SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Extending support services for youth in the foster care system beyond the age of 16 is a step forward, but will not necessarily solve the issue of youth homelessness in the territory say those working in the field.

Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy, centre, answers questions from the standing committee on amendments to the Child Care Act with help from deputy minister Debbie DeLancey, left, and Thomas Druyan of the legislative council. - Meagan Leonard/NNSL photo

A new amendment to the Child Care Act will redefine "youth" as someone up to the age of 18, with support services provided to those in permanent custody until the age of 23.

"This is an age group that has been neglected in the past and it's been difficult for them to assess services, so this is a really great opportunity," said Tammy Roberts, executive director of the Foster Family Coalition. In the past, Roberts said youth in the 16 to 19 age group have been left to fend for themselves and avoid homelessness.

Iris Hamlyn, executive director of the SideDoor Youth Centre and emergency shelter, said she has witnessed the same problem - particularly as youth age out of care and are without the tools necessary to successfully transition into society.

"If you don't have someone who is really walking alongside of you, like a parent, then I think it would be difficult for any youth, no matter if they have had difficulties in the past or not," said Hamlyn.

While the amendment addresses the age gap, Hamlyn emphasized that other services, such as clinical support are still lacking and contribute to youth homelessness.

"A lot of our youth have a confirmed disorder, like (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), mental health problems or learning disabilities," she said. "There's a general lack of support for adults and then that also flows down to a lack of support for youth - clinical addiction services in Yellowknife and the North are non-existent."

While 16 to 19 year olds are now recognized under the act, Hamlyn said this still does not address the lack of housing options for this age group. In the past year, she said SideDoor has had 119 teenagers come through - most around age 17 or 18, who have exhausted all foster care options.

"Eighty-five per cent of youth who are homeless, who come to our shelter have been touched in some way by a foster program," she said. "Some youth have had numerous foster homes and they get kicked out or the home breaks down. It's not uncommon for youth to have multiple homes - 12, 15, or 17 homes by the time they're 16 years old."

A transitional housing program called Hopes Haven is in the works for those aged 18 to 24, Hamlyn said, but that facility will only provide shelter for 10 youth and there is still a shortage of foster families willing to take in teenagers.

"There is a general lack of foster homes for youth between age 12 and 19, it's really a critical shortage," she explained. "Youth that age have had a number of placements and lots of times . they do get disillusioned, I think, and maybe there's trust issues."

Despite some shortfalls in youth services, she said the government's pledge of support for youth up to the age of 23 will make a difference in their success after aging out of the system.

"Every youth dreads the day they turn 19 and are cut off," she said. "If a youth decides to go to university or college . that gives them a few years of support which is great and gives them that incentive to go beyond high school."

The provisions come in the wake of a troubling audit conducted in 2010 that found a number of shortcomings in the system. During a standing committee meeting on Monday, Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy said they are moving toward a model focused on prevention.

"We're developing youth recruitment action plans, developing cultural programs and taking (the act) away from being a tool of apprehension and instead a tool that is inclusive and flexible - that focuses on prevention," he said.

Some members of the public in attendance were less impressed by what they heard. Arlene Hache considers herself a community advocate and said the lack of funding provided to child and family services is evidence it is not truly a priority of the GNWT.

"I think about the children and people who have died and I see the adults who have gone through the system - 90 per cent are First Nations, Inuit and Metis," she said. "Why does the care of children not receive the same consideration as other departments? . Will this legislation do it? Maybe, I don't know."

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