Manitoba Inventory

Specialized resources for sexually exploited youth & resources for their parents, guardians or caregivers

Below is a partial listing of available resources. For a complete listing of resources, see the contact information at the end of the list.

Safe Homes

Honouring the Spirit of Our Little Sisters: Safe Transition Home, Winnipeg
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata
Winnipeg, MB
Ph: (204) 925-1778
Website: Ma Mawi

A safe transition home for female and transgender youth, between the ages of 13 and 17, who are being subjected to, and at risk for continued, sexual exploitation. Here, young women benefit from comprehensive holistic programming that fosters a safe, welcoming and respectful environment. This includes the provision of family group decision making, cultural opportunities, education, employment, training, mentoring, life skills and volunteerism. Self, agency and community referrals are accepted. It is a voluntary program. Short-term emergency shelter for youth who are sexually exploited may be possible based on availability of space.

 

Macdonald Youth Services -- Youth Resource Centre/Shelter (YRC)
161 Mayfair Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3L 0A1
Ph: (204) 477-1804
Toll Free 1-888-477-1804

The Youth Resource Centre/Shelter (YRC) is a community-based support service that is accessible 24-hours a day.

The YRC offers short-term, overnight, emergency shelter for up to 8 youth, ages 12 to 17 years of age, per night. Shelter beds are provided on a first come first serve basis each night. Crisis intervention counselling, food, hygiene needs, shower facilities, clothing and case management are all services offered to youth accessing a shelter bed.

The Youth Resource Centre also offers referral, advocacy, resources information and short term basic needs services to youth ages 12 to 20 years of age on a walk-in basis, 24 hours a day.

 

Marymound Treatment Program for Sexually Exploited Youth
442 Scotia Street
Winnipeg, MB R2V 1X4
Ph: (204) 885-3310
Website: Marymound

Referral is through Child Welfare only.
There is one group care facility specifically designed for girls who have been sexually abused, including sexual exploitation. The facility serves six girls between the ages of 14-17. There is a second group facility for boys who have been sexually abused, and at-risk or sexually exploited. A multi-disciplinary team, including the Marymound Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, meets the specific needs of young people who have experienced sexual trauma and exploitation.

 

Ndinawe (Our Relatives Home) Winnipeg Youth Resource Center
Ph: (204) 589-5545
Fax: (204) 589-5656

The Resource Centre is a culturally based resource that offers community based programs to marginalized youth including youth involved in or at risk of sexual exploitation. Activities include employment program, sports league, drum group, drum making, art night, young mother’s night out youth bingo, parent education workshops, life skills training, homework club and much more.

 

Youth Safe Home
Ph: (204) 586-2588
Fax: (204) 589-4086

The Safe Home offers a nurturing, supportive, safe environment for youth who are street involved or at risk of sexual exploitation, to stay on an interim basis. (1 day-3 months)

 

Youth Outreach Program
Ph: (204) 589-5545
Fax: (204) 589-5656

The Outreach program provides culturally based, short term supports or office visits for children or youth from 11-18, at risk of or involved in sexual exploitation. The team works in the North End of Winnipeg helping with necessary referrals to Ndinawe or other support programs, provides advocacy for youth involved in life on the streets, and gives out food, condoms and referral numbers.

Support Services

Dream Catchers, Winnipeg
KLINIC Community Health Centre
870 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P1
Ph: (204) 784-4090
Web Site: Klinic Community Health Centre

Dream Catchers runs two groups for sexually exploited youth. In addition to working with youth, Dream Catchers Group provides peer training and mentorship opportunities for adults in the sex trade whom also have substance use and/or domestic violence issues.

 

Resource Assistance for Youth - R.A.Y.
(Previously known as Operation Go Home, Winnipeg)
195 Young Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3S8
Ph: (204) 783-5617
Fax: (204) 775-4988
Email: webserver@RaYinc.ca
Web Site: www.RAYINC.ca

R.A.Y. offers a drop-in, resource center and outreach program for street youth of all ages (mostly 14 to 30) with a range of services such as access to food, clothing, housing, advocacy, referral, computer access, personal phone message system, resume development, job readiness programs, crisis support and intervention and family repatriation assistance. Offers public education presentations about the realities of street life for youth. It is estimated that approximately 30% to 50 % of the youth who use the services of R.A.Y. have been sexually exploited, primarily involving the exchange of sex for survival needs such as access to food and shelter.

 

Sage House, Winnipeg
Ph: (204) 943-6379
Fax: (204) 956-0384
Email: sagehous@mts.net
Hours of Drop-in Operation: Mon 1-5, Tues 1-7, Wed 1-3,
Thurs 1-5, Fri 3-10

A program of Mount Carmel Clinic, Sage House works mainly with adults, and operates a drop-in, health and outreach program and an assortment of other services on site for street-involved females and transgender individuals. Sees youth mainly during street outreach activities in the North End Street Outreach Program. Offers Public Education presentations about the realities of street life. Produces the “Street News” newsletter where anyone can post a message to individual street workers. Operates a Volunteers Program.

 

Transition, Education and Resources for Females (TERF)
TERF Youth Program
New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families, Winnipeg
400 – 491 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E4
Ph: (204) 786-7051
Fax: (204) 772-7069
Website: TERF website

A transition program for sexually exploited female and transgender youth ages 13 to 17, offering personal development, healing, educational, vocational, advocacy and support services. Self or agency referrals are accepted. Offers public education presentations about the realities of child sexual exploitation.

 

TERF Mentorship Program
400 – 491 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E4
Ph: (204) 786-7051
Fax: (204) 772-7069

The TERF Mentorship Program serves both males and females ages 8 – 17 years. It provides intensive one-to-one support to children at high risk of being sexually exploited, and to those who have been exploited and are waiting to get into programming through the TERF Youth Program.

 

Macdonald Youth Services -- Youth Emergency Crisis Stabilization System (YECSS)
Intake: (204) 949-4777
Toll-free: (204) 1-888-383-2776

Youth Emergency Crisis Stabilization System (YECSS) is a community-based crisis intervention service for youth (under age 18) and their families.

Services are available on a 24-hour, 7 days-a-week basis. Options include mobile crisis teams and referrals for therapy, home-based or educational supports. A single point of entry exists for all services.

 

Advocacy

Beyond Borders
387 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V5
Ph: (204) 284-6862
Fax: (204) 452-1333
Email: rprober@beyondborders.org
Web Site: Beyond Borders

A not-for-profit advocacy organization that promotes global justice for children and is very involved in the legislative issues related to child commercial sexual exploitation and child pornography on a local, national and international basis. Canadian affiliates of ECPAT International. Volunteer opportunities are available. Offers Pubic Education presentations.

 

CANADIAN CENTRE FOR CHILD PROTECTION INC.
615 Academy Road
Winnipeg, MB R3N 0E7
Tel: (204) 945-5735
Toll Free: 1 (800) 532-9135
Email: contact@protectchildren.ca
Web Site: Canadian Centre for Child Protection

All children have the right to be safe. Our goal is to reduce child victimization by providing programs and services to the Canadian public.

Our mission:

• Reduce the incidence of missing and sexually exploited children
• Educate the public on child personal safety and sexual exploitation
• Assist in the location of missing children
• Advocate for and increase awareness about issues relating to child sexual exploitation

Reporting

Cybertip.ca
Ph (toll free): 1-866-658-9022
Web Site: Cybertip.ca

Cybertip.ca is Canada’s national tipline for receiving and addressing reports regarding child pornography (child abuse images), luring, child sex tourism, and children who are exploited through prostitution. When Cybertip.ca receives a report from the public that it finds to be potentially illegal, it sends the report to police for investigation. Cybertip.ca also provides information, support, educational material, and referral services to the public.

 

Training

Core Competency Based Provincial Training Center
Core Competency Training Centre
Ph: (204) 945-2040
Fax: (204) 948-2329
Intensive specialized training (6 days) for front line workers who work with sexually exploited youth.

For a complete listing of available resources, contact:

Manitoba Strategy Responding to Sexually Exploited Children
Manitoba Strategy Coordinator
Manitoba Family Services and Housing
201-114 Garry St.
Winnipeg, MB. R3C 4V5
Ph: (204) 945-6964 or (204) 945-5055 (in Winnipeg)
Toll Free: 1-866-626-4862 ext. 5055 (throughout Manitoba)
E-mail: cfsd@gov.mb.ca

The Manitoba Strategy: Responding to Children and Youth Involved in Sexual Exploitation

Envision Article on The Manitoba Strategy