The official opening of the Carrier Sekani Family Services Sk'ai Zeh Yah Youth Centre took place Nov. 20 on National Child Day but the new Prince George facility has been open for a few weeks and staff have already started to build connections with those coming through the door.
Sk’ai Zeh Yah means Children of Chief’s House and the name came from the intentions of upholding the rights of Indigenous children and youth at the centre where everyone eight to 29 years old from all walks of life is welcome.
"It's been pretty overwhelming actually, we've had people consistently coming in and getting breakfast, having a shower, doing laundry and taking food to go with them and just having a warm, dry place to come and hang out where it feels safe for them," Amy Merritt, director of youth services, said. "We've seen people coming back again and that's always good because it means they are finding a connection here."
The facility, mostly funded by Indigenous Services Canada, offers wrap-around supports for at-risk youth and young adults with a focus on prevention.
"So the question is if we can't do it who can so there's been a lot of networking around that," Merritt said.
One of their main focuses at Sk'ai Zeh Yah Youth Centre is to support young adults as they come out of foster care, she added.
"Youth age out of foster care at 19 and then many of the supports relied upon while in care no longer exist - not in all cases but in many," Merritt said. "Many of the young adults on the street have their own experiences of being in foster care and so the centre is providing a continuation of support for those most at risk."
The goal is prevention, not intervention, she added.
"We want to prevent homelessness so we offer life skills, opportunities for continuing education and advocacy," Merritt said. "So we're looking at preventing certain risk factors that we know are the realities for many kids who have aged out of foster care. We're partnering with the RCMP, the school district, the Friendship Centre, the ministry and this will be the hub in Prince George where youth and young adults know they can come for help. And if we can't meet their needs here we will refer them on."
Merritt said they don't do a typical referral at the centre, so those in need will be physically walked or driven to where they need to go.
"We will walk with you to get you where you're going," Merritt said. "Right now we are the youth hub in Prince George to provide that service."
The centre also offers after-school programming for those eight to 18 within the Walk Tall program that includes picking children up after school and bringing them to the centre for a meal and some cultural learning that includes time with elders and recreational activity.
Often young adults come into the centre under dressed and with wet feet so Merritt is asking for donations of winter coats, socks and winter boots that people can drop off at the centre.
The long term goal for the centre is that it will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and ultimately provide housing as well. In the meantime youth and young adults can access the centre at 1575 Second Ave.
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