What Is a Youth Agreement?

A Youth Agreement (YAG) is a legal agreement made between youth (16 – 18 years old), the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services (SCCFS). A thorough assessment of a youth’s circumstances is completed by a local MCFD office or fully delegated DAA and then assigned to SCCFS who will work directly with youth to address their needs.

What assistance is available through a Youth Agreement?

Depending on what you need to live on your own, a YAG can assist with the following:

• Finding a place to live
• Learning life skills like grocery shopping, preparing healthy meals, paying bills and communicating with landlords
• Coping with substance dependency (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
• Managing your mental health and wellness
• Managing your money
• Getting and completing an education

Are you eligible to access a Youth Agreement?

You may be eligible for the Youth Agreements program if:

• You are between 16 and 18 years old; AND
• You are in need of assistance and may need protection. This will be thoroughly assessed at the local MCFD office or fully delegated DAA.

If you have any questions about your circumstances, or to see if you are eligible to be considered for a Youth Agreement, you can contact MCFD’s Centralized Screening at 1-800-663-9122.

You may also contact Lee Smith at Surrounded by Cedar by calling (250) 383-2990, Ext. 220 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Guardianship Social Workers are responsible as legal guardians to urban Aboriginal children who are in continuing care of the Director. The goal of the Guardianship social worker is to find permanency for a child in care as well as to ensure that a child who remains in the care of the agency is afforded the best possible care and opportunity to learn and grow into a healthy young adult.

The Resource Social Worker provides a range of voluntary services to children and families, as well as recruits new Aboriginal homes, home studies and provides support to caregivers of urban Aboriginal children in permanent care. Almost half of the children-in-care in this province are Aboriginal. Children who are connected to their families, communities and culture do better as adults.

The SCCFS Counselling Program offers group counselling services for children, youth and families impacted by complex trauma. SCCFS counselling groups address mental health and wellness using Indigenous modalities of helping and healing, and include regular participation from local traditional knowledge keepers and community Elders.

The Intensive Youth Support Worker engages with and supports youth ages 12 to 19. In collaboration with the youth and his/her guardian, the Intensive Youth Support Worker (IYSW) assists in achieving agreed upon, time-sensitive goals that range from immediate to long term.

In its belief that all children have the right to grow up connected to their culture, SCCFS offers programming throughout the year that nurtures cultural identity development and provides a culturally safe space for this learning to take place. Programming each year includes:

• Earth Walkers Spring & Summer Break Cultural Camps
• Pro-D Day Cultural Programming (following SD #61 calendar)
• Winter Feast
• Nest to Wings Ceremony (for Indigenous youth leaving care)
• Youth and Elder Dinners (monthly during the school year)
• Other family friendly events

The Life Long Connections worker assists in identifying and locating a child’s family or other close community member to help facilitate ongoing connection and possible placement where appropriate. In addition, the worker searches for placements with extended family when a child has been placed in foster care where it is in the best interest of the child. The worker will also help to facilitate and coordinate out of region and out of province kinship placements if required.

About the Annual Back to School Picnic