The Family Centre is part of the All in for Youth.
This first-of-its-kind local initiative focuses on getting children and youth successfully through their education years and on to high school completion.
Education is the foundation for a bright future. But sometimes in life, challenges get in the way and extra support is needed.
When students face personal, learning or family related difficulties it can reduce their chances of completing high school and increase their chances of continuing to struggle in the future.
All in for Youth brings together programs and services in a new way to help every child achieve their very best, by providing support to them and their families. By taking care of critical needs now, we stand a far better chance of helping them get through tough times, build skills and set children up for academic success.
Fact: 1 in 5 Edmonton students do not complete high school within 3 years.
When families are struggling, they often lack funds or connections to get the help they need. All in for Youth combines the services of past programs – Partners for Kids, Schools as Community Hubs and Out of School Time.
This new one-stop program is seeing schools, government, community partners, corporations and funding supporters working together to create the best environment for children to succeed.
Helping thousands of kids in five demonstration schools.
All in for Youth supports children from Kindergarten through Grade 12 and is currently being piloted in five inner-city demonstration schools where there is a high need for services:
St. Alphonsus Elementary/Junior High
John A McDougall Elementary
Delton Elementary
Spruce Avenue Junior High
Eastglen High School
All in for Youth removes barriers to learning, helping students and families in five ways:
Ensuring all students are confident and accomplished in reading and writing;
Delivering nutrition support, mentoring and counselling, right in the school
Offering before and after school programs, as well as programs during fall, spring and summer breaks
Supporting families through counselling, community resources and adult education; and
Providing a positive school culture, with caring staff and high quality teaching
The role of The Family Centre
Our success coaches help youth who have been hurt emotionally, are disengaged, and have lost their confidence in others. With the support of a success coach, children attend school more regularly, achieve higher results, avoid high-risk behaviours, make effective decisions and goals, and see a positive future for themselves.
Our mental health therapists help young people and families overcome the barriers and challenges that inhibit learning and development, and stop kids from completing high school, focusing on:
Children engaged in high-risk behaviours
Bullying and conflict resolution
Chaotic, unhealthy home environments
Dysfunctional and dangerous relationships
Children experiencing the effects of abuse and trauma
THE GOAL: To see every child complete high school
All in for Youth is outcome driven and tied to specific academic performance. These foundational markers will help measure success:
Kindergarten Readiness
Grade 3 Reading Level
Building Resiliency
Successful Transition from Junior High to Senior High
High School Completion
Building better futures means benefits for families and our community
Along with helping children succeed in school and helping their families get stronger, we will see many other benefits:
Improved social equity for children facing barriers, including children who are indigenous, immigrants and refugees;
Improved employability of youth and an elevated quality for our workforce;
Contributions toward ending the cycle of poverty; and
Reduced costs to taxpayers of remedial education, health care, social supports, etc.
Collaborating to Help Children Succeed
This innovative program is made possible through the dedication of social sector partners and municipal government – all committed to being All in for Youth and families.
See the organizations that contribute to the All In For Youth program
It’s a huge relief as a principal to know, with the challenging issues people face, I can point to someone that can help. Each partner is helpful to a family. While we’re prepared to deal with crisis situations, our work is aimed at prevention – we’re all dedicated to seeing each child succeed.
Nancy Webber
Former Principal, Delton Elementary School
The Family Centre acknowledges that we are on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and traveling route for the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
