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WAYS provides a wide variety of non-residential programs in London and Chatham.
While our primary emphasis continues to be youth, we have broadened our scope based on community needs. We now serve families, adults and children in addition to youth.
Last year, over 900 people participated in one or more of our community programs.
Some of our programs include crisis support youth groups and support, aftercare, respite care, family group decision making, youth and adult justice programs , foster care and more.
WAYS currently operates nine residential facilities in London and Forest. Last year, over 90 youth between the ages of 12 and 21 lived in these homes.
Youth come with a variety of backgrounds and bring a variety of challenges that may include:
- emotional, physical and sexual abuse
- drug and alcohol problems
- social issues at school or with their peers
- broken the law
- psychiatric difficulties
- behavioural issues
In most cases, their families are unable to provide the support that the youth needs to make the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
That’s where WAYS comes in. We provide safe, professionally managed residential facilities for youth in crisis.
These homes provide for basic needs such as food, clothing and medical care, but more importantly, youth at these homes are encouraged to develop personal and social responsibility.
Youth are taught life skills, social skills and job training in preparation for successful independence. They are encouraged to get involved in the community through education, employment, recreation and community service. Whenever possible, families are involved in the process so that relationships can be enhanced.
WAYS also offers foster care placements throughout Southwestern Ontario.
The ultimate goal of every residential and foster care placement is to see youth progress toward a healthy and responsible lifestyle.
Foster care provides flexible and responsive parenting while ensuring a safe, healthy and caring environment for each child to call home.
The main goal of foster care is to provide flexible and responsive parenting while ensuring a safe, healthy and caring environment for each child to call home.
The work is often stimulating, touched at times by moments of reward, and at other times, by moments of frustration. WAYS provides every foster family with support and training matched to that family’s personalized needs.
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