PoCoMo Youth Services Society has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Envision Financial Community Endowment, housed with the First West Foundation. The funding  supports  Project Reach Out, an award-winning mobile drop-in centre and outreach program for youth.

 

Project Reach Out is PoCoMo Youth Services Society’s after-hours outreach support and services program, bringing services directly to youth. Reach Out connects with over 2,000 individual youth—that totals over 4,000 duplicated contacts annually. The street outreach model is a huge hit with the youth and provides a very effective strategy in creating relationships, thereby building trust and the opportunity to provide support and services when needed.

 

“The unique aspect of Project REACH OUT is that it connects with youth on their terms and on their turf,” explains Jerome Bouvier, Executive Director of the PoCoMo Youth Services Society. “Ultimately, Project REACH OUT is the first contact point and the primary form of intervention for youth who are vulnerable to be recruited into drug use or exploited sexually.”

 

The concept is simple. The youth bus travels to areas of the community where youth naturally hang out—parks, recreation facilities, convenience stores, drop-in centres, malls, and other hot spots—at times when kids in need are likely to be there. Then a team of adult youth workers, youth mentors and volunteers actively seeks out and engages at-risk youth.

 

“We’re very pleased to support the PoCoMo Youth Services Society’s Project Reach Out,” says Seline Kutan, Executive Director of the First West Foundation. “We recognize the need and value of this program for youth to access the services when they’re most likely to need them.”

 

PoCoMo Youth Services is an independent, community-based registered charity established in 1992. A grassroots organization, PoCoMo Youth Services develops and delivers innovative programs and services for youth who may be disadvantaged, marginalized, or at-risk, in an effort to help them reach their full potential.