The Youth Centre Pickering Satellite Development (Pickering Site)

Who are we?

The Youth Centre is a Community Health Centre providing primary care, including medical and counselling services, health promotion and young parent support programs to youth in Ajax and Pickering.

We are a not-for-profit agency located in Ajax. Our profile has grown since 1991 when we began as the Barbara Black Centre for Youth Services, offering a drop-in centre, and after school programs. In 1995, we received funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for the conversion to a Community Health Centre. One of 56 CHC’s in Ontario – we were established through the direct participation of the local community.

All of our services are free and confidential. We are committed to provide a supportive non-judgmental environment.

The close involvement of the community in the activities of The Youth Centre is key to our ability to readily adapt and respond to the health needs of youth in the Ajax and Pickering area.

Pickering Satellite?

Last July George Smitherman, Ontario Minister of Health and Long Term Care announced the expansion of the Community Health Centre sector through the funding of 17 satellites and 22 new Community Health Centres.

The Youth Centre had been advocating for a Pickering location for many years and was pleased to hear that The Youth Centre Pickering Satellite had been funded!

We have just completed the Community Engagement Phase of the satellite development process. We spent six months identifying the health needs of youth in Pickering, building relationships and potential partnerships with community agencies and groups and beginning to determine what programs and services we will offer. A final Community Engagement Report was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care by April 30, 2007 and once approved the next stages of development can begin.