Resources
The following resources have been compiled by current or former youth in care for other youth in or from care.
General
- Supports youth and their families in dealing with the provincial child and youth welfare system: https://rcybc.ca/
- Empowering youth in and from government care in BC: https://agedout.com/
- Provides youth and family support, education programs, employment services, addiction counselling and prevention, and housing support: https://pcrs.ca/
- City of Vancouver’s youth portal: http://www.vancouveryouth.ca/
- Link to Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) Aboriginal Prevention Services Guide, includes resources for meals, youth shelters, treatment centres, housing, furniture, employment, education, and more: https://frafca.org/index.php/2017/09/06/2017-aboriginal-prevention-services-guide/
Housing
- Information and resources for finding housing in BC: https://agedout.com/housing
- Housing options and transition programs offered through the Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA): https://unya.bc.ca/programs/#live-in
- Information about Lu’ma Native Housing and the application process: http://lnhs.ca/luma-native-housing/
- Emergency Aboriginal shelter, offers hot dinner meal and breakfast – on a first come, first serve basis: http://www.vafcs.org/programs/aboriginalshelter/
- Informational resource for BC Housing – Housing Assistance, including eligibility requirements and applications: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance
- Program overview for subsidized housing with BC Housing, including eligibility requirements and other information: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-housing/subsidized-housing
- Pacific Community Resources Society housing resources: Housing | Pacific Community Resources Society (pcrs.ca)
- Information for Directions Safehouse, provides secure and stable housing for those 16-18; staff help youth find permanent housing: https://directionsyouthservices.ca/donor/
- Website for the Vancouver Native Housing Society: https://vnhs.ca/
- Watari’s Transitioning to Independence Program (a housing subsidy program) intended to support youth who are at risk of homelessness and struggle with drug or alcohol use: http://www.watari.ca/services/youth-programs/transitioning-to-independence-project–tip–1
Education
- Information for varied education options including finishing high school, AYA, student loans, tuition waivers, scholarships, and finding programs: https://agedout.com/education
- Details for UNYA’s education and training programs, including the Native Youth Learning Centre and School Support program: https://unya.bc.ca/programs/#education
- Details on PCRS’ Baristas Training Program in collaboration with Starbucks and BladeRunners: https://pcrs.ca/our-services/baristas-employment-training-program/
- Overview of the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/youth-and-family-services/teens-in-foster-care/agreements-with-young-adults
- Overview of the BladeRunners Program, including history, eligibility, and locations throughout BC: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/Labour-Market-Programs/Bladerunners-Program.aspx
- Details for the AYA program: https://agedout.com/education/beyond-bursaries-aya-program
- In-depth information for finding scholarships and bursaries, describes different types of funding and outlines eligibility: https://agedout.com/education/find-scholarships-and-bursaries
- Apply to Storwell’s Foster Children Bursary Program: https://www.storwell.com/bursary-application
- Describes the Youth Educational Assistance fund for former youth in care:https://studentaidbc.ca/explore/grants-scholarships/youth-educational-assistance-fund-former-youth-care
Mental Health, Addictions and Wellness
- Detailed information regarding health, mental health, and addictions, including information regarding free medical help, finding a counsellor, depression, and managing and reducing stress: https://agedout.com/health-and-wellness
- Information for needle exchange and disposal services through Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/harm-reduction/needle-exchange
- Information for Vancouver’s Supervised Injection Sites – Insite and Powell Street Gateway: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/harm-reduction/supervised-consumption-sites
- Quick links to health services for youth, including immunizations, mental health services, pregnancy services, and youth clinics: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/children-youth-schools/youth-health
- Information for UNYA’s health and wellness programs, including their mediation program and clinical counsellors: https://unya.bc.ca/programs/#personal
- Details about the Lu’ma Medical Centre which provides culturally integrated primary health care: http://lnhs.ca/luma-medical-centre/
- Information for PCRS’ Aboriginal Youth Empowerment program for youth who are victims of crime and trauma: https://pcrs.ca/our-services/aboriginal-youth-empowerment-program/
- Details about Fraser Valley’s Astra program, assisting youth who want to change their relationship to alcohol and/or drugs: https://pcrs.ca/our-services/astra/
- Mental health resource list for online and phone-related resources: https://fbcyicn.ca/what-we-offer/resources/mental-health-resources
- Website for Qmunity, an organization that provides support programs and counselling for LGBTQ2S+ folks: https://qmunity.ca/
- Website for Watari Counselling and Support Services Society, offers counselling and other support programs: http://www.watari.ca/
- Urgent Primary Care Centre in Vancouver – for same-day care for non-life-threatening conditions such as sprains, cuts, fever, asthma, and less serious illness and injury: http://www.vch.ca/Locations-Services/result?res_id=1438
- Surrey Mental Health & Substance Use Urgent Care Centre, for those who need urgent mental health and addictions care: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/news/2019/Jul/bcs-first-mental-health-substance-use-urgent-care-response-centre-opens-in-surrey#.XZZnr0ZKiUk
Nourishment – Food, fun and finances
- Details on finance, including finding employment services, getting income assistance, money sense, filing taxes, debt trouble, and more: https://agedout.com/money-income
- Information related to personal struggles, including abusive relationships, life skills, legal help, and more: https://agedout.com/personal-life
- Links to the Vancouver or Richmond Food Asset Maps, outlines plaaces in the community that have low-cost or free food options: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/nutrition/food-asset-map
- List of organizations in Vancouver that help offer free clothing options:https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/homeless-and-low-income-resources-clothing-provider-list.pdf
- Healthy meal planning tools and videos: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/nutrition/healthy-eating
- Details on UNYA’s community and connection related programming, including the Sports and Recreation and Arts programs: https://unya.bc.ca/programs/#sports
- Information on the Lu’ma Aboriginal Youth Mentorship program for supporting youth transitioning from foster care: http://lnhs.ca/aboriginal-youth-mentorship/
- Recreation programs offered through the Friendship Centre, including Pow Wow Dancing, basketball, soccer, and others: http://www.vafcs.org/programs/recreation/
- Events planned by Fostering Change, an organization focused on changing public policy for youth ‘aging out’ of government care: https://www.fosteringchange.ca/
- Financial literacy and basic banking informational videos by Vancity: https://www.vancity.com/AboutVancity/VisionAndValues/ValuesBasedBanking/FinancialLiteracyAndBasicBanking/
Advocacy work by VACFSS’ Youth Advisory Committee
- VACFSS’ Youth Advisory Committee is part of the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they worked in collaboration with the Council to extend moratoriums for youth transitioning out of care during the pandemic and co-designing a Canada-wide response to support youth. Read the statement from the Council here.
- The Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care Report.
