StepStones for Youth
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Mission Statement
StepStones for Youth is a well-established local charity with proven success in changing the lives of youth at risk. For the youth, the presence of a caring, emotionally healthy, and unpaid volunteer is an urgent and unmet need.
About This Cause
StepStones for Youth has developed preventative intervention programs in response to the critical need of vulnerable young people. We have specialized programs that create long-term positive change. We track results and adapt programs around the needs of our extremely vulnerable population to ensure their success. StepStones does not create barriers to accessing services and programs. We accept youth with concurrent disorders, high-risk behaviors, and do not require a diagnosis for service. StepStones help kids identify what they need, and provides guidance to reach their full potential. At StepStones, youth are provided with all the tools necessary to become successful. They are assigned a volunteer mentor, one to one social worker, education and employment support, tutoring, scholarships and housing options. By providing this needed support, youth at StepStones graduate from high school and attend post secondary education, have stable housing, become employed and do not engage in criminal behaviour. Furthermore, youth‘s self-assessed levels of depression, feelings of stability, belonging, peer and adult relationships, and future prospects are improved. Specialized services from StepStones for Youth effectively builds the foundations of a stable and healthy life, preventing or overcoming homelessness and a life of on-going reliance on social assistance. Our Mentorship Program offers youth aged 15-24 the opportunity to develop critical life skills. The goal of this program is to create natural, long-lasting relationships with responsible adult mentors who will support and assist youth in transition as they develop their educational, entrepreneurial and employment plans. By pairing youth with caring adult volunteers, the youth learn to develop important life skills through the exposure to new opportunities. The mentor can assist the youth in developing their confidence, ongoing life-skills, and appropriateness in day-to-day interactions. Mentees can support the youth in getting back into school, attend or drive the youth to counseling, and do activities together to explore employment options (e.g. job shadowing). Youth can also have individual sessions with their mentors, and attend organized workshops that focus on recreation and skills development (e.g. self care, housing, education, employment, money, transportation, choosing friends). Paired with a mentor whom they can develop a natural relationship with, youth in care develop better self-esteem and emotional skills. Mentors become substitute aunts and uncles; someone a kid can turn to if they are having a rough day. We also offer tutoring for youth who are enrolled in the Youth in Transition Mentorship Program and are currently achieving post secondary education. Students meet with tutors on a weekly basis to review homework, plan upcoming assignments and support their education. Tutors also provide support to the student in connecting them to school services, advocating on their behalf and helping the youth navigate the complex educational system. Education is critical to building a new life. In partnership with Pelletier Youth in Transition and the Ross Caradonna Educational fund, financial assistance is offered for post-secondary, trade schools and job training. In 2016, 23 youth were subsidized. StepStones ’ also has an overnight summer camp that provides a rewarding camp experience offered to girls 6-14 of years of age living with a history of abuse or self-esteem issues. Through specially designed recreational activities and skill-building workshops, campers are given the opportunity to improve their confidence, self-esteem, independence, and conflict resolution skills. Girls enjoy the typical camp experience and develop their skills in swimming, canoeing, sports, crafts, yoga, literacy, photography, robotics, drama, dance, and environmental and social justice education. With a 3 to 1 camper to staff ratio, the campers are welcomed into a close-knit atmosphere where our team works diligently to boost self-confidence, and to support positive peer interactions. Our team includes professional teachers with special education training, and a social worker. Through our unique and empowering programming, StepStones Summer Cramp creates a support network to help girls build trusting relationships with adults. StepStones believes that donor dollars should go directly to the youth and not to administrative costs. This is why we strive to reduce administrative costs so that all funds are directed toward empowering our youth. • Our office space is donated. • Many administrative responsibilities are conducted by volunteers • StepStones partners with other charitable organizations to ensure no duplication of services and resources A donation of $55,000 provides youth in our Mentorship Program educational and employment support with a one to one mentor, social worker, informal counseling, and a housing support, for one year! A donation of $25,000 provides life skills workshops, one to one support sessions with mentors and social workers, holiday events and emergency food and clothing support to all the youth in our program. A donation of $2500 will support a scholarship for youth without families who are pursuing a post secondary education. A donation of $900 will fund the entire food bank for one year. The food bank is available for youth who are in crisis and do not have any food to eat. A donation of $600 provides one to one tutoring to youth who are attending post secondary education for one year in school. A donation of $650 will send a girl with a history of abuse and trauma to a residential summer camp. A donation of $250 will provide 25 youth who do not have families a “holiday dinner” during a difficult time of year. A donation of $100 will feed a child at camp for one week. A donation of a gift certificate, movie ticket or tickets to events will allow youth to attend events with their mentors to celebrate important milestones in their lives.