“My work with The START Program has greatly enhanced the work I do as a Community Policing Officer. Instead of a general audience, I now get to work on a team that is working together for the benefit of the youth. I have the honor of being invited onto that team that allows me to share what the police can provide but also the opportunity to form a positive relationship with someone. The payback for all of this effort is that the youth will get the opportunity to lead a full life and know they are not alone."
“With the help of The START Program we have been able to get resources that we had trouble getting in the past, for example we were part of a parenting group and getting support with Anxiety. We have also had the support of our team who wants the best for our child and they have played an active part in helping him with schooling and his personal life. Through The START Program we have been able to get him a support worker who takes him out weekly which gives us a breather from each other while giving him someone that he can talk to."
"A client participated in this program and was surrounded with a superb team! We developed a realistic case plan with the youth. He was able to persevere, gain confidence and work in achieving his goals. He was provided a strong team to meet his needs and he worked extremely hard in achieving the goals he set for himself. He was able to graduate from high school with his class, is currently working full time in a career he takes pride in and he not been re-involved with the Justice System. This program has been a major factor in this client's success!"
"So far this program has helped me in many extraordinary ways including school, mental wellness, getting my car fixed, getting a bike and creating an amazing support team. Since joining, my life has improved in amazing ways. They have helped me finish school, which is something I never thought would have been possible. I am extremely thankful and in awe of what this program has done in my life."
"I was reluctant at the beginning but they were able to help me with my problems. I was a little leery of some of the RCMP and AFM but that has changed. There is nothing I didn't like and I would recommend this program to other families/youth."
"Very beneficial. Great for youth to see the supports they have and for them to be included in a meeting as they know it is all about them and the Team is trying to help them in any way we can."
“I have really appreciated FYRST's work and support for the family, but also the team supporting the family. Keeping everyone accountable and following up on goals and next steps is a really great way to move forward at a pace that is manageable for the family.”
“Thanks for all the help. I can honestly say that I don’t think me and my dad would have been able to have made it this far without your help. Thanks for being such an understanding and knowledgeable individual, it really helps. Know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. It’s amazing.”
"DART is an invaluable community resource that as a School Social Work Clinician, I very much appreciate working with collaboratively. DART supports our community resources in tackling complex issues. DART clients benefit from a wider range of support and gain access to more resources. Additionally, sharing responsibility and pooling knowledge with DART and stakeholders allows support services and clients to better navigate potential barriers."
"These programs are an integral part of our community. The care, concern and professionalism that the coordinators show to their clients is truly inspiring. I continue to be honoured to sit on many of these teams. This program offers my students and their families the opportunity to build connection, to tear down walls, to be given a voice, to build a stronger village and ultimately watch their family member soar. As a Learning Support Teacher, I truly appreciate having a program that goes above and beyond for kids and now for adults. I have seen this program help so many students and families through some of their darkest days and the true gift is seeing them coming out on the other side as a confident, well rounded, supported member of society."
"I received a referral for a student who had not attended school in several months. Prior to that they had been extremely violent towards staff and school property to the point that RCMP were being called. With their multi-disciplinary team, we reviewed their psychological assessment and created a plan that included moving to a new school and supporting the parent in setting boundaries. Home now reports being a much more positive place and the youth has only missed one day in the last 4 months."
“As a teenager, I was in the DART Program, and I liked working with the coordinator. As an adult, I needed help. My children are in the care of their dad, and he would not let me see them unless I changed. The Re-START Program helped make those changes. I have a long way to go but I now have housing, changed my drug use that kept me away from my children and work on my anger. I now spend time with my children and get them for the weekend sometimes. Their dad and I can talk to each other without my anger getting in the way.”
“The non-judgmental support was a key factor in getting through a very dark, difficult time.”
“I think START Families is a great program! Our agency (CFS) has tons of cases where DV is present and this program has done a great job at holding the perpetrators accountable. Since our caseloads are very heavy it would be impossible to have in depth conversations about their abusive behaviours with the perpetrators let alone begin to address them, so it is very helpful to have a program where that can happen.”
“I wasn’t sure about START Families to begin with. I didn’t really want to go. But after going for a while I found it actually really helped me and now I am able to see my kids more which I never thought would happen.”
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