OUT-OF-TOWN YOUTH TREATMENT CENTRE PROPOSED AT BOULDER BAY

The former Boulder Bay correctional facility could soon be a home for youth
suffering from substance abuse problems.

Pacific Community Resources (PCR), formerly Nisha Family and Children's
Services Society, has plans to develop an integrated youth services
strategy, which will help youth in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley
with drug and alcohol problems.

The strategy consists of three parts: youth resource centres, supported
housing and out-of-town treatment.

The youth resource centres will be like a shopping mall of social agencies,
so they can all be found under one roof, said Tom Hetherington, the
addictions program manager at PCR.

The supported housing will help stabilize at-risk youth by providing a
supportive living environment.

The out-of-town treatment centre is what is being proposed for Boulder Bay.

"Our notion is to try to establish a therapeutic community," said
Hetherington. "Nothing currently exists in B.C."

According to Hetherington, most programs are designed for short stays,
lasting up to one month.

The program for Boulder Bay will accommodate kids for about six months.

This treatment centre will be modeled after the Portage program, designed
to rehabilitate, educate and teach individuals life skills to help them
reintegrate back into society.

Portage was founded in 1970 has centres across North America and in Italy,
Portugal and the Philippines.

"We're not talking about a detox program," said Hetherington. "Every youth
would've been through it and are (at the treatment centre) because they
want to be there. The program will be for boys and girls."

PCR will work with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, the Fraser
Valley Health Authority and social workers to determine who would be a
candidate for the program.

There will be a school on the site to get participants' education on track.
The proposal calls for a 40 to 50 bed resource at the site. The youth will
also learn a number of life skills, such as how to open a bank account and
how to manage money, and practical skills, such as arts and crafts. There
will also be lessons in social skills, such as how to develop and maintain
different kinds of relationships. PCR, who has partnered with Central City
Mission Foundation (CCMF), has been planning a facility like this for 18
months.

A property near Keremeos has been the main focus of discussions as it is
owned by CCMF.

The groups only began exploring options at Boulder Bay after they found out
the facility was available last month.

Now the PCR is weighing the pros and cons of each location.

"Both locations has its strength and costs," said Hetherington. "It's
definitely competitive."

There would be different activities available at the two sites, but
"Boulder Bay is a very beautiful site and it's ready to go. Keremeos might
take more renovations," said Hetherington.

Another strong point for Boulder Bay is it will be easier for families to
access because it is closer to the Lower Mainland.

"We want to have families invited up for a weekend," said Hertherington.
"Parents need to be involved with the changes in their children." Boulder
Bay is located on the north end of Alouette Lake and about a 30 minute
drive on a gravel forestry road from the Stave Lake dam. PCR is a
non-profit society which helps individuals and families enhance their
social, emotional and economic well-being. It works in partnership with a
number of communities, agencies and government ministries. It has an annual
operating budget of about $9 million.