Sheridan College SOURCE: Sheridan Scholarly Output, Research, and Creative Excellence Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies Publications and Scholarship (FAHCS)

7-2017 Halton Region Youth In/At Risk Research Report Ferzana Chaze Sheridan College, [email protected]

Bethany Osborne Sheridan College, [email protected]

Thomas Howe Sheridan College

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SOURCE Citation Chaze, Ferzana; Osborne, Bethany; and Howe, Thomas, "Halton Region Youth In/At Risk Research Report" (2017). Publications and Scholarship. 1. https://source.sheridancollege.ca/fahcs_publications/1

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies (FAHCS) at SOURCE: Sheridan Scholarly Output, Research, and Creative Excellence. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications and Scholarship by an authorized administrator of SOURCE: Sheridan Scholarly Output, Research, and Creative Excellence. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Halton Region Youth In/At Risk Research Report

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Table of Contents

I. Acknowledgements ...... 3 II. Background ...... 5 III. Introduction ...... 6 IV. What We Did ...... 9 V. What Service Providers Said ...... 11 VI. 1. Defining Terms ...... 12 VII. 2. The Needs of Youth...... 13 VIII. i. Vulnerable Populations ...... 19 IX. 3. Gaps in service ...... 24 X. 4. Challenges ...... 27 XI. What Youth Said ...... 34 XII. Recommendations and Fundable Solutions ...... 40 XIII. 1. Infrastructure ...... 40 XIV. 2. Funding ...... 43 XV. 3. Mental Health ...... 45 XVI. 4. Wrap around services ...... 46 XVII. 5. Accessible arts and crafts programs ...... 47 XVIII. 7. Programs to support Indigenous youth ...... 49 XIX. 8. Programs to support LGBTQ+ youth ...... 50 XX. Appendix 1: Youth-Serving Agency Profiles ...... 51 XXI. ArtHouse ...... 51 XXII. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton ...... 52 XXIII. Bridging the Gap- Halton Children’s’ Aid Society54 XXIV. Halton Youth Justice Program ...... 56 XXV. Kerr Street Mission ...... 59 XXVI. ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) ...... 60 XXVII. YMCA of Oakville ...... 63 XXVIII. Town of Oakville Youth Centres ...... 65 XXIX. Appendix 2: Phase 1 Interview Questions ...... 67 XXX. Appendix 3: Phase 1 Survey Questions ...... 72 XXXI. Halton In/At Risk Youth Research Project: Indigenous Youth ...... 72 XXXII. Halton In/At Risk Youth Research Project: A School Board ...... 73 XXXIII. Appendix 4: Proposal for Newcomer Youth 77 XXXIV. Appendix 5: Phase 2 Focus Group Questions78 XXXV. Appendix 6: Works Cited ...... 79 Acknowledgements

This research received the generous support of the Halton Region Social and Community Services, Sheridan College’s Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies, Sheridan College SRCA funding for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activities, and through generous funding from the Government of through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

We also acknowledge that this research would not have been possible without the initiation, and the generous support and resources of the Oakville Community Foundation and the members of the Halton Granters’ Roundtable whose membership includes:

* this is a draft logo for the Halton Granters’ Roundtable, not yet approved

First Ontario Credit Union Genworth Canada Union Gas Oakville Community Foundation Halton Region Town of Oakville Ontario Trillium Foundation United Way Halton & Hamilton YMCA of Oakville PwC May Court Club of Oakville Rotary Club of Oakville Rotary Club of Oakville West Rotary Club of O