Rebound Child & Youth Services is preparing to officially open the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario (YWHO) Northumberland site at 15 Cavan Street, offering a single, youth-friendly access point for essential health and social services.
Interim Executive Director Pinder DaSilva says scheduling challenges affecting provincial funders and partners led to the decision to shift the formal ribbon cutting ceremony from November 26 to December 12 at 9 a.m.
“We made the decision to move the formal grand opening to December 12 so that the provincial partners and key stakeholders who helped make this possible can be here.” DaSilva says.
Although the ceremonial event was rescheduled, the Hub will begin providing direct services to young people as planned on December 1.
Interim Director Pinder DaSilva tells us the Hub provides one-stop access to mental health supports, primary care, peer support, life skills programs and more.
Youth will be able to access a spectrum of free, judgment-free support including primary care services, mental health and substance use counselling, peer support, life-skills programming, and connections to housing, employment and social services.
DaSilva says accessibility is at the core of the program.
The opening reflects 18 months of planning, renovations and collaboration conducted with guidance from Youth and Family Advisory Councils, ensuring youth voices directly shaped the model.
YWHO Northumberland joins a provincewide network of 32 Youth Wellness Hubs and is led locally by Rebound in partnership with six community organizations. Funding for the Hub is provided by the Government of Ontario.
For youth wondering if the Hub is a good fit for them, DaSilva extends this invitation.
More information and referral details are available at ywhnorthumberland.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)