FORT FRANCES—Youth from the Northern zone (Kenora, Dryden, Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, and Fort Frances) gathered here Monday to participate in the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies Youth Communication Advocacy Network conference.
As just the second conference held in the area since YouthCAN’s establishment last year, the one-day event focused on a discussion to help positively impact Ontario’s child welfare system.
“[It’s held] so that youth in care are empowered, secure, and flourish in an environment that is conducive to realizing their full potential,” the program’s website states.
“The kids in care get together and they have the chance to have a discussion around what each agency is doing, comparing different policies, etc.,” explained Jolene Richert, Independence Planning Worker at Family and Children’s Services here.
“Also, they have a chance to come up with recommendations or problems that maybe they find with being in care. And then it’s brought forward to the ministry,” Richert added, noting two of the participants will be writing up a report, which will be sent to their ministry representative.
“And then hopefully [we’ll] get some changes out of that.”
Richert stressed the youths generated a lot of good ideas of things they’d like to see changes in.
Throughout the busy day, the 25 participants and 10 staff members also were extended a cultural awareness presentation and activity at the Fort Frances Museum, a presentation on healthy living, and the opportunity to join in some physical activities led by Jackie Lampi-Hughes from Energy Fitness here.
“It let them get to know each other before the discussion,” Richert explained. “And they’re at the age where we really wanted to promote the healthy living aspect.
“The discussion part of the retreat is the basis of it, but anything we can do that provides education, then we incorporate that in there.”
In addition, the youths heard from inspirational speaker Shane Beckett, a teacher at Fort Frances High School.
“He spoke as a former youth in care,” she noted. “They sat quiet and really listened to him. They really connected with him. It was great.
“He spoke about where he is now and that it’s possible to do something with your life.”
Richert added the participants formed some solid support networks with each other. They got to know other youths who may be in similar situations as them.
“It was definitely a really good conference,” she remarked, adding they hope to hold at least one within the Northern zone annually. But it likely will move around to other communities.
There also is an annual conference held where all the zones in the province get together.
Other goals of the YouthCAN program are to:
•advocate on behalf of youth in care in Ontario Children’s Aid Societies;
•communicate timely and relevant information to Children’s Aid Societies and youth in care;
•increase youth input into policy, programs, and activities; and
•be a resource to Children’s Aid Societies, youth networks, and organizations with a Youth In Care mandate.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
