The Headway Program in Steinbach has already seen some success as they work with struggling youth.

Coordinator Brenda Brown says the Headway Program utilizes six different agencies including the RCMP, Child and Family Services, and the Hanover School Division. She says they make sure there is clear communication, accountability, and understanding about a teen's behaviour.

Coordinator Brenda Brown“So a student doesn't show up to school in the morning and the teacher might be frustrated because the assignment is not handed in, the principle might be frustrated because this has happened before, meanwhile they don't know that the student has been arrested the night before and is actually in lock up at the moment.”

Brown says they have consent forms to share information between the RCMP and school division so they could call the school and let them know what is going on. She says this system has already seem some results with some of their students.

“A change in attitude for one of our students. Decreased drug use for one of our students. Even for the parents, being able to see differences for them, I had a mom say the other morning that finally she has somewhere to go where she can be heard. It has been really neat to hear some of those things.”

Brown says it is easy to get frustrated with some of these teens that are struggling and are rough around the edges, but the Headway Program provides a place to turn in those situations.

“Anybody can refer a youth to our program, it doesn't just have to be an agency that is referring. We would love the community to get on board, and also if you have a neighbour where you know the kid is struggling, just unconditionally love them and support them through what they are going through."

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Headway Program To Help At Risk Teens In Steinbach