Alexis Forde

Youth Wellness Hub, Care Coordinator

Write Alexis→ or call 905-372-0007, Ext 226

Question & Answer

What does the Youth Wellness Hub mean for local youth?

Often, youth who’re struggling are forced to tell their stories various times to new individuals each time they access a new service. This can be a daunting task for any youth and even more so for young people who have experienced of trauma, educational difficulties, diminished mental health, unemployment, homelessness, poverty, racism etc. At YWHO Northumberland, we want to prioritize relationship building at the core of our services, ensuring young people feel safe, supported and connected both within our main site and with our outreach staff. Building rapport with young people can make or break their willingness to access services both now and, in the future, knowing that they have trusted individuals they can reach out to when they’re ready. We want young people to be able to pop into the hub and/or reach out to us both for things like enjoying a movie night, playing pool, sharing dinner with other youth in addition to applying to post-secondary education, getting I.D, connecting to a family doctor etc. when they’re ready and more importantly, at their own pace.

What are you most excited to see happening at the YWHO?

I’m most excited to see not only the individual development of our young people in their personal and professional lives but the development of strengthened relationships among the youth within our community as a whole. Joining at this stage of its development is very important to me because we’ll be building the Hub from the ground up, ensuring that the design, development, and implementation is informed and shaped by the voices of youth and families within the community.  

What does Rebound's value, "ripple-effect," mean to you?

Having worked in nonprofit for over a decade, I’ve fortunately had the opportunity to work with clients long term and have been able to truly see the ripple effect of effective services not only on clients themselves but their families and broader communities. When individuals access services that are trauma-informed, low barrier, culturally responsive, and holistic in nature, they can show up better for not only themselves but their families, co-workers, friends, teachers, partners etc. As a result, it’s vital that we recognize the importance of YWHO Northumberland and both its direct and indirect impacts beyond our individual clients who may walk through our doors.