At Eva’s Satellite, youth take the first crucial steps toward rebuilding their lives by receiving counselling, life skills and healthy recreation programs.With services provided by Inner City Health Associates, and partnerships with Central Toronto Youth Services and many other community agencies, Eva’s Satellite is developing innovative programming to respond to the needs of youth who actively use drugs and alcohol.

Phone: 416-229-1874
Fax: 416-642-2677
Email: info@evas.caFor youth with substance use issues, the journey from chaos and crisis to stability often starts at Eva’s Satellite. As Toronto’s only harm reduction youth shelter, we serve a unique population of youth and provide a comprehensive service that focuses on health, wellness, support and stabilization.

Upon intake, all youth are assigned a case worker and referred to a harm reduction worker who will work together with the youth to create a distinctive service plan that meets the specific needs of the client.

The largest program at Eva’s Satellite is the Harm Reduction Program. Along with case management services, the harm reduction team provides individual and group counselling, education on safer drug use strategies, safer drug use supplies and a variety of workshops and groups such as the Drug and Alcohol Awareness group ( DAAG) which runs each morning, Creative Self-Expression, the Sex and Relationships discussion group, the Girl’s Group and the Guy’s Group.

In association with the Inner City Health Associates, we are able to provide a comprehensive Clinical Program on-site that includes psychiatric services and primary and preventative health care. Youth are also able to access a Paediatrician on-site through the Hospital for Sick Children. Our clinical program runs each Tuesday, with specialized sexual health clinics every two months. We offer both scheduled and unscheduled appointments.

Another important health and wellness program is the Acudetox Clinic which runs 6 days per week. Otherwise known as acupuncture detoxification, five point ear acupuncture protocol, five point protocol, 5NP and the NADA protocol, Acudetox is form of acupuncture specifically designed to assist with withdrawal management. Four staff are trained practitioners who are supervised by a local Acupuncturist.

Another critical program at Eva’s Satellite is the Peer Program, where all youth in the shelter can not only gain new skills and employment, but play an active role in supporting and providing services to their peers. Although fairly new, the program is already having a tremendous impact on the shelter and the young people who participate who report a greater sense of belonging and enhanced self-confidence. The program has 96 hours of group training that includes topics such as HIV/AIDS prevention, supportive counselling, conflict resolution, harm reduction strategies and boundaries. Those who complete the training can do an additional 16 weeks of paid employment with job duties that include community outreach, workshops planning and facilitation, running a peer support table and making safer drug use kits.

An often overlooked but critically important program within any shelter is the Recreation Program. Eva’s Satellite is fortunate to have a well-equipped gymnasium in our shelter. With the generous support of Canadian Tire’s JumpStart, RBC, the Rotary Club and the Trillium Foundation, we offer a rich and vibrant roster of recreational activities that include sports, fitness, the arts and community outings. We hold weekly karate, yoga, boxing, and break dancing lessons, a monthly open mike session, daily open gym hours and spectacular outings that have included activities such as white water rafting, horseback riding, wilderness canoe trips and rock climbing.

One of our newest and most popular programs is the Youth Action to Reduce Drug Use (YARD) program, a three year pilot program that incorporates peer training and development with stress management, recreation and health education. The program funded by Health Canada’s Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund, has an extensive evaluation plan and clear indicators of success. Early results show that this innovative program has increased youth engagement within the shelter and youth have adopted the program as their own.

We appreciate every youth that comes through our doors and we do our best to ensure that their time with Eva’s Satellite is productive and supportive. We also want to ensure that each youth moves towards independence and is able acquire a living situation of their choice. Our Community Support Program is an independent living and housing help program where we creative individualized plans that meet the specific needs of each youth. We assist youth in accessing ID, income supports and housing, furniture and community support. Many of our youth will move on to supportive housing while others will move in with family or friends or access the private housing market. Whatever their choice, we aim to ensure they succeed in their life outside of the shelter system.

In order to work effectively with our neighbours and the local community, Eva’s Satellite runs the Community Outreach Program. We provide outreach services to community members, local businesses and organizations and mediation/conflict resolution services to youth and neighbours as needed. If you are a local organization, own a business or live in the neighbourhood and have a question or concern about Eva’s Satellite, please call our Community Outreach Worker at 647-838-1189.