Family and Youth Partnership
Support for children and struggling families is a key government priority. Providing tools and supports to prepare youth for a healthy future, and connecting young families on income assistance with the supports and assistance to strengthen their skills can help them achieve better social and economic outcomes for themselves and their families.
In order to help these young British Columbians reach their full potential, the Ministry of Social Development has launched the Family and Youth Partnership (FYP) pilot project. The pilot is based on the successes and learnings of previous intervention initiatives. Community teams use a “key worker” model to develop individual case plans, help individuals access the supports and services they need, and follow-up to ensure that these young families and youth are well supported to be successful.
The pilot began in April, 2012, and will run for 24 months in five communities. It assists:
- Young families in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna and Prince George, where one or both parents are between the ages of 19-25 and is on income assistance, and
- Youth transitioning out of care who may become dependent on income assistance in Prince George and Kelowna.
The Ministry of Social Development has partnered with other ministries, government agencies, community service providers and other community partners to ensure that these young families and youth are referred to existing services that will give them the best opportunities possible. This can include preparatory programs, education or employment programming as well as services that will help to ensure their children are ready for school.
The pilot is voluntary, and clients are identified through the income assistance caseload. Since the pilot began, over 135 clients and their families have been connected to services and supports they need to take the next steps in their lives and make a positive change.
Here are some of their stories.
