Who is eligible?

Any youth is over the age of 14 and who are or were in the care of either CASMT or CCAS are eligible to receive service from PARC. PARC is an entirely voluntary service for youth, meaning that when youth are referred to PARC, their level of participation in the PARC programs is left entirely up to the youth themselves.

How do you get a referral?

To be receieve service from PARC, you need to telephone the centre between 9 and 5 and ask to speak with the worker doing intake, who will arrange a time for you to visit. Your social worker, care giver or friend may come with you to check out the Centre. Intake is shared by five full time staff and supplemented by the various practicum students from Ryerson Polytechnic University, George Brown College, and Humber College that are completing field placements at PARC.

Referrals

Referrals to PARC can be made by a variety of means including the youth themselves, friends, caseworkers, group home workers, and foster parents. You are usually seen immediately upon request but appointments must be made by phone first. Once a youth decides on participating in any of the PARC programs, a "case" is opened and remains open by mutual agreement or when there has been no contact with the youth for one month. Once a file is closed however, it is easily re-opned upon request. We express interest but no blame about the circumstances of previous closure and believe that change is normal for this age and circumstance

What services can you receive from PARC?

If you decide that you would like to become part of the PARC community, you can make a deal with the intake worker over what services you would like to check out or participate in. Youth are able to participate in any of the elements of PARC service from the various groups, crisis intervention, tutoring, resume, computer and employment services and any of the social events that are offered at the centre through discussion with a worker.

Do I have to have a worker at PARC?

While a worker is assigned to youth during the intake process for adminstrative purposes, youth are given a great deal of freedom in choosing whom they wish to work with. All staff at PARC try to make themselves as available as possible to all members of the community. So, even though you may have been "assigned" a worker during the intake process, you can feel free to approach any of the staff that you feel comfortable speaking with.

Workers help youth in defining goals they would like to achieve and help in designing strategies to achieve these goals. A series of contacts between youth and worker helps to assess the progress of these strategies and determine whether changes need to be made to better enable the youth to achieve their goals.

How long can I receive service from PARC?

You may become involved in PARC at all stages of your contact with the CAS'. You may still be in foster or group homes, out in the community but supported by CAS financial support, or at the point where you are leaving the care of the CAS alltogether.You may receive service from PARC as long as you use it to make visible progress towards independence. We have youth involved in the program from 14 years of age to over 21 years of age. Depending on the age, personal stage and involvement in PARC of the various youth, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether they are receiving service or providing service to PARC and the PARC community. As you become more capable, we expect you will contribute your wisdom and energy to enrich the program.