKGROUNDER 1 Profile of children and youth on the Downtown Eastside In response to a recommendation in the Representative for Children and Youth s report, Paige s Story, the ministry reviewed information about 124 children and youth in care or receiving services, as of April 2015, who lived in or frequented the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and were served by the Vancouver Youth Services North team and Yankee 20. Electronic and physical files were reviewed and interviews with ministry and delegated aboriginal agency staff and service providers were held to better understand what is or is not working well in practice and service delivery. The review focused on children or youth in high-risk situations those who present with multiple or significant risk factors and challenges, such as being homeless, dealing with substance misuse or being victims of sexual exploitation. It is estimated there are about 50 vulnerable children and youth in high-risk situations living in within the DTES catchment area at any given time who need supports or interventions. The review looked at who these young people are, where they come from, what brought them to the DTES, what challenges they face, what common characteristics they share, what services they ve accessed and how effective those services were in helping them achieve safety and security. Some findings include: The average age of youth in the sample was 17. Among those considered at the highest-risk, the majority were female. The most common reasons youth gave for living in or frequenting the DTES were: family, access to services or resources not available in their home communities, access to drugs, access to free food-shelter and a sense of belonging and acceptance in the DTES community. Housing, outreach services, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, and transitioning services were all identified as areas of critical need. Read the full report: ow.ly/ez3q3003ng9 Media Contact: Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-1639
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
For Immediate Release 2016CFD0022-000750 May 10, 2016 BACKGROUNDER 2 Rapid Response Team In October 2015, government implemented a Rapid Response Team model in Vancouver s DTES to follow the area s most high-risk youth more closely than ever to find them, talk to them and encourage them to get help even when they don t want to be found. The team continues to make progress with 38 youth who now have a place to sleep, access to the health care they need and, most importantly, they have a group of professionals who understand the unique challenges they face and are looking out for their best interests. In the first six months, this new service delivery model has enabled care workers to stay in touch and build trust with at-risk youth, many of whom require consistent outreach and followup. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of service providers some of those young people who did not have the means to continue their education and had no way of earning money can now receive financial support for high school, skills training, or a post-secondary education through existing MCFD programs. And for those who had no place to live or were sleeping on the streets they are now connected with Safe House services and have a fixed address, while the team works with them to develop a plan for long-term housing. The team has also successfully connected young people with existing mental health supports and medical treatment, helped them get their first government-issued identification, and provided transportation to re-connect them with their families from across the province. Media Contact: Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-1639 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect