Chapter 4

An Exemplary Story

4.1.1 Espace jeunesse program

The Espace jeunesse program, previously for children aged 7 to 12, has also become the first free French-language mental health support service for youth between 13 and 18 in Toronto, as officially announced on November 14, 2012. Funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Espace jeunesse is the product of an innovative partnership between the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre and the Centre francophone de Toronto.

The program assists young Francophones who are having difficulties at school or at home, such as concerns about their body image, conflict with friends or family, bullying, substance abuse, violence, sadness, isolation, anger and trouble integrating into a new environment, society or country.

The two partners, whose teams have already moved into spaces on the second floor of the Centre francophone de Toronto, are jointly offering a variety of support services, such as individual and family assessments, specialized assessments (psychological and psychiatric), individual and family therapy and counselling, consulting and support services in schools, programs and workshops for youth, and workshops for parents. The program’s outreach workers support school social workers in particular by providing services and programs to students in response to identified needs. Two secondary schools and six elementary schools in the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud are participating in the program, as are three secondary schools and eight elementary schools in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde.