March 21, 2013

YOUTH TRULY ARE OUR FUTURE: Are we meeting their needs?

As an organization, PoCoMo strives to reach out to those youth who are street involved. What we continue to recognize, is that there fewer and fewer resources fro youth after hours. Resources that have a mandate that does not make it hard fro youth to access.

As the teen bus rolls through the communities of the Tri-Cities and Langley', the youth are drawn to it. One for its funky painted exterior, two for its availability, three, for its unconditional acceptance of all youth, and four, and most importantly, it offers a safe haven after hours and direct access to caring adults. 

Often, what the youth we encounter want, is simply someone to listen. Someone that does not judge them for who they are, what they do, or have done. Someone that will listen, hear and possibly offer some word of wisdom. 

Further, the teen bus has become a consistent presence, port in the storm. The relationships build with the youth are the true catalyst for change. 

What the youth are asking for is simple. To know they are valued and cared for. What the teen bus offers is just that, through its presence, is caring, acceptance and understanding. The teen bus also is available at times when youth are in need, rather than asking youth to come to aservices when its convenient for the service. 

So, in looking at the bigger picture of youth services, simplifying may be the key. As well as providing services that are at the times youth need them the most.

.... more to come.

MORE TO COME

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January 9, 2013

As we head into the new year, our goal is to work towards offering more hours to our mobile outreach program. We have experienced a dramatic increase in youth who have mental health issues, or at least have felt more comfortable to come forward and share that they are struggling. The question still remains ... " Why do we continue to lack much needed youth support services?"

We throw around the phrase, "youth are our future", yet, the lack of programs and services is lower now than it was a decade ago. Our shout ot to you, our readers, is to be agents fo change. TO speak up and ask these questions of our local governments. Together we can make a difference....the youth need us to.