A new Youth Hub could soon be coming to Delta.
The Delta School District recently announced it has partnered with a team of local youth services agencies and is seeking public input through a survey into the development of a “Delta Youth Services Hub.”
A Youth Hub would bring together services for young people and would be designed to provide integrated support for physical and mental health, skills development and social engagement, the district explains.
Among the strategic priorities in Delta’s new Social Action Plan, endorsed by council last year, is to improve local access to mental health and harm reduction services to youth at risk, as well as access to child and youth programs and services that promote their healthy development.
One of the recommendations is for the city to collaborate with the Delta Child and Youth Committee (CYC) to identify possible sites, partners and operational and funding models to open a Youth Hub or other youth-centric services centre/models in Delta “to develop a more holistic approach to address youth needs in Delta.”
The recommendations also include collaborating with CYC members to increase the types of recreational and other programming for youth that support a sense of belonging and the transition into adulthood, as well as collaborating with community and government partners to increase teen and youth programs and services in North Delta in particular, with a focus on vulnerable populations.
Among the findings during community consultations was a desire to have youth-friendly spaces where youth can hang out.
“We heard directly from Delta youth that they would like: more fun outdoor public spaces; opportunities to learn life skills; more sports and recreation activities; more indoor spaces to get together; and more accessible counselling services,” a staff report notes. “Delta’s Social Action Plan includes 27 actions to increase access to child and youth programs that promote healthy development, and to improve the sense of belonging of Delta’s youth and access to services and public places in Delta.”
The report also notes that Delta staff are working with community partners through the CYC to explore opportunities to establish a Youth Hub.
