New Child and Youth Strategy Released

Nova Scotia's kids can now get more out of life, thanks to a new Child and Youth Strategy released today, Dec. 3.

Community Services Minister Judy Streatch released the strategy titled Our Kids Are Worth It.

"By no means, is what I share today the end of our work," said Ms. Streatch. "Over the coming months, we will be implementing the pilot programs and evaluating their success as we support our province's children, youth and families."

The strategy provides a range of services from prevention to intensive intervention. It is a combination of an expansion of existing services that work and an introduction of new services.

Some highlights include:

• outreach and support for families raising children
• shorter wait times and improved mental health services
• co-ordination of professionals and programs
• youth navigators, a partnership with Kids Help Phone and a new website for youth information and support
• new programs for at-risk youth
• provincial youth advisory network

"Collaboration between South Shore agencies serving children, youth and their families has been successful and the Child and Youth Strategy will build on that success," said Nancy Pynch-Worthylake, superintendent of the South Shore School Board. "We know the integration of services is essential to meeting the needs of children and youth and delivering those through schools is an efficient way to achieve that. We're committed to working together and confident that we will be successful."

The strategy focuses on five key directions:

• build a strong foundation
• identify problems and help early
• co-ordinate programs and services
• improve access and close gaps
• engage youth and promote shared accountability.

The strategy also acts on a number of government's key priorities such as educating youth to compete, shortening wait lists and keeping communities safe.

"We have a mix of both immediate and longer-term priorities to meet Commissioner Merlin Nunn's focus on preventing youth crime. We know the most effective way to do that is to identify and address the root causes," said Ms. Streatch.

"To successfully deal with the many problems encountered by, and in some cases created by, youth, the community as a whole must collaborate, co-operate and communicate," said Const. Paul Caulder, Community Policing Co-ordinator, Cumberland District RCMP. "This may require specialized efforts and initiatives such as the Adolescent Support Interagency Service Team (ASIST) in Cumberland County, where flexibility and determination are also crucial factors."

One of the strategy's pilot projects is based on the ASIST program, which links people and programs to better serve youth.

The Our Kids Are Worth It strategy is a recommendation that came out of the Nunn Commission Report. Last December, Commissioner Merlin Nunn released his report on the inquiry into the death of Halifax resident Theresa McEvoy.

The province is making an initial commitment of $5 million annually to implement the strategy and is committed to investing into the long-term solutions to meet the needs of Nova Scotia children and youth.

The Strategy for Children and Youth, Our Kids Are Worth It, is available on the Department of Community Services at www.gov.ns.ca/coms .

The strategy is a part of the province's new social prosperity framework, Weaving the Threads: A Lasting Social Fabric, based on the principles of collaboration, co-ordination and shared responsibility.