A new home that looks to satiate a vital need in emergency placement for youths in Vernon has opened its doors.

Cedar House was opened on Thursday, May 2, by the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society (NOYFSS)

The North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society officially introduced their new, first-of-its-kind, emergency placement home for youths in a ribbon cutting on Thursday. Called Cedar House, the building will house two youth at a time, for up to 30 days

香蕉视频直播� Vernon Morning Star (@VernonNews)

香蕉视频直播淭here are youth resource centres in Vernon, but an emergency placement centre for kids who are possibly going into foster care or in the care system was something that was definitely lacking in the North Okanagan area,香蕉视频直播� said Vicki Proulx, director of fund development and communications with NOYFSS. 香蕉视频直播淲e work really closely with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to make sure that kids have somewhere to go if they need to leave an unsafe situation at their home.香蕉视频直播�

The building will house two youth, for up to 30 days as NOYFSS helps them find another place to go.

Proulx added that it is 香蕉视频直播渁lways the goal香蕉视频直播� to reunite those in the home with their family.

Emergency care staff facilitate the assessment of the child/youth/family香蕉视频直播檚 unique needs and circumstances, increasing the likelihood of reunification with family and ultimately decreasing the amount of youth and children coming into care.

香蕉视频直播淐urrently when a child or youth in this region is living in an unsafe home environment there isn香蕉视频直播檛 always somewhere for them to turn,香蕉视频直播� said Dean Francks, executive director at NOYFSS. 香蕉视频直播淥ften youth will jump from couch to couch living with friends and in many circumstances, they will end up experiencing homelessness. We recognize there is a need for this resource in the North Okanagan and we are excited to be able to offer it to the community.香蕉视频直播�

Renovations were done on the first floor of the home, complete with a spacious kitchen and living room with a full window. The basement hearkens back to the 1970s, which, despite its age, still provides plenty of space for youth to relax and feel safe.

香蕉视频直播淚t is our intention for these young kids to come here and enjoy themselves, which is something they might not have been able to do previously,香蕉视频直播� said Francks. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 taken just over a year for us to make Cedar House a home and we are thrilled to be opening the doors for children and youth starting this month.香蕉视频直播�

Cedar House is the third resource centre that NOYFSS has opened in Vernon. The others are Mara House, which provides short term stabilization and Sage House, which offers respite care.

香蕉视频直播淏y creating a multi-resource site dedicated to on-going placement stability with consistent specialized homes care providers NOYFSS can create safe landing places during a challenging time for a child or youth and their family,香蕉视频直播� said Francks.

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