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About YETIThe History | Principles and Values | Philosophy of Empowerment | Aims and ObjectivesThe HistoryCairns Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI) was established in 1994, in response to the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs release of funds in May 1993. A report on Opportunistic Prostitution and Young People funded via Youth and Community Combined Action (YACCA) special grants project identified a need in Cairns. The intent was to develop appropriate, intensive support services for young people involved in or at risk of being involved in opportunistic prostitution, or at risk of entering the commercial sex industry. YETI opened its doors in 1994 with the 'Youth at Risk Outreach Program' (YAROS), funded through the Department of Families to target street kids at risk of opportunistic prostitution. Initially, the YETI program operated with 2.5 staff. Over six years the service experienced a dramatic increase in client contact (in 1994 - 63 contacts were made with young people and in 2000 - 7347 contacts were made). It was thus identified that the initial level of funding was unrealistic to maintain a quality system of care that responded proactively to young people's needs. In November 1998, YETI was successful in securing funding to operate an Adolescent Drug Treatment Program. This program is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging under the National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS) and involves working with young people at risk of, or involved in, illicit drug use. In addition YETI ran a needle exchange program which ceased operations in 2002. YETI changed premises from the inner city to the outskirts of the city centre in December 2002 and relocated across the road from a private school. School personage expressed discontent at having the needle exchange program on their doorstep, and the program was subsequently discontinued. In March 2001, the Department of Families responded to the increase in young people accessing YETI and made a commitment to enhance the program. An increase in funds addressed inadequate staffing levels, and provided funding for outreach services to meet the needs of young people in the Cairns region. Currently, YETI runs the above two programs - YAROS and NIDS with the staffing structure including one full-time Co-ordinator, one full-time and two part time (2 F/T equivalent) Adolescent Drug Treatment Workers, one full-time Group Worker and two part-time Peer Support Workers. In the past YETI has conducted four Peer Support Programs, which ran for approximately 12 weeks via funding received through the Community Jobs Plan. YETI is also actively involved in providing a volunteer program and also encourages work experience placements for schools and TAFE. YETI TodayAny young person between 12-25 years old is able to access YETI services. This includes young people still at school, homeless youth, those working and the unemployed. Working from a harm-minimisation and empowerment philosophy with an integrated approach, YETI responds to the needs of young people aged 12 to 25 years living in and around Cairns who are involved in, or at risk of involvement in opportunistic prostitution and / or illicit drug use. Back to TopPrinciples and ValuesPOLICY STATEMENTCairns Youth Empowered Towards Independence is to ensure that the Drop-In area is well-maintained, supervised and all procedures followed. PROCEDURE
PURPOSE OF POLICYYoung people that access the agency do not always have a safe space that they can actually call their own, so drop-in can be a good space to chill out. The drop-in space also provides a good opportunity for young people to get to know the service and workers. Likewise it can provide an opportunity for staff to establish rapport with young people in an informal setting without it being too confronting for the young person. YETI's code of conduct and protocols for workers helps to establish boundaries for workers and young people accessing the agency. These are designed to protect the rights of young people and workers and should be closely adhered to. Should you need further clarification with regard to this please speak with me. On each week morning 10am to 1pm, the agency is available for young people to access the agency for a peer worker to ra, ra with (have a chat), counselling, education, information, referral and advocacy, condoms and lubrication. At YETI we encourage all young people to make decisions for themselves and also to become involved in any project that has the possibility of increasing a young person's self-esteem and a young person's sense of control over their own lives. Our job is not to do for young people what they can do for themselves. Many of the young people that access the agency will display challenging behaviour which at times may appear to workers as apathy or lack of motivation. It is very important for us not to judge young people from our own value base and circumstances. We can only hope to understand what is happening for a young person by talking with a young person and by really listening to what they are saying and validating their experience. Not what we think they are saying, but what is meaningful for them at this present time and situation. This may mean that we need to put ourselves in their shoes. To walk along side a young person, working collaboratively and never setting ourselves up as the expert. The young person is the expert of their own situation and staffs need to suitably respect that. Staff also need to respect that young people will be making the best decision they can at the time; with what information they have available. Staff can assist a young person in decision making with information, education, counseling and a sense of safety and trust.Often a young person can be operating under fairly traumatic circumstances. Especially if they have a history of abuse, are presently being abused or they are homeless or, all of the above. Please take into account when working with a young person that what may present to us apathy, belligerence, aggression or lack of motivation may be a young person operating from distinct pain. These defence mechanisms of a young person are in operation to prevent the young person from further harm, psychological distancing/emotional numbing. Depression mild or severe can also play a part in a young person's presenting attitude be it a part of past history, present circumstances (situational depression), coming off a particular drug, a genetic predisposition or any other imposing factor. Staffs need to be respectful of the decision making process of a young person and what may be unmotivated or belligerent to one, is just kick-back and taking it easy to another.Staff must always give the young person the benefit of the doubt, unless of course it is abundantly clear that our support is only supporting the young person to stay with negative behaviours. It is really important to welcome young people to the service of Y.E.T.I. and provide a safe and welcoming environment, one in which young people can begin to feel that it is possible to trust people. During drop in, it is important that the YETI environment reflects safety and harmony. In speaking with any young person that accesses the agency even outside of drop-in, staff needs to welcome the young person, introduce yourself if we do not know the young person. It is very important for all workers to know all young people present in the agency and the purpose for which they are accessing the agency. Staff should then proceed to enquire of the young person what it is YETI can help them with. Feel your way with this, if the young person seems emotionally upset, then please attend to this. If a young person is after a particular service, e.g. accommodation we then provide the relevant service for that young person, to the best of our ability. Should a young person require counselling, check with the counsellor's on duty how they are situated - if they cannot take on an appointment, make an appointment for another time. If the situation is a crisis, deal with it immediately. (Refer to crisis intervention handout) If a young person is accessing drop-in for a coffee and a coffee only (out of drop-in hours), inform the young person that it is not drop-in time but they are more than welcome between 10am - 1pm. Find out if they need help with any other issue. If you suspect that the person requires a coffee as a lead into other things, (rapport etc.) then take this opportunity to build rapport. If you are busy with someone else, you could say something like look I'm actually working with Deirdre at the moment, but if you want to have a coffee, I will be with you as soon as possible. Basically, maintenance of the hours outside of drop-in will call upon all your skills as a youth worker. There are no hard and fast rules, apart from the responsibility of the worker to maintain a safe and harmonious environment for everyone. And of course, if the young person is 'just' after a coffee then the drop-in hours are 10am - 1pm, Monday to Friday. Remember that some young people will want a coffee, just for the coffee's sake. However, another young person will want a coffee as a way of perhaps sussing you out as a worker, or the agency, or as a means of establishing rapport etc. The responsibility of making the decisions for maintaining a safe and harmonious environment will rest upon all staff. As part of a team approach all staff needs to be aware of what is happening at YETI and support other staff when necessary. The skills required are friendliness, humour, warmth, enthusiasm, tactfulness, flexibility, openness, genuineness, initiative, assertiveness, sound judgment, responsibility, an ability to read a situation well and to pre-empt or diffuse any conflict, and an understanding of group dynamics. At all times the four (4) rules must stand:
Back to TopPhilosophy of EmpowermentEmpowerment aims to increase the power of the disadvantaged. It means providing people with the resources, opportunities, knowledge and skills to increase their capacity to determine their own future, and to participate in and affect the life of the community. Empowerment is a collaborative process, with the client and worker working together as partners. It is essential for people to participate in their own empowerment - goals, means and outcomes need to be defined by the client. An empowerment model is also interested in encouraging people who are affected by the same social limitation, to act as a group, to improve their situation. From this philosophy, strategies seek to give initially less powerful people the capacity to act independently. In relation to youth work, when working from an empowerment model, workers need to be consistently 'on their guard' against taking power away from young people, as individuals and a collective group, in order for young people to have maximum power. Within this model, youth workers are seen to be a tool by which young people can challenge the status quo, and achieve long term goals. Empowerment prioritises proactive and preventative work, over reactive, repetitive and band-aid work. Looking at the big picture, empowerment is a form of radical change, which attempts to over turn existing structures of domination. An empowerment strategy requires that structures of oppression, i.e.: class, gender, race etc, that stop people from exercising power, be understood, addresses and overcome. Working genuinely from the empowerment model takes a lot of time, energy and commitment, and requires structural change. The Vision:Empowerment Care Model Mission Statement:To foster young people's strength in mind, body and spirit through the support of experiences we provide as they are empowered towards independence and a state of well-being. Main Aim:Create a safe, respectful and calm environment for both clients and workers alike. Empowerment is:Power 'with' rather than power 'over' people 'Clients as their own agent of change, YETI is a steward assisting in this process" YETI does this by:
Staff do this by: Proactive Tools
This is actioned by: Developing awareness, trust and options for clients.
PRIORITYPromote calmness, respect and safety. "If any of these factors are compromised, then perhaps all else is in vain". EMPOWERMENT CARE MODEL in EACH PROGRAM AIMS & OBJECTIVESOutreach - Peer Support
Adolescent Drug Treatment Worker:
Reference: Family Preservation A Brief Therapy Workbook by Insoo Kim Berg (1991) The practice of empowerment has the following.
Back to TopAims and ObjectivesYETI aims to assist young people by providing the following:
YETI is a community based non-profit organisation and all funds are expended in accordance with the objectives of the organisation. YETI's Mission Statement "To foster young people's strength in mind, body and spirit through the support of experiences we provide as they are empowered towards independence and a state of well being". YETI's Goal To work collaboratively with 'at risk' young people 12-25yrs and their families (where appropriate). Expected Outcomes
The YETI Program works using a bio psychosocial framework. It collaborates between programs within YETI (Counselors from our Mational Illicit Drug Strategy and Youth and PeerSupport Workers from our 'Youth at risk Outreach Program') to provide a best practice model for young people 'at risk' of or involved in illicit drug and alcohol use and abuse. Objectives
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