It's not always easy to ask for help, particularly for youth in need, but a local organization is trying to bridge that gap and meet those needs.
Sunshine Coast Youth Outreach (SCYO) is a program designed to promote increased youth safety. By providing connections to support services in the community, they enable youth to improve their health and overall well-being. SCYO also aims to decrease the potential for high-risk behaviour as well as work on public education and awareness of the issues youth face.
The program operates both day and night, with the day encompassing classroom outreach and social public awareness work. The night consists of meeting with youth, ranging in age from 13 to 23, wherever they might be, including drop-in programs, malls, local beaches and on the street.
The workers drive through the community, identify themselves from the SCYO program and hand out small flashlights imprinted with the SCYO cell number. They also assist youth in crisis, helping them with the initial steps they need to take in order to access the community services that are discussed during daytime outreach.
The SCYO team consists of three workers, with Sean Lougheed as team leader. Under the leadership of a steering committee that includes the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society and School District No. 46, SCYO operates as a Coast-wide initiative.
Predominantly funded by local government, SCYO also relies on donations and fundraising.
In a recent report presented to the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), SCYO identified a wide range of issues Coast youth continually face. While alcohol and marijuana use were outlined, issues such as food insecurity, transportation, homelessness and sub-standard housing were also at the forefront.
Lougheed discussed further program initiatives with the SCRD and exemplified their essential goal of acting as a "handmaiden" to help youth overcome barriers.
"We want to give youth the little bump they need to access, at a crucial time in their lives, the support they need so they become productive members of the community," Lougheed said at the March 3 corporate services committee meeting.
When directors asked about the future goals of the program, Lougheed said long-term sustainability remains a primary focus, with a strong emphasis on maintaining quality outreach work. Another goal is the expansion of the program's social media platform, including the creation of a website and Facebook page, in addition to their current Twitter account.
