Serving youth

Online programming keeps youth centre connected

Ensuring the needs of County youth are met doesn’t stop during a global pandemic. With almost every nonessential business and organization shuttered during the outbreak, the Prince Edward County Youth Centre is no different. With schools also closed since March break, and not expected to re-open until at least May 31, it is essential Prince Edward County’s young people have a place to turn and someone to talk to should they need it. Just like so many other organizations, the Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC) has had to get creative in its approach. “It’s being able to deliver the same programming, but in a new way,” says Alison Kelly, Administrator and Communications Officer with the ROC.

With staff now working from home, the ROC is still functioning, just in a different way, and aside from the drop-in program, almost all programs are running, with modifications, on social media. For example, one-on-one counselling has moved to phone calls, emails or text messaging. “We are mirroring programs we have been running in the actual centre,” explains Kelly. For example, on Mondays, they focus on mental health, there are Movement Tuesdays, which include physical activities where they encourage the kids to get out and do something. Wednesdays include a weekly art mural project. “The Community Art Mural Project involves a group of kids who continue to do their art, share their work with others, talk through ideas and they are doing that online.” On Thursdays, they can Fix-a-Meal, where several staff will cook a meal, put it online and share the recipe. Chill Fridays involves ‘get to know the staff’ trivia.

Lindsay Ferguson, Youth Centre Manager, handing out County Care Kits to youth and their families during the outbreak.

“It’s a challenge and every week we are going back and saying, ‘what worked and what didn’t work’ and re-adjusting as we need to, and getting input from the youth as well,” says Kelly. “We have a drop-in centre, so every day at lunch and after school, kids would drop into the centre and we would have programs scheduled for that day,” she says. “The kids could just hang with their friends and talk to adults at the centre and be in a place that is safe and that has food.” In normal times, the centre is open Monday to Friday during the lunch hour and after school, where they see approximately 40 to 60 youth per day. “If they live far away from the youth centre, we will provide a taxi ride home at no cost,” says Kelly. “We are trying to eliminate some of those barriers that prevent these youth from being involved in the programming.”

The Recreation Outreach Centre, a non-profit registered charity serving the needs of local youth, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, where plans for a birthday celebration and fundraiser will be announced later. They started as an outreach centre hosting camps for kids on Macaulay Mountain. “From there they moved into doing programming in schools and then four years ago decided they needed an actual drop-in centre,” says Kelly. The youth centre currently has about 300 members registered, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years.

With the assistance of its many community partners, the ROC is able to provide its services free of charge to the youth it serves, whether it’s programming, work- With the assistance of its many community partners, the ROC is able to provide its services free of charge to the youth it serves, whether it’s programming, workshops, counselling or supplies, such as food or personal hygiene products. It is the only facility in Prince Edward County offering youth drop-in programs and activities at no cost. “It’s empowering them to build skills, gain confidence and make connections with peers and the community,” says Kelly. “Youth are engaged and supported to be physically and mentally healthy, and emotionally resilient to make positive lifestyle choices.”

In addition to the online programming and daily counselling, the ROC also offer County Care Kits, a pilot project that has continued due to the high need. Kelly explains how the ROC recently sent out a needs assessment survey to 175 youth to find out how they are doing, what their needs are and what the ROC can do to help them. “We specifically asked if we can help with food, personal hygiene supplies, art and education supplies, any technology support,” says Kelly. Many highlighted food as a need, so we have been helping them out, but Kelly says there is also a demand for personal hygiene products.

“Every day, we are reaching kids, and every day there are more needs coming from them and our supplies are running low so we need donations,” says Kelly. Just in the last two weeks, 25 County Care Kits have been delivered or handed out.

There is high poverty in our community reminds Kelly. “A couple of these kids are homeless or some are living in foster care, it could be a number of reasons why they may be in need.” Last fall, the ROC launched the Youth Inclusion Program (YIP), a pilot project that is an evidence-based program intended to promote community safety and well-being for 25 at-risk youth. “These kids are getting at least 500 hours of support per year from a number of different ways,” explains Kelly. “They get it through one-on-one case management, they are involved in group activities, such as life skills training, mentoring, recreation, tutoring and more.”

“Viewed as an essential part of their lives, youth tell us that without this safe, supervised supportive place, they would have no other place to go,” says Kelly. “The youth centre allows youth the freedom to socialize with their peers, enjoy a meal and talk to adult allies they trust about their daily struggles and successes. The youth centre offers a safe, judgement-free place, where every youth is welcome, encouraged and supported to realize their potential,” she says.

“Parents have expressed how not having the ROC youth centre open during the outbreak has been negatively impacting their teen,” noted one staff member. “Without access to the youth centre and the ROC staff, their kids have ‘idle hands and have gotten into trouble’. This has led to an increase in scheduled remote meetings between youth and staff.” Kelly says for many of the youth, knowing that staff continue to be available to them is reassuring. “Youth are reaching out when they are stressed, when they need help with school or when they need help getting basic needs,” she says. “Many times, it’s just to say ‘hello’ and to tell us what they have been doing. They still reach out to us about anything and everything, just like they do when they walk into the youth centre.” Kelly says the centre was part of the kids’ daily routine. “Every day, they would run from the school into that building and tell you whatever was on their mind, and they miss doing that.”

The ROC encourages all local youth to fill out a survey at theroc.ca/were-here-for-you. The PEC Youth Centre would like youth to stay in touch via social media at: instagram.com/rocpec and facebook.com/the- ROC.believinginyouth. Donations of personal hygiene products or financial contributions can be made at: theroc.ca/donate or mailed to 299 Main Street, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0.