User:Kylierob/TYPS

== Town Youth Participation Strategies (TYPS) - Centre des Jeunes Canada ==

Town Youth Participation Strategies (TYPS) or “Youth Centres des Jeunes Canada” is a Canadian not-for-profit organization/registered charity based out of Merrickville, Ontario, which is committed to providing the resources and support needed by youth centres, youth groups, and youth initiatives across the country. TYPS works with over 600 youth centres and drop-ins to allow youth to be engaged in the community, have alternative ways to spend their time, work with adults in planning and delivery of programs, and learn new things. TYPS' community-based and participatory model has been recognized nationally and internationally as a “Best Practice” and has received positive evaluation from: the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse; Health Canada's Drug Strategy; United Nations' Children's Environmental Network; Harvard's School of Family Research; University of Toronto's Teen Net Project; Canadian National Crime Prevention Council, and several Canadian Universities. On-going research on youth development and community programs is constantly being conducted and analyzed by TYPS in order to establish the importance of youth centres in Canadian society.

History
In 1991, Les Voakes began working with street youth in rural areas on a project with Health Canada’s National Drug Strategy and found that they needed a place that would engage them and give them the opportunity to develop positively in their community. Following this project, Voakes took on the challenge of establishing TYPS and working to set up youth centres to fulfill the needs of the local youth. Within the first three years 14 youth centres were opened, with the networking support of TYPS and many more were created over the following years. By the time TYPS was officially incorporated in 2004, it had linked, through workshops and resource sharing, 140 youth centres across Ontario. Today, there are over 600 youth organizations that network, connect, and are members of TYPS - Youth Centres Canada, across Canada.

Activities
TYPS organizes workshops and programs to encourage youth participation and provide training for facilitators who work with youth. The youth members, which are typically in rural areas, towns and small cities in Canada, become more involved in their community, and learn how to make meaningful decisions in their lives.

The largest event hosted by TYPS is the Annual Youth Conference, which is organized by staff throughout much of the year. The conference is host to over 300 people from across the country, and brings youth together as facilitators to improve leadership, social skills, and fundraising opportunities. Together they participate in workshops to help build self-esteem and encourage skill development.

Membership
Individuals and organizations can get a TYPS membership, which gives support to the youth centres, includes special rates for TYPS Annual Youth Conference and workshops, and gives access to special projects, newsletters, and a network of youth initiatives. Membership forms are available online at www.typs.com. Members must agree to work towards fulfilling the TYPS mandate and principles. The website is host to information, resources and data that link youth and youth centres in hundreds of communities across the country.

Headquarters
The TYPS office is located in Merrickville, ON, Canada. P.O Box 729 K0G 1N0

Ph: 613-269-2436

Fax: 613-269-4118

E-mail: typs@typs.com