Dani Williams (Concern For Youth), centre left, at town council's meeting Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Group helps youth

Concern For Youth gives update at town council meeting

Nov 8, 2022 | 4:23 AM

Battlefords Concern For Youth presented at Monday’s Town of Battleford council meeting, to give an update on its activities.

The organization provides outreach and support services to youth in the Battlefords.

Executive director Dani Williams said the organization is now fully staffed, which is a positive sign.

The non-profit’s one-on-one mentorship program continues to experience positive numbers. There are currently 21 youths participating in this program – six from Battleford and 15 from North Battleford.

Four of the youth departed the mentorship program in October, whether due to their families moving away or for other various reasons.

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Williams noted that one of the youth who came into the program was very quiet at first, but has since blossomed and opened up more.

“If you’ve seen where they started at the beginning to where they are now, it’s unbelievable,” she said of the progress of many youth in the program.

Youth can take part in the mentorship program as well as many of the other programs offered.

Williams noted families of youth are still always welcome to contact the organization if they need anything. Some families have received food boxes that Concern For Youth has been handing out.

There are currently 10 youths on the wait list for mentorship.

Williams said it’s good to see all the Concern For Youth participants are engaged, whether through the various programming or individual mentorship.

She said part of the town’s funding helps to support Concern For Youth’s youth engagement coordinator position. The money will also help provide kids with programming and fun outings, like trips to the movies.

Some of the programs the youth participated in recently include one that involves creating a ribbon hoodie. Youth in programming also spent some time at the NationsWEST Field House taking part in recreational activities.

Williams added that Concern For Youth has also started an LGBTQ2S-Plus drop-in group that meets once a month some youth have asked for.

Some other programs youth have been participating in last month include arts and crafts activities.

“They got to do art decorating, wood burning, and they did a Fear Factor night, addressing your fears and trying different things …,” Williams said. “I’m proud of them. They pushed past some of their fears.”

There was also a session on helping kids learn how to advocate for themselves.

Coming up in December, Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre will visit Concern For Youth to provide what is known as a SafeTALK program for youth to talk about suicide prevention with teenagers.

Williams said these are some of the various programs Concern For Youth is looking at to connect the youth to, to help them access training and to advocate for themselves.

The town councillors taking in Williams’s talk were pleased with Concern For Youth’s many accomplishments to help kids in the community.

“Keep up the good work,” Coun. Doug Laing said.

Williams also took the opportunity to promote Concern For Youth’s new fundraiser. The organization is selling a Do It Yourself Kit to create wooden signs, running to Nov. 15. Funds raised will benefit the Youth Mentorship Program. People are invited to buy a sign for their staff party or other events to help support the group.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW