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Central Toronto Youth Services

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Gerstein Centre: 416-929-5200
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What's New

Congratulations, Vanessa Lackraj! Elizabeth Manson Award Recipient 2021

Vanessa Lackraj (she/her)

A Message from Our Executive Director

Hi everyone: it is my absolute honour to advise all of you that Vanessa Lackraj has been selected by SickKids Hospital as the 2021 recipient of their Elizabeth Manson Award. This award honours Vanessa’s commitment, talent, innovation, integrity, and leadership in building our R.I.T.E.S program for Black youth and families. Anyone who knows Vanessa will agree this work lives deep within her. In her new management role, we have seen Vanessa’s uncompromising and constructive advocacy for Black youth and the Black community. No one would ever doubt her courage and authenticity.

Congratulations Vanessa. I know that she would want me to include her talented team in this commendation so thank you all!! We also want to acknowledge the leadership and support from Priscilla Ofosu-Barko, our Agency‘s Director, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism.

The late Maya Angelou once said, “I love to see young women go out and grab the world by the lapels.”  Keep going Vanessa!!!!!

Heather Sproule

View What's New Archive
Pride & Prejudice
P&P offers unique programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Two-Spirit and questioning youth, ages 13-24. We also offer services for families of LGBTQ2S youth.

Overview of Pride & Prejudice

Community Counselling
We offer support to youth ages 12-18 through outreach, individual counseling & group work. Many of our clients face unique challenges that cannot be addressed using traditional approaches.

Overview of Community Counselling

New Outlook
The only program of its kind in Toronto that provides a wide variety of programs to young adults 14-24 years old who are recovering from serious mental illness

Overview of New Outlook

Youth Justice
CTYS’s Youth Justice Programs support young people who are serving a youth order and/or have matters before the Youth Court. YJ programs connect with youth who are facing a range of complex challenges.

Overview of Youth Justice

Yo! Yoga

Group is currently unavailable Free! Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Queer & Trans youth, 16 – 24 years old. Overview no experience necessary youth need to have individual counselling/support in place to participate (not necessarily from CTYS) Where CTYS, 65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 300 Contact For more information or to schedule intake please contact: Huda Hussain -…

Transceptance

Overview TRANSceptance is an ongoing peer-support group for parents and caregivers of transgender and non-binary youth and young adults. TRANSceptance provides support and education while reducing isolation and stress.Parents share information, strategies, and resources to help navigate their journey. Some parents are further along while others are just beginning; all parents and caregivers of trans/non-binary…

Families in TRANSition (FIT) – 2022

Families in TRANSition (FIT) is a 10-week closed group for parents / caregivers of 2-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender-questioning youth (ages 13-24) who have recently learned of their child’s gender identity. Overview This group typically runs 4 times a year, for 10 weeks. Please contact [email protected] for more information about registration and dates. For now, this…

Boyoboy

For guys 16-24 who identify as two-spirit, intersex, trans, non-binary, gay, bi, queer Overview Through discussions of health, arts & culture, and current events, Boyoboy explores the intersections and issues of GBTQ2S youth identity and experiences. Always entertaining and educational, each workshop focuses on a specific topic or theme. This is a Virtual workshop series.…

Priority Access for Students (PAS) Program

Overview The Priority Access for Students (PAS) Program provides individual and family focused counselling services as well as case management for TDSB and TCDSB students and their families.  Identified students are referred by their school social workers to this program.  The program uses a family systems framework to build relationships and resources within families.   The…

RITES for African-Canadian Youth

RITES for Black and African-Canadian Youth The R.I.T.E.S. program at Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) is a culturally specific, identity development initiative that supports the empowerment of Black and African-Canadian youth between the ages of 13 and 17. R.I.T.E.S. employs an integrated, full spectrum model of support and care so participants have access to range…

School Outreach

This program offers group counselling within four designated Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board schools. CTYS Group services are offered to students who identify as needing support in creating and maintaining healthy relationships, dealing with anxiety, navigating difficult emotions, and building social skills. A variety of activities, tools, and skills as…

Community Outreach Program

Overview Community Outreach Program provides a variety of flexible counselling services for youth and their families who have a range of mental health needs and may have had difficulty benefiting from previous supports or counselling services.  Using a strength based, relational approach this program is designed to service youth and their families who require services…

Social Recreation Programs/Groups

From time to time, New Outlook offers social recreational programs/groups for youth and young adults receiving services within New Outlook.  Please connect with your worker for more information. New Outlook Summer Camping Trip The New Outlook summer camping trip experience promotes the transformative power of social engagement in a natural environment. This 4 day, 3…

Youth Hostel Outreach Program (YHOP)

Overview The Youth Hostel Outreach Program (YHOP) is a relationship based mental health outreach program for young adults who are homeless/marginally housed and/or living in the youth shelter system.  The program provides assessment, intense short term case management, support and informal counselling to young adults experiencing significant challenges with their mental health posed by social,…

Community Support and Intervention (CSI)

Overview The Community Support and Intervention Program (CSI) is a relationship based mental health outreach program for young adults (16-24) involved with the justice system.  The program provides assessment, intense short term case management, support and informal counselling to young adults experiencing significant challenges with their mental health. Using a recovery approach, the program aims…

Community Support Program (CSP)

Overview The Community Support Program (CSP) is a community based mental health outreach program that provides support, intensive case management and informal counselling to young adults (16-24) experiencing significant challenges with their mental health. Using a recovery approach and family psycho-social support, the programs aim to support youth to establish and maintain overall wellness, increase…

Early Intervention (EI)

Overview The Early Intervention Program is a community-based counselling and case management program that provides up to 3 years of service to youth and young adults who are experiencing psychosis or exhibiting prodromal symptoms. Using a Recovery approach, this program connects youth, young adults and their families to mental health supports.  The program aims to…

Day Program

Overview The New Outlook Day Program is an Education and Community Partnership Program (ECPP) delivered together with the Toronto District Secondary School (TDSS) for youth experiencing complex mental health challenges. The program uses an integrated model to address wellness and recovery goals, while supporting young people to continue with their academic credits. The purpose of the program…

Early Release Support Program (ERSP)

ERSP is a community-based reintegration support for youth who are either seeking bail or have been released on bail with no community supports. ERSP provides outreach counselling supports to youth in their community by facilitating the reintegration process and reconnecting youth with their support systems as well as assisting with skill development. Service providers at court,…

Family Focused Outreach Program

The Youth Justice Family Focused Outreach Program provides family counselling and support for families and youth in their community. Outreach counsellors work with families and young people to build and understanding of family dynamics and develop healthy and supportive relationships. Counsellors work with families to support them to navigate the Youth Justice System and the…

YJ Mental Health Access

YJ Mental Health Access is a brief assessment, brief counselling, consultation and brief service for youth when probation officers are concerned that there may be a mental health issue impeding a young person’s functioning in the community. Assessments for young people with low level sexual offending behaviours are available. Youth probation officers in Toronto and…

Youth Justice Outreach Program (YJOP)

YJOP provides outreach counselling and reintegration supports to youth serving a sentence order by meeting with young people in their community or wherever they can be connected. Through this focused outreach approach YJOP works in partnership with young people to access resources and navigate system in addition to developing skills to support their reintegration in…

Relationship Skills for Violence Prevention (RSVP)

RSVP provides outreach counselling supports to youth who have youth criminal justice involvement related to dating relationship and domestic violence both with dating partners as well as with parents and siblings. For youth with sexual offending types of behaviour, RSVP can address healthy relationships, personal boundaries and informed consent. The young person is referred to…

Youth Justice Substance Use

Substance Use counseling is offered as an in-house program at all of the Toronto youth probation offices. In addition, Substance Use counselors are available to meet with youth in their community using an outreach approach. Harm reduction and education in addition to consultation for young persons, their families and probation is also provided. Access to…

Transitions (a YJOP service)

Transitions is a shorter term community based program for youth who are serving a custodial sentence (e.g. CCSO, DCSO, CSO).  Transitions can facilitate reintegration supports to youth while they are in a Youth Justice residence in addition to providing outreach support that reconnects youth with their communities. Youth probation officers in Toronto can refer to…

Enhanced Extra-Judicial Sanction Program (EEJS)

EEJS is an Extra-Judicial Sanction (EJS) for young people who are experiencing complex needs in their homes, neighbourhoods, schools and communities which may also include emotional and mental health difficulties. EEJS provides outreach counselling supports youth in their communities, reconnect youth with their support systems and assist with skill development. The young person is referred…

Upcoming Events

TRANSceptance

When:Thu, Oct 20 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where:
Virtual

TRANSceptance

When:Thu, Nov 17 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where:
Virtual

TRANSceptance

When:Thu, Dec 15 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where:
Virtual

TRANSceptance

When:Thu, Jan 19 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where:
Virtual