The SOS BC Youth in Transition (Bridge 19) initiative offers youth who are preparing to leave foster care, as well as those youth who are disconnected from family but too old at age 16 to come into care, an opportunity to stabilize and enhance their social and life skills while they live in a safe and semi-supervised environment. SOS BC attaches great importance to ensuring that youth in care are able to manage the social and economic realities of their lives and accompanies them on their road to becoming self-reliant adults.
The goal of SOS BC is to provide secure homes, mentorship and reliable programs for foster children until they are past the age of majority. Our Youth in Transition initiative helps us achieve this goal by providing the support and training critical to the success of youth in care who need assistance with transition into successful independence.
Statistics demonstrate that most youth experience a continuum of difficulties when they leave foster care. Most apply for adult welfare when they turn 19. Housing choices are generally abysmal. Good jobs are difficult to find. Many youth in care experience developmental difficulties which require maturation in several skill-based areas. Issues related to mental health are not uncommon. If the youth is pregnant, or has a child, the struggle can be monumental.
SOS BC is working with South Hill Resources in order to create safe, transitional housing for youth, along with solid program elements that meet the need of youth.
Our first home opening its doors in June of 2006. This home which has house parents on the top floor, will accommodate three youth, female, who have babies in the suites down below.
The goals of the Youth in Transition Program
- Assess skill levels across the social, lifeskill, and health/safety domains
- Build a strong mentorship program for the youth
- Provide youth with a link between housing and programming which allows for solid wrap-around service for youth in transisition. The lifeskills and employment focus will be carried out by South Hill Resources
- Create a network of stability for each youth in residence, giving each youth has a broad and healthy spectrum of adults and peers who will become the youth’s network of support for the future.
The Human Face of the Youth In Transition Program
Heather Edgar, the Associate Executive Director of Coast
Mental Health, introduces Kaytee Tuomoula, 2007 winner
of the Courage to Come Back Awards.
An inspiring interview with Kaytee Tuomoula, one of the
young mothers in SOS BC's Youth In Transition residence.
This is her story from struggle to success.
Videos produced by Ami Catriona
Our other programs:
Family Continuance Program
Lifeskills Outreach Program
<-- Back to Main Program Page
Canadian Charitable Registration BN # 12993-5011 RR0001