Resources

More Youth Services

Parent-Teen Mediation

What is mediation?

The dictionary defines mediation as "the process or action of mediating between people or organizations who do not agree, in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation."

If you and your parents are in crisis, parent-teen mediation can provide you with counseling and ways to solve problems and issues in your family.

The goals of the program are:

  • to keep families together
  • help families solve problems on their own
  • help families recognize and focus on the things that are working in their relationships
  • keep teens out of foster homes.

If you and your family are in crisis, contact a local Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) office. A social worker can assess your need for a referral to a trained parent/teen mediation counselor. MCFD social workers also often help to mediate and resolve conflicts.

For more information on conflict resolution: The Centre for Conflict Resolution or Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

Youth in Care Organizations & Support Groups

What are youth-in-care organizations and support groups?

They can provide you with formal and informal support if you are a child or youth currently in care or a young adult who was formerly in care.

Apart from their experiences with the child welfare system, youth in/from care can offer an experiential viewpoint on subjects like: adolescent prostitution and sex trade work; learning difficulties; physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; family violence; emotional and behavioural difficulties; and substance abuse.

MCFD provides the B.C. Youth in Care Network funding and support.

Safe Housing and Emergency Shelter Services

If you are a street youth or sexually exploited youth wanting to leave the street this service can provide you with safe housing.

The ministry recognizes that once you are on the street, intimidation, threats and the fear of revenge from a pimp can be a major reason in preventing you from seeking a safer and healthier lifestyle. Safe housing provides you with a safe place to stay while providing support and counseling.

There are a wide range of safe housing arrangements. They can include group homes, specialized homes and staffed resources. Some housing may be provided on longer-term basis.

Sexually Exploited Youth

What is a sexually exploited youth?

A sexually exploited youth is someone who is under the age of 19, who is being manipulated or forced to engage in sexual activity in exchange for drugs, money, food, shelter, or other considerations.

Many people in government and outside of government have said that we need better services for sexually exploited youth. These people include the Office for Children and Youth, the Ombudsman, people who provide services to youth, the media, international symposiums, ministry staff, youth and their families. Since 1994, the Ministry for Attorney General and the Ministry of Children and Family Development have been working together to try to stop sexual exploitation of youth.

MCFD provides a range of services including:

  • safehouses for sexually exploited youth in Victoria, Prince George, and Kelowna.
  • youth outreach/support workers distributed throughout B.C.
  • the use of Youth Agreements which can provide housing, education, money or other support services to youth, between the ages of 16 to 18 years old, who are sexually exploited, have alcohol and drug and/or mental health issues and are currently not living at home (high-risk youth).