The core group of youth has consistently grown each month for our weekly group sessions.  St’uxwtéws Bonaparte First Nation’s (SBFN) goal has been to access more of the at-risk youth; youth with parents that are struggling with addiction, youth that need housing supports and face barriers such as lack of transportation and technology.  We have been able to partner up with Secwépemc Child and Family Services to provide assessments for youth that have lost parents to addiction or whose lives have been impacted by generational trauma.  This has been very effective in getting supports to families in need.  We gained the ability to provide assessments through the youth home visits that were implemented this quarter.  It has been amazing to be welcomed into homes within the community, to share food, help out in the house, and have deep and real conversations around the supports that are lacking in their homes.

The Reaching Home funding we received through PGNAETA has allowed us to offer basic supports with food costs, clothing and sports gear assistance, travel and fuel support, and school pick up and drop off in addition to our classes and weekly group sessions.  On top of regular classes, we created some fun days, crafts, baking, learning Christmas carols in Secwepemctsín.  Secwépemc Child and Family services partnered with us and created little backpacks filled with goodies for all the kids, they had so much fun and there were over 150 kids at our Christmas party!!  We partnered with our education department who purchased Christmas gifts for all the kids for Santa to hand deliver and photos were taken.  We had a huge Turkey and Ham dinner, and all the parents were there.  It was truly amazing.