More help is on the way for youths battling addiction in Saskatchewan.
The provincial government announced Monday an agreement had been reached between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter (SWYES) to provide more services for youths requiring treatment for substance abuse.
The services are to be based out of Swift Current’s Dorie’s House and include six residential inpatient treatment spaces, four to six outpatient spaces for residents of Swift Current and area, as well as clinical services and educational programming.
The $800,000 in funding for the program was included in the 2019-20 provincial budget.
“More and more youth are struggling with mental health and addictions, so it is especially important that we continue to expand services to better meet their needs,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley said in a media release.
“I’m pleased that SWYES is working in partnership with the SHA to provide much-needed addictions treatment supports to youth in Swift Current, southwest Saskatchewan and across our province.”
“Our multifaceted approach to recreational wellness and housing not only complements existing supports within the province, but also boosts our provincial capacity to serve the needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens: our youth,” SWYES president Shauna Hanna added in the release.
“I am confident that this partnership will lead to the creation of a centre of excellence unique to our region — one that will do a whole lot of good for a great many families. We are simply thrilled to begin delivering on this promise.”