This toolkit is designed for shelters, housing providers, youth-serving agencies and other organizations concerned about homeless and at-risk youth in Canada. It is outlines some ideas for providing a youth employment project for at-risk youth and is designed to create a model that is flexible and adaptable.
The case studies and resource materials are based on the Train for Trades program at Choices for Youth in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Groups are encouraged to consider this model as a promising practice but to modify it where necessary to create their own program that meets the unique context of their community. Whether groups are interested in adapting one part or the entire model the toolkit provides support and resources to help develop the program, establish staffing roles, understand funding expectations and to create the policies, procedures and rules needed to get it up and running as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Creation of the Toolkit
As with most projects of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness/Homeless Hub the toolkit was developed through a very collaborative process.
- A brief review of literature related to youth employment and social enterprise initiatives was conducted (this toolkit is not a literature review and this research was conducted primarily for background material).
- Phone and in-person interviews (the latter were filmed) were completed with a variety of staff and participants of Choices for Youth (CFY), Train for Trades (T4T) and partner organizations.
- Transcriptions were made of each interview.
- CFY/T4T staff provided copies of their materials including policies, forms, guides etc.
- All of the materials were analyzed to determine what information needed to be included in the toolkit.
- The video interviews were edited to create approximately 10 short videos to help supplement understanding of the written content.
- Each participant in the videos had the ability to review their contribution and confirm their acceptance of the video.
- Key staff at CFY/T4T had an opportunity to review content of the written toolkit. Special thanks to Eddy St. Coeur and Rosalind Curran for their continual feedback.
The diversity of homeless youth notwithstanding, the lack of experience with independent living is an important factor. A critical component of this is the ability to achieve education and employment to provide a suitable level of income. This toolkit presents a model of employment for at-risk youth that can help them develop the life and job skills necessary to obtain further education or a decent job.
You can download this toolkit for free here.
