The aim of the National Initiatives Program is to support organizations that are developing new programs and models of service, and work in partnership with other organizations to increase the capacity of the community services sector across Canada with the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency for homeless youth.

The National Initiatives Program (NIP) also provides tours and responds to requests for information on a variety of Eva’s programming areas. The NIP has supported the development of two community-based resources:

Eva’s Phoenix Toolkit, which describes the key elements of the Eva’s Phoenix program (e.g. the construction training program, the peer mentorship program and the partnership-based model of employment support) including practical tools and information for interested groups.

Eva’s Reconnect Toolkit, an easy-to-access online multimedia resource with a focus on the early intervention/prevention services of Eva’s Family Reconnect Program.

National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness

The National Initiatives Program coordinates the Learning Community, a pan-Canadian forum where organizations work collaboratively, learn from each other’s experiences, create opportunities for mentorship and share best practices across our sector.

Eva’s Awards For Ending Youth Homelessness 2012

Eva’s Initiatives, the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite (Canada), Inc. are pleased to offer four awards of $25,000 each for organizations working with homeless and at-risk youth.

With the launch of the 2012 program, Eva’s and our partners Virgin Unite and the Sprott Foundation are putting the spotlight on what works in terms of preventing and ending the homelessness that youth experience. This focus challenges us all to think beyond the emergency needs of vulnerable youth. The goal of ending homelessness means equipping youth in multiple domains of their lives to achieve greater and longer lasting stability. It also means program impacts that have results on different levels—from housing outcomes, for example, to skill building, employment, improved health and other outcomes.

The goal of the awards is to recognize community initiatives that are:

• Moving beyond responding to the most basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth
• Demonstrating significant impacts in the lives of vulnerable youth
• Delivering programs or services aimed at preventing youth homelessness
• Breaking the cycle of homelessness among youth by integrating supports such as: housing, education, employment, family connections, and interventions to address mental health concerns and/or addictions.

“Young Canadians deserve to have the best possible opportunities to grow and thrive. These awards will acknowledge and support organizations that make a difference, whose efforts look down the road to the end of a young person’s homelessness,” Gray said.

The deadline for applications is 9 p.m. EST, Friday January 20th, 2012. For more information on eligibility or to download applications, please see our awards website at http://awards.evasinitiatives.com or our main website at www.evasinitiatives.com.