Family & Youth Support Services Program

Program Overview – What you can expect:

• A voluntary, prevention/intervention program designed to be easily accessible, relationship-based and goal focused. We start by acknowledging any concerns and challenges that brought you here! 

• We focus on your family’s main needs and priorities and work together to set goals, such as positive changes, increasing safety and security, reducing risks, trying new things, and finding solutions. We empower families to consider other supports that could also be beneficial to your situation. 

• Children/youth get paired with a Support Worker. Our job is to be a neutral, safe adult who can listen and provide a therapeutic experience and warm atmosphere. Children/youth can practice expressing themselves, be seen and accepted for who they are without judgement, while having fun!  

• We recognize young people grow and thrive when they have healthy connections in their community and family lives, promoting a sense of belonging and feeling less alone. 

• Our approach focuses on building a foundation of trust. We work alongside your family to identify strengths, boost your resilience, and learn skills and strategies to better cope with life when times are hard or changes are happening. 

• We meet children, youth, and caregivers where they are at – Physically, in spaces that would feel safe and comfortable; Emotionally, at your pace and readiness; And developmentally with age-appropriate approaches.  

• We support social-emotional and behavioral needs, topics to do with mental health, diagnosed disabilities or diverse abilities that are impacting your family, addressing peer challenges or school struggles, family conflicts, grief and loss, or any other combination of experiences. 

• We use an individualized approach that is fitted to each unique family dynamic. Our support can be flexible for your preferred choice of times and location of sessions.   

• Services may include in-the-moment support, play-based or art-based sessions, skill-building, groupwork opportunities for youth, parenting and caregiver support, mentorship, advocacy, and facilitating referrals to other resources.  

Duration of Service, Referral Criteria & Process 

• We are a free, referral-based service.  

• Referrals can be done by Social Workers, school counsellors, medical professionals, parents/caregivers, and youth (13+) can self-refer.  

• There is screening process and often a waitlist. Priority service may be provided to clients who involved with MCFD Social Workers, Mental Health clinicians, or other care teams, where timely service and urgency is needed. 

• As space allows, we reach out to offer an intake session to complete paperwork, including consent and confidentiality forms, and create a plan together to begin your support. 

• With consent, we can collaborate with local school staff in SD68, and other workers/teams, to ensure a coordinated wrap-around approach. 

• We offer up to 18 sessions, with formal closures being done on a case-by-case basis.  

• Sessions can take place in various rooms in our shared LRCA office, in your family home, school setting, outdoors in nature, or in community settings such as cafés or restaurants over food, or on a car ride!  

• Sessions must be scheduled directly with your assigned Support Worker. Support Worker office hours for appointments are flexible, Mon.-Fri. 9:00am – 5:00pm. 

• Walking into our reception is an option during general office hours. General messages can go through our receptionist, if your support worker is unavailable. 

To get started with your support plans, or for any general questions, please contact:
Lacey Redding, Program Coordinator/Team Lead Support Worker  

Email: Lacey@lrca.ca  

Direct Cell: 250-714-5906 

Reception: 250-245-3079