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Reaching the summit.

Summit Group Care

Summit referrals are completed via Children and Family Services. Youth are …

  • Ages 13-17,
  • Have a history of trauma and neglect, struggle with addictions, are involved in the youth criminal justice system, and/or have behavioral issues,
  • Are presently unable to live in kinship care, nor foster care home settings.

Funded/Accessed by: Children’s Services 

Summit is a therapeutic residential treatment home for  youth aged 13-17 that is designed specifically to treat and work with high risk teens with addictions, history of trauma and neglect, justice involvement, gang involvement multiple diagnosis and/or behavioral issues. The program offers a strength based treatment and a harm reduction approach to enable youth to address their difficulties in a safe and supportive environment.

While taking part in the Summit program, participants live communally in a co-ed duplex where staff have created a stable home environment. Teens in the home have daily expectations they must follow including chores and responsibilities as well as individual goals they are encouraged to meet. Attending school, work or therapy sessions is facilitated through the program.

At the Summit home, teens are able to remain in their living quarters or take part in recreational programming in the adjacent suite. TV, games, computers, an art room and a gym are some of the amenities they are able to access.

There are six beds in the home; four male rooms in the basement and two female rooms on the main level.

Many of the teens that reside at Summit have ongoing addictions issues as well as experiences with trauma and neglect. For that reason a therapist is on site and easily accessible to participants. Appointments with doctors and addictions counsellors are also facilitated by Summit staff when requested.

Teens typically stay 3-6 months at Summit after being placed by Children’s Services, and Summit is able to assist approximately 12-14 participants each year. In successful outcomes they’ve been able to reunite with their families, find a place of their own or move into a more permanent care situation.

Staff work to build relationships and trust with the participants at Summit and to teach respectful behaviour as well as life skills. But the ultimate goal is to give youth a positive and supportive place to call home so they can begin a successful transition back into society.

Program Highlights

SUMMIT offers strength-based treatment for
behavioral issues in an environment where youth are

able to address their difficulties and change patterns

of behavior. All program components work toward

stabilizing challenging behaviors, teaching effective

life and living skills, and reestablishing a positive

family culture.

The Summit program incorporates three stages of
involvement within the targeted three to six month

residency. The design of this program takes into

consideration a process that involves stabilization,

short-term intensive treatment, and transition to family
or alternate family settings such as kinship, foster care, adoption or a Youth Transition to Adulthood program. Individual, group and family therapy are offered in conjunction with residential programming directed at reintegrating youth back into their biological families or an alternative family setting.

Summit aims to enhance each client’s area of
competence and to develop appropriate skills in

individual areas of need.

What is Group Care

Live-in group care homes provide a home-type setting for children and youth who cannot live with their own family homes for a variety of reasons, and may not be an appropriate match for kinship care, nor foster home settings.

Children and youth who stay in these homes may stay for several weeks up to several months until a more permanent residence is available, they return to their original home setting, or transition into independent living.

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