Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 14

Neighbors, Oct. 4, 1992 5 YES set to build "Jyour CHILD J-j DESERVES THE 1 Child care is the single most important investment you will ever We challenge you to compare! A PI childhood trained, University trained, Nursing trained and 150 years combined experience. Little kids need big spaces to discover their world. We have double the required standard. An 0UB SPACE FA I Beautiful, soothing, but stimulating, f4wlEaI 1 professionally designed environment.

DAYCARE INFANTS: 0-18 MO. TODDLERS: 19-36 MO. PRESCHOOL: 3-5 YR. OLDS OUT OF SCHOOL CARE MORNING, NOON AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR THE 6-12 YR. OLDS PLAYSCHOOL FUN FOR OLDS TWICE OR THREE.

TIMES WEEKLY By DAVE TRUSC0TT Neighbors Reporter Edmonton's Youth Emergency Shelter helped 5,500 kids over the past decade, but there's still more to be done, says society chairman Walter Johnstone. Too many local youths call the street their home, workers with the shelter and other agencies tell Johnstone. "Anything between 100 and 150 youth are homeless every night," he says. "We're still far short of being able to serve half of them." This, despite the recent addition of START House, a long-term shelter for youth trying to stay off the street, and plans to open a new 20-bed inner-city shelter in 1993. The existing Youth Emergency Shelter in Old Strathcona has 28 beds.

The greatest need is for programs to help street youth learn life and job skills that will keep them off the street for good, Johnstone says. "All that kind of stuff hasn't really kept pace with the expansion in the number of beds." Nor is the number of youth on the street any less than it was 10 years ago, he adds. "The problem isn't diminishing at all." Increased social and economic pressures on families, individuals and youth in particular all lead to more youths running away from home, dropping out of school and society, he explains. "Really, it's a whole bunch of problems." The Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter Society has been trying to address these problems, going beyond simply providing a bed and a meal, says Johnstone. Almost from the beginning, staff decided to add services such as life skills and job skills coaching, work experience and Operation Go Home, which offers youth a free bus ticket home.

But providing a safe home is still the shelter's primary purpose, he says. Over the past 10 years, it provided just that for 5,500 youths. The society celebrated that fact in a recent banquet to mark its 10th anniversary. Former residents also came forward to say how they had been helped. One told board members how she managed to turn her life around enough to go back to school.

That, and several similar stories, pleased the board, says Johnstone. "Whether it's been in simple crisis terms a warm bed, food and someone to listen to their problems or whether it's been like the young lady who's gone on to graduate university and come back as a volunteer, it's made a difference in their lives." For more information about the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter Society, phone 468-7070. NEW TO OUR CENTRES Now being offered to preschoolers, a music program by Ms. Patti Briske, Bachelor of Music, University of Alberta. CHILD CARE CENTRES MILLBOURNE MALL, 38 Avenue Millwoods Road DAY CARE, TOWER II 462-1569 OUT-OF-SCHOOL CARE, TOWER 1 463-2004.