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:
In response to a community-based project assignment at their school, Black Youth in Winnipeg, Manitoba decided that their project would be to outreach into shopping malls and to the streets encouraging out of school youth to return to school. They developed a flyer called “Black Hand to Black Hand” and tirelessly distributed these to disconnected youth.
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 call for help and support. They approached a Registered Nurse, active in the community and 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 seeking support. 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 this nurse went out and substituted as the “caring mother.” This was the first time the two met but the resultant relationship was described by this young man as the intervention that changed his life.
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 and especially lessons out of Ontario, this Nurse called on other multicultural community professionals, parents and leaders in the City of Winnipeg. The resultant efforts led to the establishment of Black Youth Helpline, Manitoba.
Patterns of calls to the Helpline (voices on Line) informed the specific programs that ultimately flowed from the Black Youth Helpline (& Services). In Manitoba, schools (Teachers, guidance counsellors) were the initial major users of the service diligently seeking out culturally relevant input to help address the needs of their increasingly diverse student populations. Youth and parents followed with “problems in schools” identified as their key issue. The Stay-In-School Program therefore became the key focus in that province. In Ontario, parents and youth are the key users of the service. The issues are more complex and include:
1) Problems in schools and significant gaps in culturally relevant knowledge and school based supports
2) Significant mental health stresses and problems
3) Barriers of access to professional mainstream mental health services including early pre-crisis support
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 grounded in two (2) core foundations:
1) The resilience of a community and its volunteers and
2) A country (Canada), its peoples and values. A country which in 1971 became the first globally 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:
In response to a community-based project assignment at their school, Black Youth in Winnipeg, Manitoba decided that their project would be to outreach into shopping malls and to the streets encouraging out of school youth to return to school. They developed a flyer called “Black Hand to Black Hand” and tirelessly distributed these to disconnected youth.
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 call for help and support. They approached a Registered Nurse, active in the community and 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 seeking support. 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 this nurse went out and substituted as the “caring mother.” This was the first time the two met but the resultant relationship was described by this young man as the intervention that changed his life.
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 and especially lessons out of Ontario, this Nurse called on other multicultural community professionals, parents and leaders in the City of Winnipeg. The resultant efforts led to the establishment of Black Youth Helpline, Manitoba.
Patterns of calls to the Helpline (voices on Line) informed the specific programs that ultimately flowed from the Black Youth Helpline (& Services). In Manitoba, schools (Teachers, guidance counsellors) were the initial major users of the service diligently seeking out culturally relevant input to help address the needs of their increasingly diverse student populations. Youth and parents followed with “problems in schools” identified as their key issue. The Stay-In-School Program therefore became the key focus in that province. In Ontario, parents and youth are the key users of the service. The issues are more complex and include:
1) Problems in schools and significant gaps in culturally relevant knowledge and school based supports
2) Significant mental health stresses and problems
3) Barriers of access to professional mainstream mental health services including early pre-crisis support
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 grounded in two (2) core foundations:
1) The resilience of a community and its volunteers and
2) A country (Canada), its peoples and values. A country which in 1971 became the first globally to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy.
