Discover how Safe Haven Youth Services collaborates with local partners to offer wholistic, trauma informed, crisis-based live-in services for youth aged 12-18 who are experiencing acute difficulties including the need for short term housing. This presentation emphasizes a trauma-informed, relationship-based, and strengths-based approach, rooted in anti-oppressive practices and attachment theory, alongside the Housing First for Youth Model. Safe Haven integrates mental health, substance use, anti-human trafficking, and identity-affirming care tailored to youth needs. Community collaborations provide supports not embedded in programming to enhance services (including Indigenous and culturally specific support, Child Welfare, Victim Services, and Sexual Assault Support Centre Services). Attendees will learn how this unique interwoven program effectively utilizes community resources to adapt to youth needs, leading to decreased caregiver-teen conflict, family reunification, and the prevention of youth homelessness.

Learning Objectives

1. Implementing Service Enhancement Strategies: Explore methods for effectively addressing community needs and overcoming barriers such as funding challenges and service silos.

2. Building Collaborative Community Partnerships: Learn how to engage with community partners to achieve both regional and system-wide wins.

3. Showcasing Innovative Service Development: Illustrate the successful creation and pilot of a service that responds to a specific community need, all achieved without initial funding.