# Safe houses to give
kids place to stay

‘Mediation to
‘be offered in
network homes

‘Myke Clark
Contributing Writer
A new Safe House
Network is in the
‘works for North
Vancouver,

The program would give

ids who have nowhere to go

safe place to sleep.
,Many .- teenagers have
und ‘themselves in. what is
ingly common situ-
: era fight with
arents, teens: leave
without

ut/-many. times the.

aa ake is, not dealt

faconcos Led. 1585 MacGowan Ave., N.Van

problems.

The new program is being
developed by the North
Vancouver Family Court and
Youth Justice Committee.

The program is targeting
youths who, for one reason
or another, find themselves
without anywhere else. to

oO.

Right now, these kids fall
through the cracks of a social
services system that only gets

"involved as the problems get

worse.

James Martin, chairman
of the committee, says recent
surveys show the program is
necessary.

“We know from the kids
in school that it is a problem,
that they need some place to
have a cooling-off period,”
he said

And Martin stresses that

the program is designed for

youths: who do not have
criminal or drug and alcohol
problems,

-“These are kids that just
have a breakdown in the
home, for whatever reason,”

‘added Martin.
The network would be an .
organization of homes that .

would be available where
youths could spend up to
five days.

More importantly, per-
haps, would be the coun-
selling and mediation that
would take place between
the youth and the parents.

According to Martin, that
is an integral part of the
process.

“We want to make sure
that when we give them

(youths) that cooling off

period, we pur in some coun-
scliing so that hopefully that
problem won’t arise again,”
he said.

Parents would be
informed that their child is in
the Safe House Network and
a plan to reunite them would
be developed.

The program’s goal is to
have the youth return home
as soon as possible. :

The Family Court and
Youth Justice Committee is
currently trying to organize
resources that are already in
place to get the program up
and running.

No new tax money would
be needed to get things
under way.

‘Hunter. Douglas

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988-2324

Friday, November 21, 1997 — North Shore News —

COMMUNITY FORUM
ON THE —
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM

You’re invited to join the inaugural meeting of
North Vancouver’s new Restorative Justice Society.

Thursday, November 27th
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Council Chambers District of North Vancouver
355 West Queens Road

© Meet Directors of the Society
; © Find out about Restorative Justice ;
. © Get involved in developing a community appreach to youth justice
© Sign up as a volunteer

For more information cali : 990-2459 or 985-7761, local 231°

Hosted by:
North Vancouver Joint Police Lisisun Committee © City of North Vancouver * District of North Vancouver

City: of. North Vancouver: tai. West 14th ‘Sireet, North Vancouver. BC v7M 1H9.
; Phone: 985< F761 Fax? 985-9417 . ‘Web. sité: www.cnv.arg

FOOD

13

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arriving shortly

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