Kiwanis:
Youth Drop-in & Activity Centre

A safe place for runaway and homeless youth

About the Programme

The drop-in centre will be open seven days a week. Day time participants will be street youth. The facility will not be available to truant students, AWOLs from other facilities, or others as mandated by probation order, foster parent, MCF request, or other intervention or punitive measure applied to the youth/child by an outside agency. Admission will, whenever possible, be free of charge. Membership and/or attendance rosters will be kept for record keeping purposes, and will be used to help determine how and what programmes will be funded. Admission protocols similar to those in place for the group home will be instituted. Rules for use of the facility will be clearly posted for all staff, volunteers and participants to see. Foster parents, group home co-ordinators and probation officers will be invited to work with the drop-in staff to ensure that the centre isn't in anyway interfering with a youth's rehabilitation, or, the drop-in staff will work with child and youth care professionals to help develop programmes and/or protocols to deal with specific youth and children. At all times, confidentiality in these matters will be maintained.

The drop-in centre will provide at least one hot meal per day to participants. The food will either be by donation from local restaurants and food processing operations, or will be prepared in house, or a combination of both. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be available. Ideally these beverages will be supplied free of charge to participants, but if that isn't possible, these items will be provided at cost, or by donation, or on the honour system.

The drop-in centre will solicit donations of clothing that it will distribute free to participants as it is needed. This will be a year round programme.

The drop-in centre will provide a warm, safe haven for Campbell River and area youth. Participants will be able to play pool and other table and board games. The drop-in centre may provide some video games. The Helena Housing Society recognises that video gaming can be therapeutic for certain youth.

The drop-in centre will become part of the Reconnect Programme.

The drop-in centre will participate in Operation Go Home.

The drop-in centre will endeavour to work with First Nations Councils to provide adequate programming for the area's native population.

The drop-in centre may sponsor a substance abuse programme developed especially for youth.

The drop-in centre may implement a sidewalk school, independent from School District #72, that will provide a sound basic education and grade 12 equivalency for youth who have difficulty or have lost faith in the regular school system.

The drop-in centre will focus on physical and social programmes for youth and children. Staff will be aware of other professional services, and know how to refer qualified youth to existing resources.

Youth will have a real voice in the drop-in centre's operations. Up to four board positions will be held by youth. The youth board will assist in the development of drop-in programmes and make suggestions for capital expenditures. Issues regarding the group home and confidential programmes will be covered by a special committee, made up of members of the executive and facility staff and/or volunteers when applicable.

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