The Youth Peer Support Program aims to provide young people ages 16-24 in the KFL&A Region with free social, emotional, and practical support, through both skills-building workshops and peer support services delivered by other young people in the community.
The program matches Youth Peer Support Workers with lived experience of homelessness, substance use/misuse, mental health, and recovery to other youth currently facing these challenges. Youth Peer Support Workers draw from their own lived experience to help other youth take the path towards recovery that is best for them.
Goals for the Program:
- Address youth mental health in KFLA.
- Build on existing networks of care – more options for support for youth.
- Wellness through social connection and building relationships.
- Create employment opportunities for youth with experience of homelessness and/or addiction.
- Teach peer support and personal wellness skills to local youth.
- Get youth involved in their own mental health care.
- Value lived experience.
Skills-Building Workshops
Skills-building workshops are free trainings for youth ages 16-25 to learn peer support and mental health skills. Designed for youth to learn how to better support themselves and those around them.
Content varies, but past workshops have included:
- SafeTALK Suicide Prevention
- Naloxone Overdose Prevention and Response
- Peer Support Basics
- Boundary Setting
- Wellness Planning
For information on up-coming workshops and registration, contact Danny McLaren at dmclaren@resolvecounselling.org.
Peer Support Workers
Youth Peer Supporters are youth ages 18-25 with lived experience who receive additional training to help them become more effective supporters. They provide peer support services in the form of sessions, support in community drop-in spaces, group facilitation, and more. Youth ages 16-24 can access youth peer support services.
Youth Peer Support Workers responsibilities include:
- Working up to 5/hrs per week, paid.
- Meeting regularly with youth peer clients.
- Assisting peers with goal setting, wellness planning, and steps towards recovery.
- Referring peers to other mental health services.
For information or to apply to be a youth peer support worker, contact Danny McLaren at dmclaren@resolvecounselling.org.
Downloadable Referral Form: If you are interested in accessing peer support, fill out and email a referral form to Danny McLaren at dmclaren@resolvecounselling.
Funded by the United Way of KFL&A
