By the end of the last school year, *Clara’s anxiety had gotten so bad that she couldn’t leave the house – not to go to school, not to go anywhere.
“If youth cannot engage with school, they are at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness,” says Covenant House Toronto’s Manager of Prevention Initiatives, Justin Sage-Passant. “A young person’s sense of wellbeing, engagement with school and risk of homelessness are all interconnected. If I’m not feeling good about myself, I’m less likely to go to school and spend time with my friends and if I don’t go to school and spend time with my friends, I’m less likely to feel good about myself – it’s cyclical.”
Concerns about her absences led the school to refer Clara to Youth Reconnect, a Covenant House program that helps youth who are at risk of homelessness stay in school and stay connected to their communities.
When Youth Reconnect worker Genieve Tan first met Clara, they talked about her challenges and how they might overcome them together. They came up with a plan: Genieve would start by meeting Clara at her home and then - step by step – work together on moving through her anxiety. “It started with ‘Can we take one foot out the door?’” Genieve says. Soon, they were able to visit the school grounds in the quiet summer months so that Clara could feel comfortable with the school environment. With permission from Clara, Genieve also helped Clara’s mom get a clearer understanding of her daughter’s panic attacks and other symptoms. Very soon, with Genieve’s support, she was actively helping Clara overcome these challenges as well.
Youth Reconnect workers help by being flexible and can meet youth out in the community in a way a school social worker can’t. Genieve helps youth find and connect to family doctors and therapists and accompanies them to appointments. They’ve also taken the bus and walked with youth to school and helped them navigate difficult conversations with their peers. Beyond this, they’ll work with youth to find extra-curriculars that match their interests, which in turn helps them make new friends.
One youth they supported last year struggled with social isolation. They recently heard from him. He said, “Now I’m FaceTiming the friends I made in my last weeks of high school.’” He started college this fall.
As the new school year’s begun, Clara’s mom reports that, thanks to the Covenant House team, her daughter's school attendance has significantly improved and she is much more engaged in classes. While she still struggles academically, she has built the confidence she needs to get out the door and participate. This has helped their relationship too.