Social connections

Recommendation 22: Support workers need to provide in-person support to make a strong connection with youth. For those who are unable to, they should provide frequent virtual check-ins.

Mental health

Recommendation 31: Low-barrier support that provides drop in programming or short, easy life-skills workshops such as budgeting, employment, career training, mental wellness, and social activities. Youth recommend non-clinical activities such as walking with a community support worker.

Mental health

Recommendation 33: Develop a “no wrong door” policy by ensuring all organizations know what resources are available and what youth need supports to ensure no youth falls through the cracks. Mental health organizations should partner with non-profits to provide youth with clinical supports and workshops. There should be one referral document for all services such as the Wrapforce program in Kamloops and the One Door initiative in Kelowna.

Mental health

Recommendation 34: Provide youth with in-house mental health and cognitive assessments, so they are able to access CLBC and other supports in a timely manner.

Substance use

Recommendation 44: Youth are recommending that non-profits provide medical detox to youth they are already connected to. In Vancouver, youth suggested that the COVID-19 or Covenant House van could help youth detoxing in community.

Substance use

Recommendation 45: Provide youth with access to in-house substance use counselors and face to face NA/AA meetings. Some youth are not able to access the online meetings or they don’t work for them. Youth benefit from peer-based knowledge groups to de-stigmatize substance use.

Substance use

Recommendation 48: Youth need support in finding purpose, which provides youth with a reason to access substance use support. This may need to be a two-part process with employers willing to support youth to get connected to the community and support resilience in bouncing back.

Income

Recommendation 57: There must be priority to keeping income levels consistent to avoid an influx of youth experiencing homelessness. Provide youth with resources and adequate preparation time to transition off government support to employment.

Income

Recommendation 58: The Province should advocate to the Federal government to ensure ineligible youth who have accessed the CERB are not accumulating debt during the pandemic. Youth should obtain a pass and not have to pay back CERB or be given longer grace periods.

Income

Recommendation 59: If there is a second wave, there needs to be increased education on how the CERB works and who is eligible for it. There should be designated financial supports for youth with disabilities or young people who are working part-time.