Nipawin FIRST's Becky Pickering (left) and Chelsea Wandler (right). (Submitted Photo/ Nipawin FIRST)

By Rachel May

Youth Connection

Nipawin FIRST celebrates the launch of their youth connection program

Apr 30, 2023 | 8:00 AM

An organization in the northeast is giving the community a safe space to go in times of trouble.

Nipawin FIRST is a program funded by the Ministry of Justice to prevent violence in the community.

Becky Pickering, FIRST family intervention advocate, told northeastNOW they have been out in the community doing home visits for a year.

“We work with individuals and families in the community and surrounding areas to intervene and prevent violence at home.”

With just over a year of activity under their belt, they’re launching a program to keep youth connected.

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It aims to break the cycle of abuse by teaching different strategies such as coping skills, emotional regulation, community, and how to build healthy relationships.

“It’s friendships and relationships with your family,” said Pickering. “Any kind of relationship in general is what we kind of want to work toward. Just having a positive one.”

The program is designed for youth in grades 7-12. The hope is that teaching youth during such a pivotal age in their lives will help them prioritize their mental and physical well-being.

“We just want to offer them that space, connection, and the ability to meet others who might even be going through some of the very similar things that they’re going through,” added Pickering.

Chelsea Wandler, who also happens to be a FIRST family intervention advocate, explained that although this upcoming program is geared toward youth, there is no age limit when it comes to helping the community.

“We work with families of all ages. So if we go in and start seeing a family, they could have children from a newborn baby and they could have grandparents living in their house.”

The first meeting is next Tuesday, May 2, and those interested in enrolling can contact Nipawin FIRST.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM