News photo Nell Lucente

“PAT BJERRISGAARD. takes aim during the 5th annual
Dartathon at the Queen’s Cross pub in North Vancouver.
Over $16,000 was raised during the day-long event. The
‘money will go toward the purchase of a Sunshine Coach van

for the Variety Club.

HELP'S ATHAND

Friendly terms key in

HELP'S’AT: Hand, by’ North Shore

Community Services (NSCS), is a

forum ‘for discussing government
‘policies and’ programs, benefits.
consumer and-legal rights, taxation

‘and public services.. Answers are,

‘intended. only’as a general guide

and‘should not be applied to indi-
vidual cases without, further consul-

QUESTION: 1 live next door toa
group home for teenagers. I think.
‘it: has. something to do with the
“Ministry ‘of Social. Services -
(MSS). I know that the kids who":
live there have come from pretty
difficult home situations, bat Jam
tired of their yelling, swearing,

and obnoxious behavior. At times

‘L-feel like I waat them to move
somewhere else. Whai- do you
‘suggest? | :

Answer: It sounds like you ¢ fre
referring to “Children in Care,”
"group home for.children. who have
“been taken.out of their family
homes. by MSS because of abuse
and negicct. You are right that they
have conte from difficult home situ-
ations.

The nature of a group home is
such that: up to six kids may be liv-
ing there ut one time; house staff
work on a shift basis; the’ kids may
or may not be in school full-time:
and most likely the kids are “acting
ut” their feelings of anger, [rustra-
tion and emotional pain in a number
of destructive ways. :

As you may know, the group
home is meant to be a transitional
home for them while childcare

“workers can help to stabilize their

lives before they move on to a per-
manent foster home or independent
living.

It sounds like you have some
concerns about your neighbors.
~ Have you attempted to work
things out by talking directiy to the
kids or the group home staff? ff you
do so in a non-blaming way, you
may have some success.

A statement such as: “I want you

encourage:

~ dealing with teenagers

to stop swearing outside the ‘house

because it upsets me” will probably
be taken seriously.

If the situation does not change,
then you may want to call the orga-
nization responsible for the opera-
tion of the house. Although we said
that MSS places children in care,
the group homes are operated by
various non-profit and private agen-
cies on a contract basis. .

State your concerns to the

egcacy stalfand ask fora method

of dealing with future problems.
We know of a similar situation.

that ‘worked out positively. The

“neighbor asked for cooperation

from the group home on-a number
of issucs: to contain verbal conflicts
within the house with the doors and
windows closed; to observe certain
houis as quiet times; and to keep
the exterior yard neat and 'tidy.

The neighbor and ‘the group
home staff agreed that it would be
good for everyone if the kids in the
home were involved in the neigh-

-borhood as much as possible, so she

asked to be introduced to new kids
who moved in and worked on hav-
ing a friendly relationship with each
of-them.

It proved thal the kids had more
respect for neizhbors if they were
‘on friendly terms.

Organizations who run group
homes and their staff can help to
positive relations in

eighborhoods by facilitating this
kind of community outreach,

If you find that these techniques
arent working, contact MSS direct-
ly by calling the family and child
services office in your area,

Enquiry BC, a provincial gov-
ernment information service, can
help vou locate the phone number.
Call Enaiiy BC at 660-2421, or f-
$00-663-7867 outside Greater
Vancouver,

This cotumn is prepared with

financial assistance fram the

Notary Foundation. For more
information call NSCS at 985-7138.

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‘CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT 17TH AND LONSDALE,

NORTH VANCOUVER

Prices in effect-until closing, Saturday, February 19, 1994, while stocks last

We reserve the right to to litt quantities.