THE RESOURCE CENTRE FOR YOUTH

Saint John youth and adults from a number of organizations have set out to create The Resource Centre For Youth

Saint John youth said that programs and services were limited, that their needs were not being met, and that they were tired of running all over the city to access services - if they could even get into the program! Waiting lists, fees and transportation made accessing services difficult.

To remedy this a group of youth got together with adults from a number of organizations to figure out how to do things better. They came up with a totally new way to provide services to youth. The next step was to set up The Resource Centre Steering Committee.

TRC Steering Committee set out to do 2 things:

1. Improve the quality, accessibility, and coordination of youth services and programs in Greater Saint John.
2. Establish a one-stop facility located uptown on a bus route, where youth can access health, self-development, work readiness and recreation programs all under one roof.

It will be a multi-service building for youth services, programs and activities. A multi-service building with 4 key areas:

1. Health Services: With a multi-disciplinary team (physician, nurse, social worker, addiction counselor, mental health counselor, and dietitian), TRC will be able to address youth health concerns such as smoking, alcohol/drugs, weight management, eating disorders, depression, relationship issues (family, friends, boy/girlfriends), as well as sexual and physical health.
2. Self-Development Program: These include a wide variety of programs that support youth in "self-exploration" and provide an opportunity to learn coping skills. For example, programs will look at things like self-esteem, anger management, stress management, and assertiveness training.
3. Work Readiness: These services are self-explanatory. They will assist youth in preparing for the job market, discovering what career opportunities there are, providing exposure to different career paths, and supporting their educational efforts.
4. Recreation and Community Service: Although Saint John has a lot of competitive sports, there are relatively few opportunities for youth to get involved in art, theatre, music, leadership development, and volunteering. TRC will provide a greater opportunity for youth to get involved in a variety of activities. Furthermore, an ENTIRE floor will be dedicated to loungin' and "fun stuff", like a pool table, ping-pong table, and a large screen TV.