Jo-Anne Stephen is a Youth and Family Engagement Junior Manager with Foundry Terrace. She’s been with Foundry for almost two years, supervising peer support and assisting with day-to-day operations.
“Foundry is a great place to be. I enjoy assisting youth and getting to know them. Every individual who comes into Foundry brings uniqueness to the site, which is truly remarkable to experience.”
Sound like fun? Here are 4 ways to get involved:
1. Foundry Works
You want to work, but you don’t know where to start. You’re staring at a blank resume and need help recognizing your experience and skills. You’ve applied for a few jobs but haven’t been able to land anything. All of the above? Foundry Works can help.
“Foundry Works is a supportive employment program for youth aged 16 to 24,” Stephen says. “It’s program based with weekly workshops and skill development sessions.”
To get started, contact Terrace Foundry and make an appointment with an employment navigator.
“The program develops employment skills and prepares youth for the workplace, but it’s also an opportunity to meet other youth in similar situations, and use the Foundry’s connections to help youth find local employment opportunities.”
2. Youth Peer Support
Sometimes you don’t need answers, you just need someone who understands.
At Foundry, youth are welcome to drop-in Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to speak with a youth peer support worker.
“These are youth with lived experience that offer non-clinical support, or can help you navigate the Foundry system. We offer a lot of services, and youth peer support helps new visitors find the programs they need the most,” Stephen says.
Youth are welcome to use the computers, games and art supplies at any time, and the Foundry also run drop-in activities three days a week:
- Mondays: Creative/Artistic
- Wednesdays: Learning- and Wellness-based
- Fridays: Fun and Games
“We always have snacks and pantry and toiletry items available too.”
3. Walk-in counselling
When you need professional guidance and support, Foundry has you covered too. Counselling is available five days a week, no appointment necessary.
“It operates on a single-session model, which means concerns are addressed in-the-moment in a goal-oriented way. You’re welcome to come as often as you like, or just once,” Stephen says.
It can take a long time to navigate the waitlists and referrals of other mental health counselling, so Foundry gives youth the opportunity to see a professional right away. You’ll leave your session with tips and tools to manage the stressors in your life, right now.
4. Nurse practitioner
Don’t have a family doctor, or want to keep something private from your regular physician? Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., make an appointment with Foundry’s nurse practitioner for everything from prescriptions to sexual health and ordering lab work.
The Terrace Foundry is managed and operated by the Terrace and District Community Service Society (TDCSS) at 101-3219 Eby St. For community support at any age, reach out to TDCSS by phone (250) 635-3178, email info@tdcss.ca or visit tdcss.ca. Learn more about the Foundry at foundrybc.ca/terrace and stay up to date on groups and events on the Foundry’s Instagram and Facebook pages.