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ANNUAL REPORT Peak HousePaci�c Youth & Family Services Society

2017/18

 

Board  of  Directors  Report    

The  2017-­‐18  fiscal  year  was  another  difficult  one  for  the  Peak  House  program  and  the  Pacific  Youth  and  Family  Services  Society,  the  non-­‐profit  society  that  administrates  the  program,  in  light  of  the  ongoing  overdose  crisis.  More  than  ever,  the  safe,  supportive  and  inclusive  environment  that  Peak  House  provides  is  desperately  needed.          The  dedicated  team  behind  this  important  work,  led  by  Executive  Director  James  Kelly  and  Program  Manager  Wendy  Whittmack,  is  what  makes  the  program  effective  and  successful  each  year.  The  Board  of  Directors  would  like  to  extend  our  heartfelt  thanks  to  all  of  the  staff  and  volunteers  who  support  the  youth  at  Peak  House,  as  well  as  our  funder,  Vancouver  Coastal  Health.      At  the  board  level,  we  saw  the  departure  of  Kelly  Ngan,  Vice-­‐Chair,  and  Mike  Manella,  Treasurer.  We  would  like  to  thank  both  Kelly  and  Mike  for  volunteering  their  time  with  Peak  House.  Their  leadership  will  be  missed.  We  would  also  like  to  thank  board  member  Caitlin  Grisack  for  stepping  into  the  role  of  Vice-­‐Chair.      The  board  continues  to  seek  new  members  and  we  were  happy  to  welcome  Emily  Coates,  who  brings  a  breadth  of  skills  and  interests,  towards  the  end  of  the  year.      In  closing,  we  want  to  acknowledge  the  youth  who  attended  the  Peak  House  program  this  year.  Their  strength  and  resilience  is  inspiring  and  the  support  they  show  for  one  another  is  what  makes  Peak  House  special.  We  also  want  to  extend  our  gratitude  to  the  parents  and  caregivers  who  support  the  youth  during  this  journey.        Board  of  Directors  Pacific  Youth  and  Family  Services  Society    

 

Executive  Director  Report    Last  fiscal  year  marked  a  combination  of  emotions,  successes,  challenges,  heartbreaks,  joy  and  change.    As  a  community,  we  continue  to  find  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  the  overdose  crisis.  A  crisis  many  of  us  had  hoped  would  have  shifted  towards  the  better  by  now.  We  are  not  managing  a  crisis  but  managing  the  new  reality.        As  Peak  House  marks  our  30th  year,  we  reflect;  from  humble  beginnings  with  a  medical  focus  and  abstinence-­‐based  approach,  Peak  House  has  evolved  our  practice,  values,  and  philosophies  along  with  our  community.    We  have  become  leaders  and  educators  in  innovative  ways  of  supporting  youth  and  their  families  against  the  struggle  of  a  life  overtaken  by  substance  use.      In  the  past  year,  Peak  House  has  worked  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  community  amidst  the  overdose  epidemic.    This  has  meant  bending  program  structure  when  possible  in  order  to  best  protect  young  people  at  significant  risk  of  overdose.    This  is  a  process  of  balance  as  one  affects  the  whole.    When  programming  is  altered  for  one  higher  risk  (in  that  moment)  youth,  it  often  has  a  ripple  affect  impacting  others  in  the  program.    This  can  have  both  negative  and  positive  consequences  depending  on  the  situation.  We  continue  to  work  imperfectly  to  create  a  healthy  and  balanced  community  of  young  people  living  and  working  together  to  get  their  lives  back  from  drugs  and  alcohol.    Peak  House  has  been  a  shelter  for  many  young  people;  a  safe  and  inclusive  community  where  everyone  is  welcome.    Peak  House  has  long  been  known  as  a  safe(r)  place  where  youth  who’ve  experienced  bullying  can  find  belonging  and  connection,  where  GLBTQ2+  youth  are  not  just  tolerated  but  celebrated,  where  issues  of  social  justice,  racism,  classism,  body  politics  and  misogyny  are  dismantled  and  new  ways  of  being  are  incorporated  into  the  fabric  woven  into  the  everyday  experience  of  our  young  and  insightful  clients.      We  have  watched  so  many  young  people  and  their  families  reconnect  to  themselves,  to  each  other  and  to  hope.    It  has  been  such  an  honour  to  be  a  part  of  witnessing  the  ripple  effect  of  what  happens  to  a  family  and  the  community  of  support  when  wellness  is  the  focus,  to  watch  children  reunited  with  their  parent(s),  to  witness  the  parenting  successes  of  our  alumni,  and  the  continued  successes  of  education,  health,  happiness  and  joy  that  accompany  a  life  lived  in  one’s  preferred  way  of  being.        The  current  crisis  has  served  as  a  constant  reminder  of  how  important  it  is  that  we  continue  to  create  more  opportunities  for  youth,  that  the  door  is  open,  the  light  on,  and  a  safe  place  is  waiting  for  young  people  when  they  are  ready  and  in  need  of  our  care.            

I  would  like  to  thank  everyone  who  has  participated  in  Peak  House  over  the  last  30  years.    Past  directors,  staff,  funders,  board  members,  young  people  and  their  families,  service  providers  and  the  community  at  large  –  you  have  helped  to  build  and  shape  what  Peak  House  is  today.    A  special  acknowledgment  of  our  Program  Manager  Wendy  Wittmack  who  is  also  celebrating  her  30th  year  of  service  with  the  organization!    I  also  want  to  acknowledge  our  hard  working  staff.    Our  sector  is  also  in  crisis  with  front  line  staff  struggling  with  burnout  and  heartache  in  the  face  of  this  overdose  epidemic.    You  are  appreciated  in  all  the  ways  you  bring  yourself  to  the  work.    I  would  like  to  thank  our  volunteer  board  of  directors  for  their  strategic  stewardship  and  moving  us  forward  in  our  pursuit  of  increasing  services  and  care  for  young  people  and  families  in  our  province;  our  VCH  funder  for  understanding  and  valuing  both  the  need  for,  and  the  way  we  deliver  services  to  our  community;  our  clinical  supervisor  Vikki  Reynolds  along  with  support  from  Bhupie  Dulay  who  help  to  hold  our  hearts  when  things  are  hardest  and  to  every  young  person  that  has  shaped  this  program  and  everyone  in  it.    One  affects  the  whole.  You  are  all  appreciated  and  valued.      In  closing,  I  want  to  share  my  deepest  sympathies  to  the  families  and  loved  ones  of  the  young  people  we  have  lost.    From  everyone  at  Peak  House,  our  hearts  are  with  you.      James  Kelly  Executive  Director    

 

Clinical  Supervisor  Report   As  Clinical  Supervisor  I  consult  with  the  Director  and  Program  Manager  as  needed  and  at  their  request,  and  meet  with  both  the  Youth  Counselling  Team  and  the  Clinical  Counselling  Team  monthly.  This  year  we  honoured  the  departure  of  our  Clinical  Counsellor  Bhupie  Dulay  who  has  made  fabulous  and  important  contributions  to  the  clinical  team  and  our  CARF  accreditation  as  well.  We  welcomed  Stefanie  Krasnow,  who  joins  Graeme  Sampson  to  make  up  our  team.  They  have  created  a  collaborative  team  and  have  brought  ethical  engagement  and  solid  competence  to  the  counselling  work  at  Peak  House.  The  Clinical  Counselling  Team  Supervision  meeting  takes  many  forms,  and  sometimes  follows  directly  after  my  participation  in  sessions,  as  part  of  a  “living  supervision”  model.  We  watch  pieces  of  counselling  work,  or  discuss  actual  sessions  I  have  participated  in.  Clinical  Counsellors  meet  monthly  with  me  for  direct  clinical  supervision  of  their  work  and  to  address  any  training  pieces  required.    Peak  House  has  a  long  history  of  contributing  to  community  education  and  participating  in  knowledge  shares,  and  this  team  has  worked  alongside  Bhupie  to  submit  an  article  on  the  work  of  the  Talk/Listen  Group,  which  is  an  innovative  therapeutic  practice  at  Peak  House  that  centres  youth  wisdom  and  uses  the  Reflecting  Team  model  as  a  frame.  These  types  of  teachings  promote  Peak  House’s  mission  and  also  contribute  to  the  field.  Alongside  Bhupie  Dulay,  I  continue  to  offer  training  on  a  monthly  basis  to  the  team,  and  consult  with  the  Executive  Director  and  Program  Manager  about  the  needs  and  goals  of  the  trainings.  Bhupie  Dulay  has  also  been  involved  in  training  of  new  staff  and  it  is  fabulous  to  have  her  continued  ethical  presence  and  solid  practice  experience  to  draw  from.      The  team  at  Peak  has  been  required  to  examine  our  practice  closely  in  response  to  the  opioid  epidemic,  and  work  creatively  and  ethically  to  hold  onto  youth  as  part  of  Harm  Reduction  and  ethical  practice.  This  has  been  a  stressful  time  for  everyone  in  our  extended  communities,  and  we  continue  to  aim  towards  collective  care  and  shouldering  each  other  up  to  keep  youth  at  the  centre  of  all  of  our  counselling  work.  It  is  an  honour  for  me  to  continue  being  a  part  of  the  Peak  House  community,  and  the  ethical  work  and  hopeful  developments  youth  struggle  to  achieve  continue  to  inspire  and  transform  me.  In  solidarity  

 Vikki  Reynolds,  PhD  RCC,  Peak  House  Clinical  Supervisor    

 

Staff  Team  Report    

It  has  been  another  year  filled  with  inspiration  and  successes  at  Peak  House.  Young  people  from  all  over  B.C.  have  participated  in  our  program,  and  shown  great  courage  and  dedication  in  freeing  themselves  from  problematic  substance  use.  Each  day,  we  witness  the  youth’s  wisdom  in  action  as  they  utilize  their  own  strengths  and  abilities  to  reclaim  their  lives  from  struggles,  find  their  voices,  and  advocate  for  change  in  their  lives  and  communities.  Alumni  are  returning  as  guest  speakers  and  also  for  our  monthly  alumni  events,  to  pass  on  their  experience  and  knowledge  to  current  Peak  House  youth.  

The  youth  have  been  attending  meetings,  doing  acupuncture,  doing  yoga,  attending  school,  cooking  with  staff,  and  learning  valuable  skills  such  as  first  aid,  banking,  accessing  tenant  rights,  and  writing  resumes.  They  have  been  exploring  ways  to  have  sober  fun,  such  as  outdoors  recreational  activities,  karaoke,  bowling,  visiting  artisan  markets,  and  outings  to  locations  such  as  Lynn  Valley,  Playland,  Science  World,  and  the  Bloedel  Conservatory.  We  have  also  been  going  on  outings  in  nature  on  a  weekly  basis,  as  many  youth  have  expressed  that  connecting  with  nature  has  been  an  important  aspect  of  their  wellness  and  their  recovery.  Many  youth  have  been  writing  and  recording  songs  about  recovery  at  regular  Arts  Education  trips  to  the  Sarah  McLachlan  School  of  Music.  We  have  also  marked  many  annual  celebrations  and  holidays  here  at  Peak  House,  so  as  to  support  youth  in  celebrating  these  in  safer,  sober  ways.  

 We  continue  to  hear  from  Peak  House  alumni  about  their  ongoing  successes  in  their  lives  after  the  program.  For  example,  youth  have  informed  us  of  their  successful  graduation  from  high  school,  acceptance  and  entering  into  post-­‐secondary  education,  successfully  starting  careers,  re-­‐establishing  connections  with  family  and  community,  taking  sober  cake  celebrations  through  NA  and  AA,  and  inspiring  change  in  their  own  families  and  communities.    

We  have  also  witnessed  many  successes  during  young  people’s  stay  in  the  program  itself.  Some  of  these  include  welcoming  and  commencement  ceremonies,  talk-­‐listen  groups  (in  which  a  young  person  shares  some  of  their  wisdom  with  the  group  and  the  group  then  reflects  back  on  and  honors  that  wisdom),  as  well  as  young  people  reading  their  first  novels,  learning  to  play  an  instrument  (guitar,  ukulele,  djembe,  keyboard),  recording  their  own  songs,  publishing  their  poetry  and  short  stories,  and  figuring  out  new  and  respectful  ways  to  navigate  anger  and  resolve  conflict  peacefully.  It  has  been  on  honor  for  us  to  witness  youth  discover  new  outlets,  or  recover  lost  passions  while  in  the  program:  from  watching  youth  plant  their  first  seeds  and  find  peace  in  watching  a  plant  grow,  to  seeing  youth  try  meditation  for  the  first  time  and  by  the  end  of  their  stay,  teaching  others  how  to  do  so.  We  have  also  seen  numbers  of  youth  returning  for  their  crewmate’s  commencements  to  show  support  and  celebrate  each  other’s  successes,  and  when  doing  so,  they  often  speak  of  the  importance  of  community,  vulnerability,  and  connection,  and  ways  that  they  intend  on  holding  on  to  these  values  throughout  their  lives.      

-­‐Peak  House  Staff  Team  

 

 

School  Report    

The  Provincial  Resource  Program  (PRP)  at  Peak  House  has  undergone  many  changes  during  the  past  year  with  the  increase  of  the  teaching  position  from  0.5  FTE  to  full  time.  The  Ministry  of  Education’s  approval  for  additional  staffing  has  enabled  the  PRP  to  provide  more  educational  services  to  youth  attending  Peak  House  and  to  schools  across  the  province.  There  is  increased  support  for  the  student’s  transition  to  their  community  school,  and  new  post-­‐program  educational  services  to  bridge  the  gap  when  the  student  does  not  immediately  return  to  their  community  school.  I  now  meet  with  the  clinical  team  monthly  and  participate  in  all  weekly  consultation  meetings.  This  collaborative  time  is  valuable  to  support  school  and  program  success,  as  well  as  enables  the  PRP  to  provide  a  link  between  Peak  House  and  the  community  school.    

 We  had  many  successes  this  year  in  the  school  program  and  my  work  is  continuously  inspired  and  made  possible  by  the  amazing  young  people  at  Peak  House  and  the  positive  changes  they  make  in  their  lives.  This  year,  we  had  one  student  complete  all  of  their  coursework  for  graduation  at  Peak  House  and  another  student  began  their  dream  of  apprenticing  as  an  automotive  technician  at  their  family’s  shop.  It’s  incredible  to  see  the  students  enjoying  school,  becoming  re-­‐engaged  in  their  education,  and  accomplishing  their  academic,  career,  and  personal  goals!    All  youth  in  the  program  receive  support  to  transition  to  their  community  school,  regardless  of  whether  they  attended  Peak  House  for  one  day  or  complete  the  full  program.  I  work  collaboratively  with  the  youth,  the  school/district  team,  community  professionals  and  family  members  to  develop  the  transition  plan  for  school  re-­‐entry.  I  organize  a  meeting  at  the  school  during  their  last  weeks  at  Peak  House,  and  the  meeting  is  attended  by  myself  and  the  student,  their  family,  and  team  members  from  the  school  and  community.  Taking  the  student  to  visit  their  school  has  been  incredibly  valuable  in  supporting  them  to  make  a  connection  before  leaving  Peak  House.  I  arrange  phone  conferences  or  skype  calls  when  the  community  school  is  not  local.  I  support  the  transition  through  knowledge  translation  on  the  student’s  strengths,  needs  and  beneficial  supports  in  the  domains  of  academic,  social  emotional,  communication  and  self-­‐determination/independence.  The  student’s  individual  education  and  learning  plan  developed  at  the  Peak  House  school  program  informs  the  instructional  support  planning  at  their  community  school.  I  make  recommendations  to  the  school  about  academic  and  therapeutic  programming  elements  that  support  recovery  through  self-­‐regulation  and  social  emotional  learning  strategies,  curriculum  integration,  and  early  intervention  strategies  for  substance  use  disorder.  I  also  provide  a  sense  of  how  the  recommendations  from  myself  and  the  clinical  team  can  be  enacted  at  the  school.  I  send  a  resource  package  of  recommended  resources  for  schools  and  districts  related  to  substance  use,  harm  reduction,  overdose  prevention,  reducing  stigma,  substance  use  and  mental  health  curriculum,  and  helpful  resources  for  parents,  caregivers  and  families.  Due  to  the  ongoing  overdose  crisis  in  B.C.,  it  is  a  delicate  time  for  everyone  involved  in  working  in  this  field.  Education  for  schools  and  communities  is  essential  now,  more  than  ever,  for  youth  safety,  and  has  become  a  larger  feature  of  my  role  this  year.      The  youth  now  attend  the  PRP  for  school  service  five  times  a  week,  increased  from  three  and  four  classes  in  previous  years.  Attending  school  each  day  has  been  valuable  in  assisting  

the  youth  to  develop  a  school  routine.  School  service  continues  to  focus  on  re-­‐engagement  and  supporting  the  youth  in  developing  self-­‐regulation  and  social  emotional  skills  that  are  transferable  to  the  school  environment.    Another  central  aspect  is  future  goal  setting,  self-­‐reflection  and  self-­‐assessments  to  explore  career  and  employment  options  available  to  them.  I  develop  an  individualized  education  program  for  each  youth  and  support  their  re-­‐engagement  in  school  and  learning  by  providing  opportunities  for  success  and  differentiated  coursework  that  is  optimally  challenging  for  each  student.  The  classroom  environment  is  welcoming  with  engaging  activities,  visuals  and  books,  hands  on  opportunities,  sensory  tools,  and  biophilic  elements.  Curriculum  focuses  on  real-­‐world  connections  and  daily  living  skills  wherever  possible.  This  year  we  went  on  regular  visits  to  local  post-­‐secondary  institutions  including  Emily  Carr  University  of  Art  +  Design,  VCC,  and  BCIT.    Individual  visits  were  also  facilitated  for  specific  post-­‐secondary  programs  of  interest  to  tour  the  facility,  learn  about  the  program,  and  meet  instructors.    

 The  average  school  attendance  record  was  92%  for  students  that  attended  Peak  House  for  more  than  two  weeks.  Of  the  youth  that  were  surveyed  at  exit,  100%  reported  leaving  school  with  a  positive  experience.  All  secondary  students  that  commenced  from  Peak  House  completed  at  least  one  course  in  school.  In  addition  to  academic  coursework,  students  completed  certifications,  wrote  provincial  exams  and  assessments,  applied  to  post-­‐secondary,  secured  employment  and  met  with  career  advisors.  All  students  were  supported  by  their  community  school  to  receive  credits  for  programming  elements  such  as  fitness  and  physical  activity,  health  education,  cooking,  meal-­‐planning,  creative  expression,  and  individual  therapeutic  work.    

 New  to  the  school  program  this  year  is  the  weekly  Arts  Education  field  trip  every  Thursday  afternoon.  We’ve  developed  a  partnership  with  the  Sarah  McLachlan  School  of  Music,  and  during  these  sessions  the  youth  have  the  opportunity  to  learn  to  play  instruments,  create  hip-­‐hop  and  electronic  music,  write  lyrics,  record  songs,  learn  DJ  turntable  basics  and  participate  in  therapeutic  music  activities.  They  also  engage  in  critical  analysis  of  messaging  in  popular  music  and  in  turn,  create  music  and  lyrics  with  positive  messaging  that  often  connects  directly  to  their  own  recovery.  These  music  classes  have  been  such  a  positive  experience  for  the  youth,  and  several  of  them  have  remained  connected  with  the  School  of  Music  post  Peak  House  for  evening  music  classes.  Our  weekly  art  classes  have  also  included  sessions  with  an  art  therapist,  African  djembe  drumming  workshops,  visits  to  museums,  and  photography  outings.    

 The  new  post-­‐program  services  available  include  post-­‐transition  and  post-­‐consult  services,  as  well  as  weekly  outreach  school  service  to  students.  Approximately  36%  of  the  youth  that  attended  Peak  House  received  post-­‐program  services.  Post-­‐transition  service  is  provided  when  the  student’s  school  transition  plan  is  not  yet  established  at  their  exit.  This  year,  21%  of  the  youth  received  post-­‐transition  support.  I’m  also  available  to  students  and  their  team  for  post-­‐consult  service  and  I  was  contacted  for  support  on  4%  of  cases.  Post-­‐school  service  is  provided  through  weekly  sessions  with  the  youth  to  support  them  with  their  distance  coursework.  Students  accessing  second  stage  recovery  housing  after  Peak  House  benefit  from  this  service  while  they  are  living  outside  of  their  home  community.  Post-­‐school  service  was  accessed  by  11%  of  the  youth  this  year  and  the  weekly  school  service  typically  ranged  from  two  weeks  to  several  months.  

 Through  my  work  this  year,  it’s  been  apparent  how  supportive  and  responsive  schools  are  in  meeting  the  needs  of  their  students.  I’m  fortunate  to  be  able  to  collaborate  with  my  

colleagues  across  the  province  to  find  innovative  and  creative  ways  to  support  students  in  their  personal  and  educational  journey.  

   Michelle  Davis  Resource  Teacher  Provincial  Educational  Resource  Program  Peak  House    

Peak House Team

Board of Directors

Management James Kelly, Executive Director Joe Scofield Roisin DonnellyWendy Wittmack, Program Manager

Clinical Supervisor Vikki Reynolds Intake & Assessment CounsellorLina Silano

Administration (part time)Elinor Han

Mental Health & Addiction Clinical CounsellorsStefanie Krasnow (f/t)Graeme Sampson (p/t)

VSB TeacherMichelle Davis

Medical ConsultantDr. N. Baria & Megan Ireland

AcupuncturistLeonie Bedet/Louise Fenwick

NutritionistKristen Yarker

Yoga Instructor Nicholas Walkley, Amanda De Ciccio

Sta�

Cook

Youth CounsellorsBryan MacAlpine Melissa AndersonCarol HodgeKako CampbellHugs ZanattaAsh Lake

Night AttendantsLaila BiergansYolanda Trianna

On-Call ReliefJoe PingitoreGinni KaurWynne PrudenCarolynn DimmerLynn WittenbergAlina ReedRichard RussellSarah IrvingMelissa AndersonJessica HiltonJacqueline KrestinskiKaren Chhabra

Aboriginal Cultural Consultant

Practicum Students

Chair Secretary General Members Patrick Grayer Christine Smith Jennifer Gregg Caitlin GrisackVice Chair Treasurer Emily CoatesKelly Ngan Mike Mannella

Peak House2017/18 Highlights

Breaking downthe gender binary

responding to community needs

30th

Lifeskills

inclusiveworking to address points

of power and privilege

alumnigroups and participation

Education

supporting families&

Community of CareSupport

In this past year peak house has worked to best meet the needs of the community amidst the overdose

crisis. This has resulted in bending program structure when possible in order to best protect young people at signi�cant risk of overdose. The process is one of

balance. We continue to work on this balance, putting the needs of young people at the centre of all

that we do and working to create a healthy and balanced community of young people living and

working together to get their lives back from drugs and alcohol.

anniversary

Peak HouseAnnual Report 2017/18

Supporting BC youth and families to �ndfreedom from problematic substance use.

Overview

The Peak House school program is runin collaboration with the Vancouver School Board. Youth attend school four days per week and report that having the opportunity for a positive school experience while at PeakHouse has greatly increased theircontinued and future academic success, as well as their interest in pursuing post- secondeary educational options. While atPeak House many students completed one or more courses. Thank you to our exceptional teacher Michelle!

total youth bed days occupancyrate

average dayson wait list

1:1 clinicalsessions

in-personaftercaresessions

in-personfamily

sessions

2486 2785% 413 32

School

mental healthconcerns(diagnosed)

80%

justice systeminvolvement

20% 62%

homeless

25%

low-incomefamilies (self-report)

Intake Demographic

4666

Wait list times were reduced by 18 days this last fiscal year.

fostering success, healing and hope for over 30 years

Ethnicity

Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation

55%

GLBTQ+

Non-Disclosed

37%

8%

female

male

trans/non binary

47%

15%

38%

Heterosexual

Youth do not always choose to self-identify their sexual orientation in statistical reporting based on a number of factors including, but not limited to experiences of systemic oppression, homophobia, discrimi-nation, and fear of personal safety or loss of housing once they leave the program.

Youth do not always choose to self-identify their gender identity (particularly in cases where their gender identity/expression falls outside of the binary) in statistical reporting based on a number of factors including but not limited to experiences of systemic oppression, resistance against gender categories, transphobia, discrimination, and fear for personal safety or loss of housing once they leave the program.

africancaucasian aboriginal

asian

5

south asian

latina/o

57 612 4 1

Please note youth may report in more than one category.

Peak House recognizes the limitations of the ethnicity categories based on our reporting requirements. We are also aware that not all youth choose, or are not able to self-report based on a number of factors including but not limited to racialized systematic oppression, discrimination, and/or a lack of knowledge of ethnic background. As a result, the full diversity of the youth at Peak House is not accurately reported. We are working on ways to better re�ect this data in the upcoming year.

other

3

fostering success, healing and hope for over 30 years

Substance Use

Peak House is a provincial resource, we serve youth and their familiesacross the province of British Columbia.

cannabis other opioids including fentanyl

62% 50% 44% 25% 24%48%

crystal meth alcohol

Poly Drug Use95% of youth self-report using more than one substance on a regular basis.

During the 2017/18 reporting period, cannabis, crystal methamphetamine, and alcohol continueto be among the top drug(s) of choice among youth entering our program. We have seen a slight reduction among the other opioid category however the tragic and deadly outcome of drug use inthis category especially as it relates to fentanyl usage continues to climb. There seems to be no foreseeable end to the opioid overdose crisis.

crack/cocaine heroin

Outcomes

Testimonials

Young people and their families reported an increase in positive outcomes as a result of their involvement with our program.

physical health

emotional/mental health

educational status

family/home situation

criminal justice system involvementproblematic substance use

Below is a selection of the feedback we received from youth & their families.

Peak HouseAnnual Report 2017/18

We are extremely grateful for the love, care and attention. We have our daughter back!-parent

Amazing Program! Thanks for the work you do. We are so blessed to have walked the Peak House path.-parent

Everything was dark until I came to Peak House, the sta� and the way they help you to �nd who you are has changed my life. I was sure I would die from overdose and now I’m looking into going to college. Thank you for everything!-alumni

Thank you for helping me to enjoy my recovery.-alumni

Thank You!

On behalf of the entire Peak House team, we would like to thank our funders, donors, and community partners. Together, we have supported BC youth and their families for 30 years.

We would like to acknowledge the strength and wisdom of the young people and their families for their courage to make, support and maintain the profound changes and growth we witness every day.

As a team, we are proud to be an award-winning program, delivering innovative and inclusive services to supportyouth, families, and our community.