The Nipissing Parry Sound District Children’s Aid Society(NPSCAS) is developing an eight-bed licensed children’s residence called The Arbour House.
Vic Fedeli, Nipissing MPP, says Ontario is providing NPSCAS with $1.5 million to develop the project.
According to officials, The Arbour House program is two-pronged and will:
- Provide quick access to short-term crisis stabilization residential supports for youth in the North, which will prevent youth from leaving the region to access services
- Opportunity for communities placing youth in the program to develop capacity to return the youth to their home community in a timely manner, through collaborative planning across sectors to meet the youth’s needs locally
“The Arbour House will have a positive impact in determining a different trajectory for Northern youth, while keeping them close to home,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “We look forward to the rollout of this project, which is a prototype that could be replicated in other areas of the North, where similar resources currently do not exist.”
Gisèle Hébert, Executive Director at CAS Nipissing and Parry Sound says the residence has been a long-term vision for the organization as well as 14 other CASs and Child Well-Being agencies.
“I thank our regional office and this government for their ongoing commitment to children, youth, and families,” she said. “I’d like to specifically thank MPP Vic Fedeli for his unwavering advocacy which resulted in this project become realized. His demonstrated effort, ensuring northern youth are served close to home, will undoubtedly result in better long term outcomes.”
The Arbour House will be an 8-bed crisis and stabilization residence for youth (male and female-12-18yrs) and will be using a trauma-informed service model.
“Temporary placement length of stay is 60 days with a possible extension to 90 days, giving communities time to mobilize services for the return of the youth,” read the release. “The day the youth arrives, the CAS will begin discharge planning, with a focus on supporting the youth in his/her community, which builds on the Arbour House’s motto: All Roads Lead Home. Clinical services with experts in trauma will form part of the program”
