Connect Youth Inc.
To assist, support and refer young
people in need.
To advocate for youth in partnership
with our communities
Who are we:
Connect Youth Inc. formed first as a
Community Mobilization Program in late
2001 after the suicide of a teenage youth
from the South Grenville Area. Shortly
thereafter a board of directors was formed
and grants were applied for- the first being
a Crime Prevention Grant which allowed
for the hiring of our first employee.
How it works
• Youth between the ages of 14-21 are
referred to Connect Youth for a variety of
reasons, by a variety of resources
including self referral and referral by
friends
• Crisis takes many faces to youth from
abuse to substance use to suicide to not
having eaten for a day.
Who are they and Where do they come from
• Areas the youth come from are tracked by
where they are ‘in the moment’ not
necessarily where their family home is.
• Augusta- 17 (18%)
• Edwardsburgh-Cardinal- 22 (24%)
• Prescott- 47(50%)
• other- 7 (8%)
0
Other
Financial
Suicide
Stress
Relationship
Victim
Stress
Death
Mental
Health
Sexual
Health
Homeless
Probation
Health
Food
Identification
Family
Clothing
Employment
Education
Drugs
• Females- 66 Males- 27 Total- 93
• Various reasons Youth are referred
16
# of youth
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
• The majority of our Clients are 16-18 years
old
30
25
20
15
Client Year of
Birth
10
other
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
0
1989
5
• The youth aged 16-18 are a unique culture
of their own.
• They are too old most often for Family and
Child Services.
• They are too young to qualify for social
assistance without a guarantor or trustee
• Often they just want to have boundaries,
rules and expectations...they want parents
• Connect Youth has implemented a Basic
Life Skills program which is just an
expansion of what the employees were
already doing.
• Youth can come to non-judgemental, safe
environments in a variety of locations to
access service
• The employees react and advocate for the
individual needs the youth bring forward
• Service is provided in 3 main locations:
• SGDHS- there is a ‘drop in’ program, food,
computers, office and board room for use
by the youth
• Students must sign in each time they enter
the room and if they are in a class the
teacher is notified.
• Students have access to one on one
service at this location
• Food Bank
• Our location at the food bank in Prescott
was renovated for our use in the Fall of
2010
• Additions of a washer/dryer, shower, small
appliances and kitchen sink were added to
the location
• Our life skills programming runs out of
here
• TR Leger- Alternative School in Prescott
• Our Life Skills worker has created a
wonderful relationship with the school
• They are running workshops together
focussing on everyday issues: stress,
relaxation, cooking, budgeting, job
applications, clothing etc.
• Those who cannot attend at either school
make use of the Food Bank for all services
• Other important programming:
• Connect Youth Closet- donations of clothing and
planned clothing exchanges. This program is
becoming a youth led initiative- over 1000 items
of clothing have been exchanged since
Sept.2010
• Bats Fitness- They have provided us with 6
‘blank’ memberships which allows the workers to
take different groups to the gym every day.
Great for self esteem, stress relief and healthy
living lessons.
• Annual Youth Fair- held in May- Agencies
and Services are invited to SGDHS for a
day involving the entire student bodyfamiliarizing them with what is available to
them.
• Prescott Golf Tournament- 1st annual was
held to benefit Connect Youth last year.
• Day of Silence- in recognition of youth
sexual orientations
 Snack Cupboard- in partnership with the
food bank; a variety of non-perishable
foods are donated to both operating
locations for the Clients
 Employment readiness seminarsconducted in conjunction with Employment
counseling services and the Education
and Employment Centre
• Eating Disorder Panel
• Partners – Girls Inc., South Grenville District High
School, Child and Youth Wellness Centre, Doctor,
Canadian Mental Health, St. Lawrence College Student,
Connect Youth
Where does our funding come from?
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Trillium
United Way of Leeds and Grenville
Homelessness Partnership Strategy
TransCanada Pipelines
Municipalities
Criminal Court Community Fund
Clergy
Private Donations
Prescott Golf Tournament
Fundraising
In-Kind donations and expertise
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What is next....
6 recommendations- explain feasibility study
Homelessness Task Force
Transitional Home for youth
Continuing Connect Youth as is
Partnership building
Community Collaboration
Strengthening sustainability
Transportation
Success stories....
“Young people need models,
not critics”
John Wooden