The Youth Outreach program is a community-based program designed to improve the immediate and long-term social, educational/vocational, economic and health outcomes for vulnerable youth. Youth Outreach has three program streams: General, Sexual Violence Prevention, and Youth in Care. Some service providers deliver more than one stream.

General stream: Youth who are 16-24 years old experiencing risk factors, and who may, or may not be connected to Child Welfare programs.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Supports stream: Youth who are 12-19 years old and who are at risk of being subjected to or perpetrating sexual violence.

Youth in Care stream: Youth 12-19 years old in the Minister’s care, including temporary and permanent care.

For more information on the Youth Outreach Program, including program locations, visit the Government of Nova Scotia website.

Phoenix is a non-profit organization based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, that has provided housing and support programs to youth between the ages of 11 and 24 since 1987. Phoenix believes that each person who accesses their services has unique needs and personal strengths and they are the leaders in their own lives; Phoenix is a leader in supporting these youth. They offer outreach programming to youth by meeting youth where they feel most comfortable, to help address travel barriers to accessing services. All programs at Phoenix are engaged in advocacy that supports youth, families and communities.

Phoenix offers a wide range of programs that integrate with each other providing support based on the needs of those they serve. Services include:

Housing Support

• The Phoenix Supportive Housing Program includes the Phoenix Homes for Independence and the Phoenix House.
• The Phoenix Homes for Independence provide youth with semi-independent living arrangements and helps youth gain skills to live independently. There are female, male, and co-ed houses that have live-in support workers. While living in the homes, youth learn things such as budgeting, education and employment skills, self-confidence, community, engagement, awareness of resources, and self-advocacy.
• Phoenix House is a 10-bed, long-term residence for youth aged 16-24. In this home, youth are empowered to develop life skills by participating in a full-time program involving education, employment or volunteer work while working towards a long-term goal of independent living. Services available to youth include housing support, advocacy, crisis intervention, counselling, resource navigation, health services, and financial support.

Phoenix Centre for Youth

• The Phoenix Centre for Youth (PCFY) is a walk-in centre that helps youth in their day-to-day lives. Supports through this program include housing support, advocacy, crisis intervention, counselling, parenting support, referral to community and internal resources, health services, financial advocacy, food, clothing, shower, and laundry facilities, computer and phone access. There is a Housing Support Worker located at the PCFY that works directly with youth currently living in the shelter or who are at-risk of entering the shelter system to help them secure and maintain housing.

Youth and Family Therapy 

• Phoenix provides free youth and family therapy programs for youth between the ages of 11 and 24, and their families. Youth and families accessing these programs struggle with a range of challenges, including difficult family relationships, grief and loss, peer conflict and bullying, challenges at school, coping with emotions, low self-esteem, histories of abuse, and discrimination and poverty.

Health Services

• Phoenix has also partnered with the IWK to have a nurse provide health services to youth accessing their programs. Services provided by the nurse include, but are not limited to health assessments, immunization referrals, nursing and physician care for some illness/injury, mental health support and coordination, STI testing referrals, and help obtaining a Nova Scotia Health Card.

Parent Support 

• Young parents and their children can also access parent support that provides positive parenting and healthy child development. Services include prenatal classes, appointments, food banks, apartment searches, and connections to other resource centres.

Money Management 

• Phoenix offers money management services, including the Trusteeship Program that provides help for youth maintaining their housing by helping them manage their finances. Youth are partnered with a trustee that helps them make rental payments on time, pay bills, and cover other essential expenses such as food, clothing, and personal care items. Youth also receive help to develop monthly budgets, improve their financial management skills and achieve increased independence, stability and control in their lives. The trustee also helps to advocate around all financial matters for youth. In addition to the Trusteeship Program, Phoenix offers occasional financial workshops through their other programming.

Crisis Support 

• Whether youth are looking for a place to stay, food, clothing, or personal care items, Phoenix welcomes youth ages 16-24. Youth can come to any of the Phoenix locations and staff will guide them to the best place for support. Phoenix listens and connects youth and families with the services they need, either at Phoenix or in the larger community.

Education Support 

• Phoenix also provides education supports to provide youth with individualized services to help them discover and achieve their educational goals. Youth can receive support with gaining pre-employment and life skills, accessing post-secondary school, securing funding for school, tutoring and additional in-school support, certificate training, post-secondary institution tours, and financial literacy.

Employment Counselling and Support

• Phoenix offers employment counselling and support to help youth gain employment skills and experience. They also have an Employer’s Network to provide supported career opportunities for youth. Youth accessing these supports have access to a variety of programs and personalized career counselling. Services include one-on-one job support, career exploration and pathing, resume development, interview support, certificate training, job coaching, employability programming, work skills, work placements and connections to employers.

The Career Rising Program is a program that focuses on addressing specific barriers that dependents on the Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program, or youth in care face. The program is delivered by the Government of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, targeting sectors with high labour market needs and providing youth with supportive services to find employment success. The program is available to dependents of clients receiving income assistance through the Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program, and youth in care age 15-19. Youth involved in this program receive: a two-week long skills development camp to build self-confidence, leadership skills, work readiness, financial literacy, and career exploration; a paid work experience with a local employer; post-work experience support including resume development, ongoing part-time work and/or connection to community, and development of a post-secondary plan; and a Post-Secondary Grant comprised of matched wages by ESIA up to $1,200 per year and $500 from the Community Credit Union.

To find out more information about the Career Rising Program, call your nearest Department of Community Services or Mi’kmaw Family & Children’s Services Office here.

The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is a program run by the Government of Canada, that adds money to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for children from low-income families and children for whom a Children’s Special Allowance is payable. This money can be used to help pay the costs of full or part-time studies after high school at apprenticeship programs, CEGEPs, trade schools, colleges, and universities. The Government of Canada contributes up to $2,000 to an RESP for an eligible child, and no personal contributions are required to receive the CLB.

For more information about the Canada Learning Bond, including information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Employment and Social Development Canada website.

The Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute has developed an App to help youth learn the skills they need for independent living. The “It’s My Life” App is a guide for youth who are transitioning from rural to urban centres, or out of care. The App can assist youth in planning their transition.

The App is free to use and can be downloaded in the Apple App Store or on Google Play for android devices.

Atlantic Canada

New Brunswick Community College

Holland College

Memorial University 

Dalhousie University 

Mount Saint Vincent University 

Nova Scotia Community College

Saint Mary’s University 

University of King’s College 

Cape Breton University

Ontario 

Laurentian University

Georgian College

Loyalist College

Western University

Brescia University

Huron at Western

King’s University 

McMaster University

Wilfrid Laurier University

Seneca College

Confederation College

Carleton University 

Lakehead University

Manitoba 

Tuition Waiver Program

British Columbia 

Provincial Tuition Waiver Program

“Transitioning out of foster care is like every adult responsibility is thrown at you all at once. The Mobility for Good program provides me with a lot of support. It’s pretty wonderful.”

 – Suzie (Taken from Telus)

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