Shared Health’s Youth Community-Based Addictions Service (YCBAS) is a team of rehabilitation counsellors under Child & Youth Treatment Services, Mental Health & Addictions, Shared Health.

YCBAS provides-

•  Community-based addictions services to young people from 12 years to their 21^st birthday, who have experienced harmful or dependent substance involvement.
• Services can involve individual treatment, caregiver intervention strategies, system navigation and systemic collaboration, as appropriate, and are based on a collaborative evaluation of the person’s substance use and its impact on their functioning.
• Rehabilitation counsellors can support referrals to live-in treatment, addiction medicine, detox/stabilization, and assist with community resources, as needed, with the goal of helping individuals work towards their recovery goals.
• YCBAS works from a holistic strength-based, client-centred and trauma-informed biopsychosocial-spiritual approach, and embraces the principle of harm reduction.

Youth must be between 12 and 20 years old, willing and able to voluntarily engage with rehabilitation counsellors, and must meet at least one of the following:

• Youth who experience significant substance use that is ongoing, causing significant harm across multiple life domains.
• Youth who are significantly impacted by a loved one’s substance use (e.g., a caregiver or family member).
• Youth who had harmful to dependent level of involvement with substances and are now in early recovery, or who are experiencing an increase in risk factors that could heighten potential for relapse.

YCBAS has also partnered with a number of other community-based organizations to provide on-site services. These include:

• Aikins Community Health Centre
• Access Fort Garry
• Access West
• Huddles (Broadway, South Central, NorWest)
• New Directions – Honouring Our Journey
• Probation Services
• Street Reach
• The Link

Referrals can be made through the Youth Addictions Centralized Intake (YACI) 1-877-710-3999

*For those under 16, consent of legal guardian is required

*Referrals 16+ must be made with the youth or young adult themselves, indicating willingness to attend and participate