YESS and the EPS... Working Together and Changing Lives!

YESS and the EPS... Working Together and Changing Lives!

What is the Youth Emergency Shelter Society? YESS was established in 1981, and opened the doors of the Whyte Avenue location in April, 1982 Started with a hostel type program Has grown to include Three residential programs Community & Enhancement services The Armoury Youth Centre

YESS Programs: Community Enhancement: Outreach 24 hr. Support Intakes Referrals and Resources School Presentations Community Relations Family Mediation Brief Service Reports I ve come across many things at Y.E.S.S., some of which were hardships, some were turning points, and others were opportunities. The opportunities I managed to grab led me into small successes. -a former client

Community Enhancement: Skills Skills Assessment Individual Skills Assessment Group Skills Job Bank YESS Programs: Community Enhancement: The STAR Project 20 week Day Program for youth ages 16 30 Life, Social and Employability Skills Work Exposure Work Experience Funded through Service Canada

YESS Programs: Community Enhancement: Quality Assurance Aboriginal Resource Worker Cultural Diversity Advocate Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for being. poem - a client s

Residential Programs: Shelter YESS Programs: 16 Beds For Youth ages 16 18 18 Overnight, one night at a time Provides Basic Necessities Access to onsite doctor Access to Intervention Services Worker Access to Aboriginal Resource Worker Referrals to other YESS programs

Residential Programs: SkY YESS Programs: 12 Beds For Youth ages 15 18 18 Average 6 86 8 month stay Expectation of a day program Goal Setting Access to onsite doctor Access to Intervention Services Worker Access to Aboriginal Resource Worker Because of Y.E.S.S., I have now been clean from crystal meth for eight and a half months. living at home and I will am graduate now from school in the Spring. - A former client

YESS Programs: START Residential Programs: START 10 Beds For Youth ages 16 19 19 Up to 1 year stay Involved in a Day Program Goal Setting Working towards Independence Working on life and decision making skills Access to onsite doctor Access to Intervention Services Worker Access to Aboriginal Resource Worker Room and Board; Trust accounts

YESS Programs: The Armoury Youth Centre Open 9:oo am 9:00 pm to provide resources to homeless and at risk youth aged 15 21 Based on 5 pillars of Service: Safety, Education, Health and Wellness, Recreation, and Self Reliance Works closely with the Edmonton Police Service Supported by numerous community partnerships 1,001 intakes in the fist six months We lose youth to crime, in part because the teens stop feeling like they belong. RCMP Superintendent Ward Clapton

Who Are the Kids Who Come To Yess? Kids from every neighbourhood in Edmonton Kids from all surrounding communities, from other provinces, and from other countries Kids from every cultural and socio economic background High School Drop outs outs and Honours Students Kids in trouble with the law; Kids who are recognized for their positive community involvement Kids with Child Welfare Status, and Kids without any support or resources

What Do They Have in Common? The great majority have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Mental health issues and learning disabilities are common They are old enough that expectations of them are high, but they y have had no role modeling in areas like responsibility, commitment, positive relationships, personal care, or appropriate recreation They feel abandoned by their families, and by others who fail to offer help or compassion distrust of authority opens the door to negative behaviour They believe that they have somehow deserved the abuse and neglect ect they have grown up with, yet they harbour anger toward a community they feel has failed them

What Do They Have in Common? They are still children children who need guidance and support to overcome the barriers life has thrown in their way, if they are to become productive, well adjusted adults They are alone, afraid, hungry, sick, exhausted, depressed, socially immature, and desperate for physical safety and comfort, love, compassion, and a sense of their own worth in the community

How Do They End Up Involved in Crime? Need to fit in with the street community To meet basic survival needs Coercion by older individuals who may promise acceptance, protection and support Actions fuelled by drugs and/or alcohol Lack of connection with the community Anger toward authority figures

YESS Response to Clients Criminal Activity The long road toward a positive reality for these young people is not an easy one. Many long held attitudes, beliefs, and habits need to change in order for them to move forward. YESS staff work to build skills and teach values and better decision making. Where criminal activity is concerned, YESS realizes that it is in the clients long term best interests to be held accountable for their actions, and to make restitution wherever possible. The support the staff at YESS give the kids when they re in trouble with the law makes YESS unique. They actually help them face up to their responsibilities and learn to be accountable for their behaviour. A presentation to the Edmonton Police -- Commission Constable October Jeff Kaun 21, 2010

YESS and the EPS Working Together With nearly 30 years of working together, the EPS and YESS have developed a positive ongoing relationship based on open communication and sharing of information Beat Cops, the NET Team, or 911 answer our calls promptly when crisis situations arise YESS staff know that our kids will be treated with dignity and respect by EPS members Presentations to kids on relevant issues Visits to all agency locations especially valuable for our most at risk clients

YESS and the EPS Working Together What Difference Does it Make? Benefits to YESS staff... Effective information sharing is a 2 way2 street intervention can happen faster Warrants are taken care of faster and more easily Crisis situations easier to de escalate escalate Helps to ensure that all staff, clients, and volunteers are in a safe and stable environment

YESS and the EPS Working Together What Difference Does it Make? Benefits to YESS Kids... Youth have a chance to chat with police in a non confrontational setting, and to get to know, like, and respect them as people Youth feel they can cooperate by giving police information, helping them to sever destructive social connections The kids feel safe in our facilities situations with peers are de escalated, and predators from the outside are discouraged byb EPS presence

YESS and the EPS Working Together What Difference Does it Make? Benefits to YESS Kids... It s s easier e for the kids to deal with difficult issues if they re familiar with the person they re dealing with Youth are appropriately pressing charges of assault or rape, because they have a new trust level with EPS Youth develop a new respect for authority figures The kids are better accepted in the neighbourhoods we work in when the neighbours know we work closely with the police

YESS and the EPS Working Together What Difference Does it Make? Benefits to Our Communities... The kids begin to understand that they are part of the community with responsibilities as well as rights Early intervention fosters a positive, goal oriented oriented environment for our youth and instills a value for community involvement EPS reports a decline in break and enters and petty crime in the area around the Armoury Youth Centre

YESS and the EPS Working Together What Difference Does it Make? Benefits to Our Communities... Kids often change their behaviour before they begin to engage in more serious offenses Youth often develop into compassionate people, active in their communities Many former YESS clients become attentive and caring spouses and parents. The cycle of abuse, neglect, and anti social behaviour is ended.

YESS and the EPS Moving Our Partnership Forward Open communication and exchange of information Continue to believe in our work with the kids As many drop by visits as possible, to encourage relationships with both staff and clients Presentations by EPS to the kids on relevant issues such as drug use, gang involvement, the justice system, the sex trade, and trends on the street

YESS and the EPS Thank you for this Opportunity!