Choices

HomeBridge continues to work towards providing the best services possible for at-risk youth.

One of the many risks faced by youth is substance use. HomeBridge’s partnership with the IWK / CHOICES program to examine this issue is expanding as plans begin for phase two, and HomeBridge’s prevention model is developed.

Assessment Clinician, Johneen Kelly, MSW, RSW has been working with the organization since September collecting data and making observations and recommendations to guide HomeBridge’s practices in the area of substance use prevention. This collaboration has seen such great results that Health Canada has agreed to move this project into phase two through their Drug Treatment Funding Program.

This phase has begun with all parties strategizing and further fortifying their working relationship to provide enhanced substance intervention and prevention skills for employees working with high risk youth. The planning has only just begun, but the end goal is advanced training to better equip youth care teams throughout the HomeBridge Community with the skills to deal with substance use issues. The first round of this training is anticipated to begin in early 2012. Philosophy and techniques will be incorporated into our model of practice.

This collaboration will help the organization continue to expand the services offered for at-risk youth and further work towards its vision of all youth and their families living in health, safety and harmony.