First Nations Services
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
Phone: 604-251-4844
Address: 1607 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, BC V5L 1S7
Web: vafcs.org Email: info@vafcs.org
VAFCS is a community centre that provides social, cultural, recreational, and other life-enhancing programs and services to aboriginal people making the transition to urban society.
Programs include:
- A recreational program for youth with drop-in sessions, sports, arts & crafts.
- Our Elders Speak Wisdom has two weekly luncheons, drop-in, food banks and activities for elders of aboriginal descent from all different tribes across Canada.
- Sundance Daycare for kids ages 3 to 6
- … and a host of other community events. See web site for more details.
Holistic Wellness – Aboriginal Child & Youth Mental Health Portal
Web: acymh.ca
This portal is a community driven web directory designed to increase knowledge of the services available in connection to Holistic Wellness Aboriginal Child Youth Mental Health in the Vancouver Coastal Region.
Administered by the Vancouver Native Health Society.
Aboriginal Canada Portal
Web: www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca
The Aboriginal Canada Portal (ACP) is a window to First Nations, Inuit and Métis on-line resources, contacts, information, and government programs and services in Canada. The Aboriginal Canada Portal is a partnership between Government departments and the Aboriginal community.
Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society
Phone: 604-872-6723 Toll-free: 1-877-982-2377
Web: www.vacfss.com Email: info@vacfss.com
ACFSS provides a wide range of delegated and non-delegated services to help urban Aboriginal children and families. These services currently fall within five departments: Foster Care, Guardianship, Residential Resources, Family Preservation & Reunification, and Child Protection. Program work to support children and families in overcoming their challenges and staying connected to their cultures.
All clients are currently referred by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. All programs and services are guided by the Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards.
Battered Women’s Support Services
Phone (Counselling line): 604-687-1867 (Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm; until 8pm on Wednesdays)
Web: www.bwss.org Email: information@bwss.org
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) provides support and advocacy for women who have experienced abuse, as well as education about violence against women.
Services include:
- Crisis Support line
- Long-term individual counselling
- Support groups
- First Nations Women’s Support & Outreach
- Legal advocacy and civil court accompaniment
- Dating Violence information-for young women
- Education and Training
- Retail program
Watari
Phone: 604-254-6995
Web: www.watari.org Email: info@watari.org
Main office:301-877 East Hastings St, Vancouver BC, V6A 3Y1
Watari offers support and resources to youth around substance misuse, life skills training and street issues. Programs include:
- The Youth Day Treatment Program is a 7-week, voluntary substance misuse day treatment program for youth ages 13 to 24. It offers alcohol & drug counselling and education, wellness and life skills, referrals, recreation, and creative arts. Supports youth in making the transition to a more self-directed, life-affirming lifestyle.
- Through the Youth & Family Program, the Community Addictions Counselling Team is for children, youth, adults and families (primarily in the Downtown Eastside) struggling with alcohol and drug use, either their own or a close one’s. Counselling focuses primarily on alcohol and drug related issues.
- The Survival Manual (survivalmanual.org) is a compilation of services in Vancouver for high-risk adults, youth and families. Presented in a format designed by youth, it provides easily accessible health, legal, and resource information. A print version is also available from Watari.
- Various life-skills and outreach programs
Broadway Youth Resource Centre
Phone: 604-709-5720
Web: broadwayyouthresourcecentre.org
Address: 691 East Broadway, Vancouver BC V5T 1X7
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs 1pm-7pm || Wed 2:30-7pm || Fri 1pm-6pm
Offers the following services/programs for youth aged 13-24:
- Drop-in resource room
- Phone/computer use
- Youth advisory group
- Youth addictions counsellor
- Probation workers
- Adult basic education
- Counselling clinic
- Aboriginal youth program
- Health clinic (M & Th 2:30pm-5pm)
- Leave Out Violence Program
- Aboriginal youth victim support program
- Youth housing registry and housing assistance
- Vietnamese youth development program
- Youth to adult transition program
All services are FREE
Run by Pacific Community Resources Society.
Redwire Native Youth Society
Web: www.redwiremag.com Email: info@redwiremag.com
Redwire is “a collective of Native youth creating uncensored spaces for youth to find their own voice.” Up until recently, they published Redwire Magazine, an uncensored forum for Native youth to find, discuss and share their voice. Currently, they are focusing on creating online resources with workshops and projects in video and podcasting. They are “a media and arts organization dedicated to the power and healing of unhindered expression.”
They are incorporated as the Redwire Native Youth Media Society.
Vancouver Native Health Society
Phone: 604-254-9949
Main Office and Medical Clinic Address: 449 East Hastings St, Vancouver BC V6A 1P5
Web: www.vnhs.net
Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS) delivers medical, social and counseling services, with an emphasis on providing care to the Aboriginal community. All programs are accessible without fees to native and non-native individuals residing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Provides:
- Drop-in Medical Clinic open M-Th 9:30a-8:30p, F-Su 9:30a-5p. 604-255-9766.
- Drop-in Dental Clinic open Mondays 9a-4p and Fridays 9a-noon. 604-254-9900. 455 East Hastings Street. See web site for more information about services offered and how priority is determined.
- A huge variety of Support Services please see the web site for more information.
Urban Native Youth Association
Phone: 604-254-7732
Address: 1618 East Hastings, Vancouver BC V5L 1S6
Web: www.unya.bc.ca Email: info@unya.bc.ca
Operates a variety of programs and services for Native youth aged 13-24. These include:
- Education & Training
- Personal Support (youth workers, counsellors, outreach, mediation and a drop-in centre)
- Residential Programs (Aboriginal Youth Safehouse and residential alcohol & drug programs)
- Sports and Recreation Program
Their web site has a listing of upcoming events and regularly schedules activities:
