Community Youth Outreach

The Downtown Eastside Community Youth Outreach worker targets at risk and street involved youth between the ages of 19-24 who are living, working or transitioning through the community. These are you th who may be involved in the sex trade, drug trade or other forms of illegal behaviours; often have co-occuring disorders such as mental health diagnosis, physical health issues (HIV, Hep C) and addiction; are disconnected from family and services; homeless or under housed; often learning disabled; and generally service cautious. This is a population that is sometimes volatile, often abused yet generally far more resilient than given credit for. They are a mix of young men and women, from varying ethnic backgrounds with the majority being of Aboriginal ancestory. They are often open to conversation, always open for food and with consistent contact, more ready to risk accessing services such as detox, treatment and physicians

The position is active four days/evenings a week, working until 9 Wednesday through Saturday. Although not all of the youth who have contact with the position receive every service available, they have access to or are referred to: Income Assistance, housing, substance abuse programs (detox, counselling, treatment), food, mental health services, basic health services, street nurse programs, courts, hygeine supplies, harm recuction supplies, repatriation and case management. The position works in partnership with other organizations to ensure there is information sharing as well as safety for the position.

Mich can be reached at the office
@ 604 254 6995 or on her cell
@ Cell.778-829-5040

Donations of travel size hygene products as well as warm, clean socks, gloves and hats are always welcome!

 

Hard Target

Hard Target Co-ordination

The Hard Targeting Initiative is a mechanism to co-ordinate intervention strategies to deal with High-Risk Youth that are street-involved or at risk of becoming street-involved. We provide community case co-ordination for youth 19 and under. The co-ordination is provided by the Watari Research Association and the partners in the initiative include: community-based youth services, safe house and group home staff, youth withdrawal management services, police, probation, neighbourhood houses and community centres, Vancouver Youth Services (MCFD) and other MCFD social workers, needle exchange staff and mobile health services.

What does Hard Targeting do?

•  Co-ordinate strategic planning of street-involved and at risk youth
with the goal to remove or assist youth/ child to exit the street

•  Co-ordinate problem-solving team meetings to address obstacles or
other factors that undermine an intervention (eg. Problem business or residence, barriers to children and youth accessing service, etc)

•  Hard Targeting Co-ordinator calls case conferences/ community planning meetings as needed.

•  Network on a daily basis with social workers, frontline workers,
parents and police, providing updates on children and youth, ensuring
information on plans is shared, implemented and updates as needed.

The Cooordinator, Shannon can be reached at:

Cell: 604-773-0112
Tel: 604-254-6995
Fax: 604.254.6985