Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub Open to Youth Aged 12 to 25
SUDBURY, Ont. – Sudbury’s Youth Wellness Hub will officially open on June 28, 2023, at 140 Durham Street, located in the Centre for Life.
The hub is an initiative designed to address the diverse needs of young people between the ages of 12 and 25. Youth can access a wide range of free services, including mental health support, primary care, substance use counselling, employment support, system navigation, and other community and social services.
The success of this important initiative is built on many community partners working together. Compass—the Lead Agency for child and youth mental health services for the districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin—led the hub’s development in partnership with Public Health Sudbury & Districts. In addition, local community organizations and healthcare providers will offer services in the space.
“After years of hard work, we are proud to open our doors to youth in our community. Youth have long faced systemic challenges to accessing services, and the hub is a centralized space for a wide variety of social and health service organizations to provide comprehensive care and support,” said Mark Fraser, Executive Director, Compass. “By offering a wide range of services under one roof, we are removing barriers and making it easier for young people to access the support they need.”
The hub is a space for youth, and throughout the development process, young people in our community have been at the forefront of the decision-making, design and service delivery.
“It has been extremely rewarding to cultivate a space that is beneficial to the growth of our community. As a Youth Ambassador, I’ve been able to advocate for the future of youth and ensure equal and low-barrier access to essential services. I’m excited to continue our work and to see youth using the space,” said Halley Baker, Youth Ambassador, Compass.
The hub will foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes youth engagement and participation. The hub will host various workshops, group activities, and skill-building programs designed to empower youth, enhance their life skills, and foster social connections. Some of the activities planned for July include pride events, yoga, art and movie nights.
“Public Health Sudbury & Districts acknowledges the collaboration of multiple partners in bringing the Youth Wellness Hub Sudbury to fruition. Not all residents of the City of Greater Sudbury have the same opportunities for health. The Youth Wellness Hub Sudbury will contribute to youth well-being by providing service delivery supports to youth in an engaging, connected, and inclusive environment.” adds Stacey Gilbeau, Director of Health Promotion, Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
“We are very excited to celebrate all the work this community has done through local partnerships and collaboration with youth and families to bring the Youth Wellness Hub Sudbury to life. This new hub will expand access to Integrated Youth Services (IYS), providing mental health, substance use, primary health care, and well-being services that meet the needs of diverse youth throughout the region. We are thrilled to welcome the Youth Wellness Hub Sudbury into the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario Provincial Network,” added Maria Talotta, Director of Strategy and Transformation, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario Provincial Office.
As a highlight to cap off the grand opening celebrations, we are happy to announce a donation of $25,000 from Normand Glaude to support the Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub. In Northern Ontario, access to mental health and social support for youth is limited, and donations like this will significantly impact young people in our community. Many youth go without essentials like food, personal hygiene products, and clothing and now, they can access these items free at the hub.
The ongoing operations of the hub will rely on community donations to ensure youth have access to these vital resources. Interested individuals can kindly make a donation at compassne.ca/donate/.
Youth are encouraged to visit the hub or contact the team at ywhsudbury@compassne.ca or 705.280.7581 to learn more about available services and support. The hub is open Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 7p.m.
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Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub Media Contact:
Maxime Chartrand Communications and Charity Specialist, Compass mchartrand@compassne.ca
(705) 561-7225
YWHO Provincial Office Media Contact:
Stephanie La Brie, Senior Communications Advisor communications@ywho.ca
Contact
If you have questions about YWHO, please email info@ywho.ca
