POSITIVE LIFE EXPERIENCES

Personal Futures Program Helps Youth At Risk

Five students who graduated from the Skills Link Program on April 13 at the
Norsemen Inn now have a new lease on life.

Positive Personal Futures (PPF) program coordinator Christina Nilson
said, "the program helps at risk youth, between 19 and 24, who are
homeless or abuse drugs, learn the skills to help them in their lives
and obtain and keep employment.

Process

First, they must be stabilized in housing of their choice, then they
are taught life management skills such as budgeting, resume
preparation, and interview skills, which will aid them managing their
lives in the future."

There are presentations from business people, explaining what they are
looking for in employees, health nurses talk on sexuality and
nutrition, the Family Violence Action Society discusses abuse issues
and The Volunteer Centre.

Fun

Nilson said, "we also have a scavenger hunt, where the participants go
to services such as Camrose and District Support Services, Lokken
Training, etc. and are required to bring back a brochure. The
brochures are then put into their portfolio and at the end of the
program, they have all the information they need."

The overall consensus from the participants was the program has helped
them to achieve something in their lives that didn't seem possible
before. Jenn Luck, one of the participants said, "this is everything I
want."

The other students agreed that participating in the program was great,
and they learned a lot from the presenters. However, beginning a new
life is scary.

The participants have already established some goals for the future
and are interested in becoming hairdressers, working with animals or
becoming receptionists.

Three of the students will be returning for the next program for work
experience, one is returning full time and another has a job on the
rigs. The work experience portion of the program gives the
participants the option of working, hopefully in an area of interest
to them, for a 12-week period for minimum 30 hours per week, with the
hope that they will be hired when that period is over. Employers
benefit as well as one half of the wage is paid by PPF, a federally
funded program.

Deadline

June 15 is the deadline to register for the next session and they will
be taking between 15 to 30 new participants which is up from the total
they took for the last program of 24. No referrals are necessary for
this program.

For graduating, each student received a certificate, as well as a $500
bonus.

For further information, contact Christina at 672-2415.