September 1992 -The Black Youth Helpline Manitoba was launched. Lessons learned in Manitoba formed the basis for establishment of the Black Youth Helpline in Ontario.
March 2003 -Black Youth Helpline established in Ontario.
The origin of the Black Youth Helpline program model was created by youth for youth as follows:
Black Youth in Manitoba independently developed an initiative and started a flyer called “Black Hand to Black Hand”. A project assignment at school, youth decided to outreach into shopping malls and to the streets encouraging out of school youth to return to school.
With the success of their project came new challenges: Youth identified the need to add the name and phone number of a professional “adult resource” to their flyer. A person youth could relate to and call on for help and support when needed. They approached Barbara Thompson, a Jamaican-Canadian Registered Nurse who readily responded: "of course you can!" Little did she know about the journey on which this seemingly innocent ask would take her.
Once she had agreed to her name and phone number being listed in the “Black Hand to Black Hand” flyer, this Nurse following her work days came home to excessive calls and messages from youth needing supports. In one example, the Winnipeg Police Service picked up a 14 year old male at about 1:30 am and asked him for his parents. The young boy promptly provided the name and phone number. The police called and she went out and substituted as the “caring mother.” This was the first time they met but the resultant relationship was described by this young man as the intervention that changed his life.
Several weeks later and the level of calls to her home phone continued to increase. Inspired by the voices of youth seeking supports and aware of the problems confronting Black youth especially in Ontario, this Nurse called on other multicultural community professionals, parents and leaders in the City of Winnipeg. The resultant efforts led to the birth of Black Youth Helpline, Manitoba.
Patterns of calls to the Helpline (the voices of youth) informed the specific programs that ultimately flowed from the Manitoba Helpline and this is consistent with the process now in place. In Manitoba, schools were the initial major users of the service and “problems in schools” the key issue identified by youth and parents. The Stay-In-School Program therefore became the key focus. In Ontario, parents and youth are the key users of the service. The issues are more complex and include:
1) significant mental health stresses and problems
2) gaps in mental health services
3) lack of adequate resources for early pre-crisis support and
4) Significant gaps in culturally appropriate school based supports
That is, historically, the voices of youth in the specific province have shaped BYH program direction in that jurisdiction.
Now Canada-wide! The story of the Black Youth Helpline is really about two (2) core foundations:
1) The resilience of a community and its volunteers and
2) A country (Canada), its peoples and values. A country that in 1971 became the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy.
March 2003 -Black Youth Helpline established in Ontario.
The origin of the Black Youth Helpline program model was created by youth for youth as follows:
Black Youth in Manitoba independently developed an initiative and started a flyer called “Black Hand to Black Hand”. A project assignment at school, youth decided to outreach into shopping malls and to the streets encouraging out of school youth to return to school.
With the success of their project came new challenges: Youth identified the need to add the name and phone number of a professional “adult resource” to their flyer. A person youth could relate to and call on for help and support when needed. They approached Barbara Thompson, a Jamaican-Canadian Registered Nurse who readily responded: "of course you can!" Little did she know about the journey on which this seemingly innocent ask would take her.
Once she had agreed to her name and phone number being listed in the “Black Hand to Black Hand” flyer, this Nurse following her work days came home to excessive calls and messages from youth needing supports. In one example, the Winnipeg Police Service picked up a 14 year old male at about 1:30 am and asked him for his parents. The young boy promptly provided the name and phone number. The police called and she went out and substituted as the “caring mother.” This was the first time they met but the resultant relationship was described by this young man as the intervention that changed his life.
Several weeks later and the level of calls to her home phone continued to increase. Inspired by the voices of youth seeking supports and aware of the problems confronting Black youth especially in Ontario, this Nurse called on other multicultural community professionals, parents and leaders in the City of Winnipeg. The resultant efforts led to the birth of Black Youth Helpline, Manitoba.
Patterns of calls to the Helpline (the voices of youth) informed the specific programs that ultimately flowed from the Manitoba Helpline and this is consistent with the process now in place. In Manitoba, schools were the initial major users of the service and “problems in schools” the key issue identified by youth and parents. The Stay-In-School Program therefore became the key focus. In Ontario, parents and youth are the key users of the service. The issues are more complex and include:
1) significant mental health stresses and problems
2) gaps in mental health services
3) lack of adequate resources for early pre-crisis support and
4) Significant gaps in culturally appropriate school based supports
That is, historically, the voices of youth in the specific province have shaped BYH program direction in that jurisdiction.
Now Canada-wide! The story of the Black Youth Helpline is really about two (2) core foundations:
1) The resilience of a community and its volunteers and
2) A country (Canada), its peoples and values. A country that in 1971 became the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy.
