You Are Invited To A Public Meeting On Youth At Risk

Submitted by the St. Catharines & District Council of Women

“Support and Advocacy for Youth at Risk: Family and Children’s Services (FACS) Perspective ”  will be the subject of a free public meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday February 7^th in the Mills Room of the St. Catharines Centennial Library, located on James Street  in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario.

Youth in our community face a variety of challenges that place them “at risk”.  However  young people who have been in foster care face specific challenges , as they prepare to go out on their own, without the safety net of parents . Family and Children’s Services Niagara will tell us a bit about those challenges and what they are doing to help youth be successful and to reach their full potential.

As the FACS web site states , “Growing up in care is a different experience than growing up in a regular family. By the time youth reach their teen years, they may have had several foster care or other placements and likely have little or no contact with their biological families. Getting ready to make the transition to independent living in the community can be a little scary, especially without the safety net of parents.”

As noted recently by FACS representative Ann Godfrey, “ We all know that  young people in their teens and early twenties need family and community support as they transition to adulthood. We have tried to provide leadership in the provision of support programs for the youth in our care and as they move on to independent living.”

For  a number of years  FACS has  operated the  ‘New Outlooks and Beginnings’ program , which  helps youth prepare to leave the care of FACS and establish independent living in the community, before such programs were mandated by the government.  And a Youth Advisory Committee provides a voice for young people in care and works with Board Members to identify issues of concern for youth and to help improve the in-care experience for all children and youth served by FACS.

Panel members, Janice Cassey, case facilitator  for the New Outlooks and Beginnings Program and Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee and Diane Brennan , Child Welfare Supervisor  will share stories and bring the public up to date on new government initiatives arising from the recently released report of the   ‘Youth Leaving Care Working Group’ ,  such as the their January 24^th  announcement regarding  investments in “new resources and supports,   new mentorship opportunities, and funding of new youth in transitions workers to support young people leaving care”.

This meeting is sponsored by the 19 Affiliated Member groups and 30 Independent Members  of the St. Catharines and District Council of Women

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