Annual Report 2010 - Resource Assistance for Youth

Program Director’s Report
It has been one year since RaY moved its operations to 125 Sherbrook, and that year has been a flurry of activity
and excitement. Slowly over the course of the past year, RaY has evolved to adapt to the new site and the needs
of the youth who walk through the doors.
Functioning effectively out of the new site requires new strategies and structures that better reflect the opportunities
the space offers and the changing demographics. One of the things that we noticed immediately is that the drop-in
functions very differently in such a large space and that changes needed to be made to ensure that RaY was delivering
services in the most effective way possible. RaY hired a full-time drop-in worker, Cole Gagne, and part-time
evening drop-in workers to ensure that the drop-in was staffed in an effective way and that program staff were able
to concentrate on the important work they were doing without being distracted by the often chaotic environment in
the drop-in. Additionally, RaY superstar Erica Chatelain stepped into the Drop-in Manager position to take care of
the day-to-day concerns of the drop-in, working closely with Steve Wolfe, Basic Needs Coordinator who manages
the many emergency services offered. In effect, RaY has established the drop-in centre as an initial point of access
with the surrounding programs and departments completing the continuum of services offered at the agency.
Another exciting development is the hiring of three youth positions at RaY including the cook, receptionist, and
maintenance workers. RaY is thrilled to offer employment to these youth who have shown incredible initiative and
welcome them to our staff team.
For many years, Kerri Scott has headed up the Housing Department and performed diligently the tasks assigned to
him as program coordinator. He was, in effect, a one man department, doing everything in his power to improve the
housing situation for multiple young people. I am proud to say that that team of one has recently bloomed into a
housing team of four. First Kylee Tremblay joined the team as our Homeless Outreach Mentor, and more recently
Larysa Jorgenson, REST Case Manager and Scott McNicol, Life Skills Support Worker have rounded out the department.
We are very excited to offer a more complete version of the program we have dreamed about for years.
Recently, our brand new REST program (RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition) was awarded the Eva’s Initiatives
Award for Innovation, a prestigious national award that recognizes the innovative solutions to youth homelessness
through partnerships with both public and private landlords.
RaY is also very proud of the work being done in the Growing Opportunities program (aka Odd Jobs). This department
has also grown this year with a team of three dedicated staff (Adrien Sala, Brie Henderson, and John Finkbeiner)
working with youth who are looking to improve their skill set and remove the barriers to employment. RaY
hopes to continue this trend of evolution and strengthen the existing Mental Health and Addictions department to
best meet the needs of the youth who participate. Tim Laughlin, Mental Health Outreach Worker, and Samara
Prystenski, Addiction Support Worker are busy researching and developing programming based on best practices.
RaY’s continuum of services are rounded out by the Street Outreach team, the Health Clinic, the Urban Adventures
program, and the fledgling Art Drop-In. RaY hopes to continue strengthening the continuum in the years to come
and a recent strategic planning session has pinpointed four priority areas that will inform this measured growth.
Thank-you to Kelly Holmes and the Board of Directors for their ongoing leadership in this time of transition.
Jason Neufeld
Program Director