Life skills
Here To Help
Web: www.heretohelp.bc.ca
Email: bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca
Here to Help is a collaboration of seven mental health and addictions nonprofit organizations. It is a web site with up-to-date information, publications and stories on mental health and substance use, as well as resources like life skills and other coping-related “toolkits”, plus a discussion forum where you can connect with others.
YWCA
Phone: 604-895-5800
Address: 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC
Provides free individual counselling and referrals for young women. Also offers various group programming on assertiveness, parenting and employment assistance.
Their programs specifically for youth include:
- Aboriginal Mentorship program for aboriginal girls (12 to 17)
- Boys 4 Real /Welcome to My Life - Seven week after-school programs for Grade 7 boys and girls, respectively
- Camp Fun Girl One-week day summer camps for girls (9 to 13)
- High School one-to-one Mentorship for girls in Grades 11and 12
- Youth Jobseekers - Job postings, career advice, resources and employment centre info for young women 15 to 30!
Aunt Leah’s Place
Phone: 604-525-1204
Address: 200 – 668 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Y6
Web: www.auntleahs.org
Aunt Leah’s Place works with teen mothers and youth in foster care system to help them achieve a better future by providing guidance, supported housing, job training and coaching in essential skills.
Services include:
- Aunt Leah’s House: Supported housing for pregnant and parenting teen moms under 19
- Thresholds: Supported housing for new moms who are at risk for being homeless or losing their babies to the foster care system
- Support Link: A semi-independent living & life skills training program for youth, 15-18, who are presently in the MCFD care.
- A variety of life skills and job training employment programs, primarily catering to youth currently placed in foster care and participants (past and present) of Aunt Leah programs.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 中僑互助會
Tel: 604-931-5889
Email: info@success.bc.ca
Web: www.successbc.ca (Click Youth)
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Youth Services promotes the personal growth and career development of young people through a wide variety of programs ranging from the volunteer buddy program, youth volunteer group, youth counselling, to leadership training, employment and entrepreneurial development. Youth services are delivered by different departments in S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Services can be offered in Mandarin and Cantonese.
SUCCESS also offers Chinese Help Lines in both Mandarin and Cantonese. 10am to 10pm every day.
- Cantonese: 604-270-8233
- Mandarin: 604-270-8222
以一個多元模式的方向來協助增進青少年的個人成長，服務包括：
- 對在學校、家庭或社區產生困擾的青少年提供輔導支援
- 由受過訓練的義工，提供學業輔助及同輩輔導支援
- 青年義工小組提供青少年表達對社會關注的渠道，進而作出計劃以改善之
協助青少年投入社區、建立其興趣及目標、發展才能，本會於去年舉辦的「中僑青年領袖新紀元」、「青少年精英暑期培訓課程」、「兒童及青少年講寫讀英文日營」等活動，均備受社區推崇。
Directions Youth Services Centre
Phone: 604-633-1472
Address: 900 Pacific Street, Vancouver BC
Web: http://www.fsgv.ca/programpages/youthservices/directionsyouthservicescentre.html
At Directions Youth Services Centre, homeless youth and youth living in at-risk situations have access to an extensive range of services designed to assist them in taking the next steps with their life… be it to return to their home or home communities, to seek and secure affordable housing, to become employable and find employment, to work towards literacy and educational goals, or to access a doctor or a nurse, addictions services and mental health counsellors. The door is always open – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
In addition to a wide range of resources and supports, Directions Youth Services Centre also helps meet many immediate daily needs, such as hot meals, showers, and laundry facilities. In order to make the services as accessible as possible, services like locker space and pet kennels are available for youth while accessing the services within the centre. Directions also serves as an urban youth centre, offering a safe place off the streets to engage homeless youth in educational, recreational, and artistic programs.
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
The Gathering Place
Phone: 604-665-2391
Address: 609 Helmcken Street, Vancouver BC
Web: www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/gatheringplace/
The Gathering Place is a community centre that caters to the disadvantaged residents of the Downtown South community. Services include a low-cost cafeteria, health centre, reading room and a c0nnected education centre.
Open 10am-8pmm, 7 days/week
Other services include:
- recreational facilities
- access to resources and health services
- free clothing, showers & laundry
- art programs (pottery, photography, painting)
- Youth Worker available to talk and give referrals
Does not provide a shelter (except a part-time emergency shelter in the winter), but can offer referrals and information for these.
