MYS Programs:

The Adolescent Resources in Community Homes (ARCH) Service at Macdonald Youth Services is comprised of seven separate community based homes and a work training and education program.

Six of the homes are located within Winnipeg and one is located in a rural community about an hour outside of the city. The therapeutic programming within each program has been developed to work effectively with specific populations, and is described in detail below.

These Programs are:

• The Edgewood Program: 2 - 6 bed, 1- 3 bed /male adolescents
• The Mutchmor Program: 6 bed /male adolescents
• The Williamson Program: 6 bed / male adolescents
• The Chancellor Program: 4 bed / male adolescents
• The St. Pierre Program: 4 bed / female adolescents
• Workforce Venture Program: Work training program

The staff teams are comprised of Youth Care Workers, a Program Manager and a Therapist. The Program Manager and Therapist work together to ensure that all interventions and activities that take place within the program are clinically based and consistent with the treatment model, beliefs and philosophy of that program. All programming within the Adolescent Resources in Community Homes Service must also be consistent with the MYS treatment philosophy and mission statement. ARCH makes extensive use of clinical consultation and supervision to support the Coordinator, Therapists, Program Managers, and Youth Care Workers in their work.

All of the ARCH programs actively attempt to engage families in the therapeutic process, based on individual service plans and circumstances. All programs work towards improved relationships among family members and foster family connections in various ways.

ARCH advocates strongly on behalf of our youth to ensure that they are given the opportunity to participate in appropriate educational programming. We work closely with the various school divisions to ensure that every youth participates in an educational program to the best of his or her ability. We believe that, given a suitable program and the appropriate supports, all of our youth can participate successfully in a full day program.

The Workforce Venture Program (WFV) complements the community based education program for some youth of the ARCH Service. The goal of the WFV is to assist youth to stay in school and meet their full potential within the educational system. WFV is a skills based work experience and training program that provides clients with the opportunity for supervised on the job training. It is staffed by a Supervisor and Youth Care Worker. The main focus of the training component is yard maintenance - cutting grass and snow removal. The WVP Supervisor and Youth Care Worker work side by side with youth in the community. The young people in this program learn vocational and social skills. Through this experience, the young people develop a strong work ethic and learn to take pride in a job well done.

As part of the provincial Residential Care system, the Adolescent Resources in Community Homes Service accepts prioritized referrals from the Provincial Placement Desk. These referrals originate from the various Child and Family Service agencies across the province. If space is available, out of province referrals will be considered.

Growing Futures for Manitoba Youth, Families and Communities Since 1929.