ST. PAUL – Through a pilot program started earlier this year, the St. Paul Regional Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) is expanding its reach to help support and guide youth in the community.
The idea and premise of the new Youth Drop-in program is simple. Young people between the ages of 13 and 18 years old are given a hangout space at the FCSS building, Monday to Friday, between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
It is free and there are not many requirements to get in. Youth can literally walk in, hang out, study, complete school assignments, get some free snacks, and just say hello.
There will be different things taking place throughout the week. For example, once a week, a therapy dog named Stella stops by. On Fridays, there is a movie night with free popcorn offered.
“This is just a great opportunity for [youth]... to have somewhere to be versus just being on their devices,” explains Lynn Smid, director of the St. Paul Regional FCSS.
With parents often still at work during the after-school hours, the hang-out space offers youth a place to go if they do not want to be on their own at home.
Smid says the program is also an attempt at positive early intervention.
“If we can build those connections early with children and youth, the better positive results we see in our community,” she explains.
The program is also a way for FCSS to expand its “youth serving capabilities” and reinforce its relationship-building with young people.
As the program is still in its early stages, “We’re seeing if we’re going to attract enough youth to sustain the program.”
Currently, it’s difficult to gauge the program’s success, especially in the winter months when weather may be a factor and many youths do not have a ride to get to the FCSS building.
“It’s different once it warms up. They could walk here,” says Smid.
St. Paul FCSS is always open to ideas or requests from the community on how they can better engage or serve the community.
“If it fits within the FCSS mandate, we’re willing to give it a try,” says Smid.
