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HAY RIVER
Minister of Health and Social Services Tom Beaulieu will be in Hay River today to attend a planning session for a potential youth treatment centre in the territory.

According to Jill Taylor, inclusive schooling co-ordinator with the Hay River Interagency group, this meeting has been long-awaited.

The minister is to be present along with Hay River MLAs and dignitaries. They will be joined by members of the health and social services field, as well as members of the general public - all to discuss the future of youth treatment in the territory.

Taylor said youth justice committee member Lesli Ward conducted a presentation on youth at risk based on community feedback after National Addictions Awareness Week late last year.

Currently there is no youth-specific treatment facility or program in the territory and ongoing studies have been completed with Health Canada since 2008 looking into treatment and best practices for youth treatment in the territory.

"It's a huge problem and it's going to be overwhelming, but we have to start somewhere, and have to provide hope," said Ward.

"We don't want them to do any more studies. The government has already done these. We need action."

Ward said the call for action is coming from all different areas, including the justice and social sectors. Ward said Beaulieu was approached to attend the planning session in January.

Taylor said exploring options for a youth treatment centre has been on the interagency's agenda since 2008.

"That was along with more than 240 items," said Taylor. "To date we have action on about 80 per cent of those items. There are just some that almost seem too big for us to do alone. Lesli spelled it out really clearly. "

Also presenting at the session is the Last Door treatment centre out of Vancouver. They'll be discussing youth-related research and best practices.

"We need people that are living and doing this every day," said Taylor.

"Any time we can support our youth in living healthier and stronger lives we area also helping Hay River to become a more resilient community. We need as many voices as possible to join us on March 12."

Taylor said this meeting will hopefully be the first step toward offering faster and more efficient treatment for youth and that this will be deemed a priority for the current government. The meeting is free and health professionals, those with a vested interest and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting will take place at the recreation centre community hall beginning at 9 a.m. today.

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