Are you a young person who needs financial aid, life skills and other support to transition to independent adulthood?
The Youth Engagement Services (YES) program meets the basic needs of youth who cannot live in their parent's or caregiver’s home. It provides skills and support to help transition to adulthood and independence.
The program covers three pillars: education, employment and permanence. Clients work with a Youth Engagement Services social worker who acts as their champion and advocate, engaging the youth as an active participant in the planning and direction of their lives. The program focuses on helping the young person develop a sense of responsibility and learn diverse skills.
Youth Engagement Services takes a holistic approach, providing individualized support tailored to the unique needs of each client. It may include:
- Financial support;
- Special benefits to support education, training and employment;
- Career, personal or financial counselling;
- Educational, vocational, medical or psycho-social assessments;
- Workshops and training on goal-setting, life skills, job searching, resume writing and interview skills;
- Programs and services to ensure a successful school-to-work transition;
- Referrals for services such as therapy or addictions counselling;
- Permanence planning to ensure the youth has at least one significant adult with whom they have an enduring relationship.
The program attempts to reconnect youth with family and loved ones and build relationships, including a plan to return home, when appropriate. It recognizes cultural diversity.
To qualify for Youth Engagement Services, you must self-refer and:
• Be between the ages of 16 and 18;
• Be a resident of New Brunswick for at least three months before the referral;
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or be designated a protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board and Citizenship and Immigration Canada;
• Have (or be eligible for) a New Brunswick Medicare card;
• Be unmarried and not living in a common-law relationship;
• Have lived outside your parent’s or caregiver’s home for at least three months or have at least one dependent while living in a parental home where the household income is lower than $30,000.
Please note: A youth who is not self-referred or has not lived outside the parental home for three months may still be eligible for services upon the recommendation of a Child Protection social worker or supervisor.
To apply for Youth Engagement Services, please call Social Development at 1-833-733-7835. Press 1 for English, 2 for French. Press 1 to speak to a social worker about Youth Engagement Services.
The social workers will do an initial screening over the phone. Along with general information about your situation, please be ready to share your:
- Address, phone number
- Medicare number
