PLEA has been opening doors for children and families facing challenges
since 1979 and is a CARF accredited community service organization.
PLEA provides tailor made services to meet individuals needs and circumstances.
Vancouver Coastal MCFD
DARE Youth Justice Programs for Vancouver Coastal Youth Probation officers contact Randy Anderson at (604) 660 4005 for referral information.
DARE Residential Attendance
Provides residential programming for young people on probation as an alternative to custody. Individual case planning addresses the educational, vocational and personal development needs of each youth. PLEA family care homes provide structure, supervision and support in a family setting. We provide a safe placement and assist the young person and wherever possible his/her family to develop and act on long term plans. This program may be complemented by other DARE programs including ISSP worker services. This four month program may be accessed by youth probation officers in the Vancouver Coastal Region. The Youth Probation Officer should first call Youth Justice Supervisor, Randy Anderson at 604 660-4005 to ensure program suitability.
Short Term Respite Services
This service provides safe, short-term residence for youth while long-term plans are developed, or where a period of respite is needed to maintain a youth in their own home. We worked with 52 youth, with a 102% utilization rate; 5 additional youth were placed by MCFD social workers.
Intensive Support & Supervision
A community based one-to-one service for sentenced youth on court order who are medium to high risk and need. It is an alternative to custody. Young people are helped to develop appropriate educational, vocational, personal and social skills and to function in society in a healthy, positive manner. Each week ISSP workers engage the young person in planned activities, work intensively on goals in a social learning environment and monitor compliance with court orders and conditions. Goals and objectives are developed in consultation with probation officers, guardians and parents.
Curfew Monitoring
This program is provided for Vancouver Coastal Youth Probation Officers for youth who have been placed on a curfew as a condition of a bail order.
KidStart Mentoring
This program provides adult mentors for youth who are on probation for less significant offences, who have been diverted from court, or who are in transition from other services. We worked with 75 young people.
Q - Creative Urban Employment
Q is for youth that cannot connect to a school program. It supports employers to provide and maintain employment for youth, supports youth to retain their employment, and provides employment readiness and life-skills training. During the past year, capacity increased from 8 to 10 youths. 33 young people were referred, of whom 30 found employment. 38 employers participated and we are now working with more than fifty employers.
Onyx
Onyx provides support services to youth who are or have been sexually exploited. This is a voluntary program that assists male, female, or trans-gendered clients that are 18 years of age and under. Referrals come from the community; privacy and confidentiality standards are upheld. Service plans are put into place during initial intake and consultation with the client. Coordination of services range from formal (counselling, detox, school, one-to-one support) to informal (recreation, clothing, bus pass). For further information, please call 1-877-411-PLEA (7532) or email onyx@plea.bc.ca.
Please click here for referral form
FASD Youth & Family Support Program
The FASD Youth and Family Support Program is a youth justice partnership between PLEA and the Asante Centre that is funded by MCFD. It serves young people, and their families, referred by youth probation officers in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Regions. The Asante Centre provides multidisciplinary assessment and diagnostic services, education and clinical consultation. We provide FASD-specific support services for the youth and their families and link these services with other PLEA programs. Together we also provide a variety of information and training opportunities.
The Bridge Program
The Bridge Program is a three-year demonstration project funded by the Victoria Foundation's FASD Action Fund in September 2007. It recognizes that many young people living with FASD and in receipt of youth services do not make a successful transition to adulthood. The program offers young people and their families services intended to assist them to make this transition a healthy, positive experience. We assist youth that are turning 19 to address their housing and income needs; provide a range of practical supports to their families and caregivers; and organize help with daily living, health services, life skills and employment as appropriate.
We are pleased to have developed a formal understanding with the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance that facilitates access to services for people with disabilities.
Third Step & Yardworks
The Genesis School Program is provided at three locations in partnership with the Vancouver School District #39 and MCFD. It is for young people who have disconnected from the regular and alternate school systems and who are identified through the City youth services network. Genesis helps students to identify goals, make academic progress and build life skills, through individual instruction and self-paced learning. Youth also participate in recreational activities in the community.
Genesis Yardworks provides youth with work and opportunities to learn employment skills; during this year it expanded to provide additional paid employment opportunities for students. A new graphics program is being introduced at the Genesis South site.
The Third Step Program is delivered in North Vancouver in collaboration with Hollyburn Family Services as well as the North Vancouver School District and MCFD. A new kitchen allows the program to teach cooking skills and establish a meals program. The program’s outreach laptop now contains the entire social studies and science curriculum for Grades 8, 9 and 10, which supports our outreach capacity.
Ninety-eight students participated in the Genesis Programs, with another 18 in Third Step; 42 transitioned to other school programs, employment or addictions treatment.