the course

Stayintg
he course
Annual report 2011
Stayintg
he course
THE BOARD
THE PRESIDENT OF
A MESSAGE FROM
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we look back on the past year, we see great cause
to celebrate. Hundreds of kids in need have come
to YESS’ doors in search of safety and support, and
we have been there to welcome them—our Armoury
Youth Centre alone has been accessed by over two
thousand individual clients since it opened in 2009.
The feedback from our clients, our volunteers, and
our supporters has all communicated a clear, resounding message: YESS is a vital part of our community, and makes important differences in the lives
it touches.
The accomplishments of the extraordinary youth we
serve remind us that with the right support, happy
endings can come from even the bleakest beginnings. Having survived experiences few can imagine,
at an age when they should have been nurtured and
protected, they bravely take the first steps toward a
different kind of life—learning to trust others, asking
for help, confronting the problems that have followed
them for years. We are there to help them take these
steps: whether they need a bed for the night or a
home for a year, we provide safe, supportive spaces
among people who care. We see many of the kids
committing to positive changes, as they move from
2
staying one night at a time in the Shelter Program
to using longer-term, stable housing options such as
SkY and StART House. While we are always sad to
see them go, we couldn’t be happier for the kids
who complete their stay at YESS and set a course for
independence—toward careers, studies, or whatever
other dreams they see on the horizon.
As proud as we are of these successes, the past
year has also brought us our share of rough waters to navigate. Although the economy is slowly recovering and the community has continued to stand
behind us, raising enough funds to keep our doors
open has remained a daunting task. Donor fatigue
has continued to be a concern, as many of our supporters have found themselves unable to contribute
as much or as often as they once did. In addition,
economic anxiety has contributed to higher rates of
staff turnover—many of our most talented people
have left us, in search of jobs that can promise
greater remuneration. These issues were aggravated
when our Executive Director was forced to take an
extended medical leave this year—and to complicate
things further, the person chosen as Acting Executive
Director in her stead also developed medical issues
that required significant time away. These frequent
staffing changes have made it challenging to keep
up with training standards, maintain cohesion within
our team, and provide a stable environment for our
clients.
To address these concerns, we’ve done a lot of finetuning—checking our bearings to make sure we keep
going in a positive direction. We are offering our staff
greater opportunities for input, to understand how
we can keep working at YESS working for them. We
are always developing new ways to keep our heads
above water financially—this year we debuted a
brand new fund raising event, the Bigger and Better
Poker Party, which will be back next year by popular
demand.
commitment this year is to stay the course that is
so vital to so many: to keep providing the kind of
services that our kids need and the community can
be proud to support. We hope that you will join us
for another year as we work to give youth at risk a
chance, through whatever waters that dream may
take us.
Shelly Chamaschuk
President
Deb Cautley
Executive Director
Equipped with these new initiatives and tools, we are
more confident than ever that we are doing the right
things for our team, our clients, and our community.
We believe in the vision and values that have
guided YESS since its beginning, and have
seen the positive difference we make. Our
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Boat provided by Martin Motor Sports
YESS TEAM
Abraham
Allen
- -Lisa Bara niesk i
- -Donn a Bark er
- -Alan a Barro n
- -Lisa Belco urt
- -Azieb Berh ane
- -John Berry
- -Nico le Butle r
- -Deb Caut ley
- -Ryan Chop in
- -June Colli ns
- -Deog racia s Corp uz
- -Caro lyn Cox
- -Tracy Cum ming
- -Nico le Davi dson
- -Elen a Echa varria
- -Deb Eddi ngto n
- -Erin Forb es
- -Rebe cca Foste r
- -Yvon ne Fries en
- -Rhon da Frisk ie
- -Sash a Hale
- -Cher ish Hepa s
- -Sarah Holm es
- -Step hen Kane
- -Suni ta Karw al
- -Emil y Keat ing
- -Sue Keat ing
- -John Kenn ey
- -Ange lica Klass
- -Jeral ee Kons chuh
- -Trina Kwas nitza
- -Tere sa Layn e
- -Kimb erly Levic ki
- -Nich olas
- -Lisa
MISSION Giving youth at risk a chance
VISION The Youth Emergency Shelter Society will be
a well-respected and compassionate service provider
for youth at risk. The organization will be one that
youth want to utilize, people want to work for and the
community wants to support.
VALUES
- -We
are open and honest and keep our
commitments.
- -We treat everyone with respect.
- -We are positive and professional.
- -We are serious about what we do, but we take
time to have fun.
- -We celebrate our successes.
- -We provide our staff with training and tools
necessary to do their jobs.
- -We provide our staff with the opportunity for
input.
- -We find solutions.
- -We think outside the box.
- -We are YESS.
YESS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- -Shelly
Chamaschuk, President
McFarlane, Vice President
- -Shabir Ladha, Treasurer
- -Braden Formanek, Secretary
- -Traci Bednard, Director
- -Angela Fong, Director
- -Michelle Radostits, Director
- -Andrew Ross, Director
- -Brad Stromberg, Director
- -Rene Cloutier, Director
- -Neil
4
(as of March 31, 2011)
Li
McCabe
- -Judit h McLa ughli n
- -Lynn McLe arie
- -Linds ay McLi ntoc k
- -Jerry
- -Kyle
Milne
Mitchell
- -Nico le Nels on
- -Timo thy Nixo n
- -Mich elle Nore nber g
- -Jay Ozec hows ki
- -Eilee n Papu lkas
- -Brad Pickf ord
- -Mark Porte r
- -Mari lou Ram os
- -Ksha ma Rana wana
- -Prave en Rana wana
- -Kare n Reed
- -Mary -Ann Rose nau
- -Quen a Sanc hez
- -Mart y Seid el
- -Mary Sellit to
- -Deric k Smit h
- -Chun i Som an
- -Daw n Sonn enbe rg
- -Vane ssa Stefi uk
- -Dean ne Timm ons
- -Cryst al Tracy
- -Tim Ulch
- -Jena Un
- -Chan dra Ungu ran
- -Cind y Verh aegh e
- -Marc ela Villeg as
- -Hale y Watt ers
- -Brittn ey Whit e
- -Heid i
- -Jenn ifer
CLIENT
SERVICES
A safe port in the storm
YESS has continued to address the needs of homeless and at-risk youth, expanding and adapting to provide the best services possible. Here’s a brief look at
what’s been happening in Client Services this year.
FINDING SOLUTIONS:
NEW INITIATIVES IN 2010-2011
- -InRoads
TRENDS AND CHALLENGES IN 2010-2011
- -Many
clients struggling with mental health issues
engaged in relationships with poor
boundaries
- -More clients accessing outreach services
- -Many clients require treatment to overcome
addictions
- -Lack of education among clients
- -Lack of appropriate housing options for clients
outside of YESS
- -Clients with histories of legal involvement
- -Lack of suitable educational and training
programs for clients
- -Clients coping with poverty
- -Scarcity of short, medium, and long-term
employment opportunities for clients
- -Increasing number of younger female clients
(age 15)
- -1-3 clients per month require support related
to pregnancy
- -Clients
Training
Provided through Alberta Health Services, the
InRoads training program has made YESS staff
better equipped to help clients confront their
addictions issues. Having developed a deeper
understanding of substance abuse and improved
assessment and intervention strategies, our frontline workers can now make referrals for clients
directly, rather than having the clients processed
by Alberta Health Services. This allows youth to
access rehabilitative services more quickly.
- -Outreach
School
Many of our clients, for a variety of reasons, find
that mainstream schools are unable to meet their
needs. To address this barrier to education, YESS
is exploring funding options for the establishment
of an outreach school. The school would be
based in YESS’ Armoury Youth Centre, which
provides programming from 9:00AM to 9:00PM,
and would meet the needs of youth who cannot
access the regular school system due to financial
constraints, scheduling conflicts, or lack of
suitable programming and support.
- -Medical
Services
With the retirement of YESS’ long-time volunteer
physician, we are investigating a new option for
offering medical services to our clients. YESS is
currently in talks with Edmonton’s SHiNE Clinic,
which is looking at providing medical services
and resources for youth at our Armoury Youth
Centre site.
5
S
S
E
Y
PROGRAMS
gLANCE
AT A
SHELTER PROGRAM
- -Number
of male clients: 440
of female clients: 253
- -Total number of clients: 693
- -Average age of clients: 16.7
- -Total number of intakes: 4346
- -Occupancy for year: 75%
- -Total denials: 264
Shelter full: 141*
Other viable living option: 24
Restricted: 35
Under-age: 26
Over-age: 8
Safety Issue: 30
*This total does not include the youth who left the
building immediately upon hearing that the Shelter
Program was full; therefore, the actual number turned
away is significantly higher.
- -Number
SKY PROGRAM
- -Total
number of clients: 33
of clients were in school
- -22% of clients were employed
- -27% of clients accessed counseling
- -8% accessed help for mental health and
addictions issues through Alberta Health Services
- -7% accessed spiritual/religious support
- -5% accessed employment and life skills training
- -80%
6
START HOUSE
- -Total
clients: 18
attending school: 12
- -Clients who are employed: 11
- -Clients who graduated from high school this
year: 3
- -Clients who accessed mental health supports: 9
- -Clients who pay room and board: 13
- -Clients with financial support through Alberta
Works: 5
- -Eligible youth turned away because beds were
full: 5
- -Clients
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
- -Total
clients: 520
Community Relations Worker: 40
Outreach Worker: 268
Resource Coordinator: 212
- -YouthConneX presentations given: 31
Cultural
ARMOURY YOUTH CENTRE
- -Total
clients: 1574
attending multiple YESS programs: 90%
- -AYC offers…
Drug and alcohol abuse awareness programs
Nutrition and meal planning lessons
Relationship abuse awareness programs
Sexual health programs
Resume and job-searching help sessions
Music lessons
Recreational activities with staff and
volunteers
- -Youth
PROGRAM USE BY YESS CLIENTS
According to youth surveyed…
- -49% access the Shelter Program
- -61% access the Armoury Youth Centre
- -32% access the SkY Program
- -12% access StART House
- -12% access Outreach Services
- -7% access the STAR Program
POSITIVE
OUTCOMES
- -Many
clients return home after mediation with
families, or move into stable housing options
like SkY and StART House
- -Clients return to school and receive academic
support
- -Clients are connected with mental health
and addictions treatment
- -Clients obtain employment
- -Two clients have been accepted to the
University of Alberta
- -Clients receive help to resolve legal issues
- -AYC has provided over 300 bagged lunches
each month
- -Clients are connected with cultural and religious
communities
Health for Two
general coming to
As we see more female clients in
need for services
YESS, there has been an increased
a struggle for any
be
can
ancy
Pregn
ers.
for teen moth
ge girl—being
teena
a
for
woman, and even more so
rces, as our clients
resou
ut
witho
and
,
alone
less,
home
nsion to a potentend to be, adds yet another dime
young women
tially overwhelming situation. If these
can have devit
,
need
they
ort
supp
the
ve
don’t recei
, but for
them
for
only
astating consequences—not
well.
as
baby
their
h Canada, is a proHealth for Two, funded by Healt
ation, nutrition and
inform
tal
prena
des
gram that provi
pregnant women
emotional and social support to
The program
ancy.
pregn
hy
healt
a
to
risks
who have
continues
and
ancy,
pregn
of
can begin at any stage
months old. YESS is
until the client’s new baby is two
partners through
proud to be one of the community
Since initiating
red.
which Health for Two is delive
Health for Two
ated
dedic
our
,
2010
in
am
this progr
ers get the care
Worker has helped 7 young moth
babies. We have
they need for themselves and their
nutrition, infant
tal
st-na
nd-po
pre-a
with
provided help
getting access
and
ing,
care, finding appropriate hous
es. We have also
servic
l
socia
and
cies
agen
to other
and accompanibeen able to provide transportation
to ensure that they
ment to medical appointments,
y fashion and never
receive adequate care in a timel
nges alone.
challe
feel that they are facing their
7
RTUNITIEs
O
P
P
o
DEPARTME
THE
NT
All hands on
deck!
GENERATION YESS STATISTICS
- -Hours
donated in 2010-2011: 8635
value of volunteer hours: $119,599
- -Estimated
I JOINED GENERATION YESS BECAUSE…
- -I
feel it is of personal and societal value to be
involved with my community.
- -The
youth today are what will shape the world
for my children. It is crucial that each child is
given a chance and provided with positive role
models and alternatives to the life they may lead
where there aren’t many opportunities in regards
to skill and self building.
- -I
8
GENERATION YESS
It takes a lot of work to keep YESS running smoothly—
more work than our staff could ever do by themselves! Luckily for us, over 500 members of the
community have shown their support by becoming
Generation YESS volunteers. Whether working with
the clients directly or helping to raise much-needed
funds, these generous and talented supporters are
an indispensable part of YESS—with their help, we
are able to participate in over 100 charitable events
every year, which provide a significant boost to a
budget where every penny counts! Many volunteers
also interact with our clients, serving as positive role
models and sharing their individual skills—they offer
everything from budgeting help to study strategies to
guitar lessons. We would never be able to offer the
range of services and programs that we do without
this generous contribution of time and effort. Thank
you, Generation YESS!
know there’s a fine line between making it or
sinking in it. I want to be sure that I’m doing all
that I can to give youth a lift up when they find
that they’re down. I want to know that they see
something in the future for them, that they have
a glimmer of hope. I volunteer with YESS so
that I can support the staff who will make that
happen!
- -I
feel the clients at YESS are at a critical point
in their lives. By volunteering at YESS I believe I
have the opportunity to nudge them in the right
direction and maybe help to get them on the
right path.
- -It
works with my schedule and my personality.
I believe that I have the freedom to take my
program in any direction that I feel is beneficial
to YESS and the youth.
THE BIGGER AND BETTER POKER PARTY
This year, YESS was thrilled to introduce a new annual fund raiser, the Bigger and Better Poker Party!
Presented by B&B Demolition, the event takes place
at the glamorous River Cree Resort and Casino.
Guests are invited to participate in an afternoon
poker tournament followed by a gala dinner, entertainment, and a live auction—or, for those of us who
aren’t as keen on cards, to come for the evening portion alone. We were delighted to have the ballroom
filled to capacity with guests for the party’s debut,
and even more delighted to hear what a great time
everyone had! Plans are already underway for the
next Bigger and Better Poker Party, which will take
place on March 3, 2012. We hope to see you there!
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YESS SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Of the $5 million it takes to run YESS for a year, over
$2.5 million comes from our supporters in the community. Help comes in all shapes and sizes from all
kinds of places, both private and corporate. We offer
our deepest thanks to the following people and organizations, who were some of our biggest contributors over the past year:
(Edmonton) Service Battalion
Treasury Branch No. 855
- -Atco EPIC (Employees Participating in
Communities)
- -Atco Power Canada Ltd.
- -B&B Demolition Ltd.
- -Boston Pizza International
- -Canadian Western Bank
- -Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance
Fund
- -Edmonton Community Foundation
- -Edmonton Family & Community Support Services
- -Edmonton (Host) Lions Club
- -Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
- -FOCUS Corporation
- -Robert Frost
- -The estate of Phyllis Ann Gatzeman
- -Barry Giffen
- -Government of Alberta Community Spirit
Program
- -Haven Management Ltd.
- -Imperial Parking Canada Corporation
- -Ja-Co Welding and Consulting Ltd.
- -The Kuchar Foundation
- -Master Pools Alta Ltd.
- -Jim and Sandra Mones
- -Gordon and Heather Pasini
- -Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton
- -REALTORS Community Foundation
- -Running Room Canada Inc.
- -Stadium Services Inc.
- -Telus Corporation
- -Trailblazer RV Centre Ltd.
FROM OUR SUPPORTERS:
- -I
choose to support YESS because at the end of
the day they’re kids, and they deserve a chance
to turn things around & create a better life for
themselves. It’s also an investment in the future
of our community, and that shouldn’t be taken
lightly. But…above and beyond that…they’re
kids. As a father, that hits home.
—Josh Classen, Chief Meteorologist,
CTV Edmonton
- -15
- -Alberta
10
- -When
you grow up with violence or sexual
abuse, when your biggest fear is to go home,
where do you go? For many teens this is the
question they live with every day. Some end
up committing suicide because they don’t feel
there is an answer. Others will run away from
home only to be used and abused even more by
pimps, drug dealers or abusive relationships.
The Youth Emergency Shelter gives these kids a
better option. They do not only provide shelter
to these kids. They give them hope, compassion,
and understanding. They give them a hand up,
rather than a hand out.
I believe as a society, if we would invest more
time and money in helping these children when
they are young as YESS does, we would spend
far less money on correctional institutes. It is
time for prevention, not detention.
—Sharon Blacklock, Owner, Shardawn Enterprises
- -We
got into supporting YESS for the obvious
reason... the kids. It is a group that is all too often
ignored and even feared. Homeless kids do not
need to become homeless adults. We stay with
YESS because of the unending drive and neverwavering commitment of the staff and the fact
that YESS is making a difference.—Keith Graham,
Trailblazer RV Centre
THE
FACILITIES
DEPARTMENT
Keeping things shipshape
YESS prides itself on providing a safe, warm, attractive environment for everyone who crosses our
threshold—our clients, volunteers, staff, and community members. The YESS Facilities Team is always
hard at work, making sure we never fall short of this
goal. Here are some of the major projects that we
undertook in 2010:
- -Construction
of a storage shed for the Armoury
Youth Centre (funded by Globex)
- -Repairs on Whyte Avenue roof after heavy
rainfall and leaking
- -Front vestibule at Whyte Avenue treated
for mold and rebuilt
- -SkY rec room makeover (funded by the
Edmonton Host Lions Club)
- -Shelter Program girls’ washroom expanded to
two toilets, two sinks and two showers (funded
by the Edmonton Host Lions Club)
- -Extreme makeover of SkY and StART House
bedrooms (funded by Enbridge Pipelines Inc.)
The Recycle for Youth prog
ram is our way of
helping the kids by helping
the environment.
We provide recycle bins to
participating businesses and pick them up
when they’re full.
The proceeds from returnin
g the bottles is then
used to keep YESS program
s running.
This year, Recycle for You
th saw its gross annual collections increase
by 96%! 196 businesses currently participa
te in the program,
including an after-hours club
, the U of A School
of Business, Telus World of
Science, City Centre
Mall and the Campus Tow
er Suite Hotel donating the highest volume of
recyclables.
Recycle for Youth
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