Youth Independence Program Gets Under Way

Youth Independence Program Gets Under Way

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​Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM), the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) and its Public Alternative Secondary School (P.A.S.S.) today announced the launch of an innovative program that is expected to make real gains in assisting young people at risk in our community to avoid homelessness and rebuild their lives.

The Youth Independence Program is a classroom-based curriculum that will teach life skills to youth aged 16-24, regardless of gender, who wish to become self-reliant, gain a secondary school credit, and receive educational guidance, optional entry into paid employment training, and referrals to community support. The students will attend a two-hour class five days a week for three months.

In June, the program received a grant of $26,186. Lisa Kolody, Executive Director of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, says, “The WindsorEssex Community Foundation was fortunate to partner with Green Shield Canada as part of the national Six 4 Six Community Granting Initiative Program.  Green Shield Canada is making meaningful investments in community programs like the Youth Independence Program to improve health outcomes for all Canadians.  This collaboration will be invaluable in addressing the needs our young people face daily and we thank the partners for working together.”

“Our WRYM transitional housing program for homeless young men has an average 90 percent success rate,” says WRYM President Susan Freeman, “and now, thanks to our partners, we are able to extend that success to more at-risk youth, regardless of gender, even before they become homeless.”

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“The Youth Independence Program will provide young people with useful skills before an actual crisis occurs,” adds WRYM Program Director Jason Weinberg. “This approach will empower them as citizens to build a productive new life. Education is a big part of that and we are both thankful and excited that our partnership with the Greater Essex County District School Board and its Public Alternative Secondary School will help at-risk youth get the education they need for success.”

​WRYM Program Director Jason Weinberg describes the program to reporters.

Josh Canty, Superintendent of Education with the Greater Essex County District School Board says, “We are always seeking new and different ways to connect with young people who, for whatever reason, have not completed at least their secondary school educations. This is a great opportunity to motivate them to do just that.”

Celebrating Thursday’s launch of the WRYM Youth Independence Program were (L to R) GECDSB Superintendent of Education Josh Canty; Lisa Kolody, Executive Director of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation; WRYM Program Director Jason Weinberg; WRYM President Susan Freeman; WRYM Executive Director Greg Goulin; Barb Milne, Department Head, Public Alternative Secondary School; and Dana O’Neil, Re-engagement & Alternative Education Consultant GECDSB.

General Inquiries: 
E-mail:  ​executivedirector@wrym.ca
​Telephone:  226.221.8464
Fax:  226.221.8624
Mail:
The Windsor Residence for Young Men
1505 Langlois Avenue
Windsor, Ontario, Canada N8X 4M3