Youth and Family Development Programs aim to enhance personal well-being, strengthen family functioning and increase personal responsibility, confidence and healthy decision-making. Emphasis on a client-centered approach within a continuum of care model, which focuses on the health, resiliency and resourcefulness of individuals. Services are provided in a safe and respectful environment where diversity and connection to community is valued.

 

Integrated Youth Services

Integrated Youth Services is comprised of a number of programs:

Youth and Family Development Work

Purpose Society provides the Youth and Family Development Work funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development for New Westminster.  The Society has delivered youth services in New Westminster since 1988, initially under the Reconnect program, and then since 2004 under the Youth and Family Development program.

This program encompasses four areas of youth work:

1. Transition to IndependenceYFD Workers provide support to youth on Youth Agreements or other forms of independent living means. They assist them with housing, lifeskills and the development of social/emotional supports, in order to facilitate a healthy and productive transition to independence.
2. Family Support and ReunificationYFD Workers provide support and guidance to youth and their families. They assist family members in addressing family dynamic challenges that affect the youth/parent relationship, as well as issues relating to mental health, complex behaviors and/or addiction.
3. Youth JusticeYFD Workers work with youth involved in the youth justice system. This includes:
   • Providing Intensive Supervision and Support (ISSP)
   • Monitoring probationary curfews
   • Overseeing Community Work Service
4. Sexually Exploited YouthYFD workers engage with youth who are at high risk of becoming sexually or actively involved in sexual exploitation.

The majority of youth accessing these services are referred through the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Sexually exploited youth can be directly referred from the community.

North Fraser Youth Outreach Services – Youth Outreach Workers

This is a new initiative funded by MCFD and involving a collaborative partnership between the three youth serving agencies in the North Fraser Region: Purpose Society, St. Leonard’s Society and PLEA. This program began November 1, 2017.

Purpose Society has two Youth Outreach Worker positions under this initiative who are targeted to work with extremely high risk youth who have a history of limited or non-engagement in established youth services. Referrals to this program come through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

 

Youth Source and Youth Clinic

Youth Source utilizes a ‘one stop shopping’ approach by providing youth with a variety of services in one place.  At Youth Source, there is a warm, welcoming atmosphere where free, confidential information and education regarding sexuality and health to youth 21 and under is provided. At Youth Source the Purpose Society provides a free Youth Clinic in partnership with Fraser Health.

No appointments necessary.

Advocacy and referral services for youth on issues such as shelter, income assistance, legal services, family mediation and school issues are also provided.  Youth can access a wide array of services through this resource:

• Speak to an:
  • Alcohol and Drug Counsellor
  • Youth worker
  • Therapist or
  • Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician
• Take a shower
• Do laundry
• Access the emergency food cupboard

Or just hang out and participate in recreational activities.

Our Youth Clinic has nurses and a doctor on-site to provide the following services:

• Access of free medical care
• birth control education & provision
• pregnancy testing + decision making
• STI information, examinations + treatment; and
• HIV education + testing.

No appointments necessary.

Address:
38 Begbie Street
New Westminster, BCV3M 3L9

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday:
2:30 to 6:00 pm

Thursday:
2:30 to 6:00 pm

The Youth Source and Youth Clinic are closed all statutory holidays, including Boxing Day and Easter Monday

 

 

Burnaby YOUth HUB

The Burnaby Youth Hub is a safe, inclusive space where youth can access a variety of
resources, programs, and services for their personal health, development, and well-being.

The Hub, hosted by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society, works with a number of dedicated partners to create a community where youth are empowered and supported to be their most engaged, independent, and confident selves.

Link to website:

http://www.burnabyyouthhub.org/

Hub Youth Centre
The Lower Mainland Purpose Society operates the HUB YOUth Centre from the Burnaby Youth Hub.

Youth Groups

Learning Lifeskills

Learning Lifeskills is a youth oriented program created for adolescents age 13-18. Youth are encouraged to be hands-on in their own personal development—with the goal of increasing self-efficacy, confidence, and building practical, transferable skills.

Over the past few decades employers, and schools have placed great emphasis on the development of life skills as a way to educate and prepare youth for the increasing demands of society. The ability to adapt and react positively to the demands and challenges of everyday life is the definition of life skills; and the ability to meet these demands requires both hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are defined as measurable, specific, and teachable abilities.

Learning Lifeskills offers workshops such as:

• Cooking, nutrition and food safety
• Financial literacy
• Sexual education and
• Employment development.

Soft skills, on the other hand, focus on developing both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills required in the working world or developing functional and appropriate relationships, for example.

Learning Lifeskills offers workshops on:

• mind and body wellness,
• effective communication skills and
• self-esteem.

 

1. Location: Subject to change
2. Runs 2-3 times per year
3. Next group session: TBA
4. Register by email or phone 604.526.2522 for more information.

For more information & referrals, please contact main office @604.526.2522 for more details

 

Kids & Teens in Control

The Lower Mainland Purpose Society will be offering the Teens in Control program, a free, 8-week education and support group for youth 13 – 18 years old, who have a parent with a mental illness. The focus of the group is to help youth cope with and understand their parent’s illness.

1. Location: Subject to change
2. Runs: 2 times a year
3. Next group session: TBA
4. Register by email or phone

For more information & referrals, please contact main office @604.526.2522

Studio Central

Styled after the popular “paint nights” at local art studios, Studio Central is an art program designed to target youth in the catchment area of New Westminster and Burnaby. This program will serve as an outlet for youth to express their feelings which they may not be able to do so verbally. Studio Central will serve as a safe space for youth to engage in prosocial activities (art work) with a trained Artist and Youth Worker. Exposure to art has been proven to help youth develop many positive skills and capabilities that are valued in our society, such as persistence, collaboration, creative thinking, problem solving and motivation. In addition, studies have demonstrated that Arts exposure can improve an individual’s confidence and academic performance.

 

1. Location: 38 Begbie St. New Westminster, B.C.
2. Runs: 2 times a year
3. Next group session: tba
4. Register by email or phone

For more information & referrals, please contact main office @604.526.2522

*PLEASE NOTE: All groups are subject to change due to funding and registration*