Life Ready Programs

Life Ready Facilitated Care Supports some of the most vulnerable children and youth in Metro Vancouver by being a trusted partner of the Metis Nation BC, Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Service Society, and the Ministry of Children and Families. Our services include an Outreach / Respite program and a Residential Care Home Program.

Life Ready Facilitated Care

Residential Care Program

Life Ready Facilitated Care Residential Care Homes offer support to some of the most vulnerable youth in Metro Vancouver. Our goal is to develop person-centred, trauma-informed long-term relationships that offer stability through a consistent living situation. To develop these relationships Life Ready utilizes the Developmental Relationships Framework.

"Developmental relationships are the roots of thriving and resilience for young people, regardless of their background or circumstances" (Search-Institute, 2020). These relationships help young people discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them.

Many of the young people at Life Ready have not had the opportunity to foster developmental relationships due to bias, prejudice, their races, ethnicity, income, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, or other differences. Life Ready ensures that every youth who is in our care has the chance to experience the impact developmental relationships have on their growth and ability to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Through this developmental relationships framework, our staff can support our youth's journey to become life ready.

Programming & Service Description

Life Ready Facilitated Care, Ltd. (LRFC) operates 30 long-term specialized residential homes across the Lower Mainland that provide care and support for 36 youth at any given time. Each of our homes are staffed by a team of Resource Workers who provide trauma-informed, person-centred, culturally sensitive, and nurturing care in a home environment using a positive behaviour support approach.

Nearly all the youth in our care have experienced some form of complex, developmental, and/or intergenerational trauma. We recognize the impact of trauma on neurobiological development, attachment, social engagement and self-concept, and we ensure that care and behavioural plans are reflective of lived experiences. We deliver trauma-informed care, while also creating safe, supportive environments that minimize triggers. In addition to our experience in the field of trauma, we have also developed strong expertise supporting youth with physical, cognitive, language or behavioural disorders, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol/narcotic spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and other mental health diagnoses.

The foundation of our work is both person-centered and trauma informed, and our care plans are based specifically on the needs of each individual in care. Individuals in our care take an active role in identifying their own needs and as they continue in care. Our Resource Workers provide a safe space to allow for needs to be organically identified over time. Our approach to strategy and intervention development allows us to successfully support youth, including many who have not had success in other settings.

Youth in our care live either alone or with others in a residential setting which is staffed by Resource Workers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each residential home has an assigned House Supervisor whose role it is to oversee day-to-day operations of the residence. Our team of four Operations Support Managers/Assistant Support Managers work in a regional capacity, providing oversight to all LRFC homes by providing operational support and ensuring that all homes are managed according to accreditation standards and funder expectations. Finally, we employ a Registered Clinical Counsellor (Masters educated) as a full-time Clinical Care Manager. This role is responsible for developing and supporting our team members in understanding, strategizing, and caring for youth with complex needs through day-to-day support and ongoing training and development. Finally, our extensive network of partners across the Lower Mainland provides additional support where additional higher-level support is required.

Our approach is individualized and based on a foundation of building strong relationships between the individual in care and our team. It is these two core tenants which have been key to our success working with youth with complex needs.

LRFC subscribes to the tenants of child and family centered care, which includes the following:

Recognition that, when possible, the youth’s family is the constant in the child/youth’s life.
Facilitation of family-professional collaboration at all levels of care as appropriate.
Sharing of unbiased and complete information about a child’s youth’s care on an ongoing basis, in an appropriate and supportive manner.
Implementation of appropriate policies and programs that are comprehensive and provide necessary support to meet the needs of children/youth and families.
Recognition of child/youth and family strengths and individuality and respect for different methods of coping.
Understanding and incorporating the developmental needs of children/youth and families into service systems.
Assurance that the design of LRFC programs is flexible, accessible and responsive to the needs of children/youth and families.

What We Provide

People Served

Persons served by LRFC are provided with support in a residential environment 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Youth in our care are provided with:

Support that is unique to their needs, abilities, strengths and preferences.

Their own room in a private or shared living environment.
The opportunity to decorate their own room, purchase their own furniture and bedding which they take with them when they leave.
Shared space within the home that can be used for individual, group or family meetings or counselling.
Access to larger spaces (either at Game Ready or LRFC corporate space) for conducting multi-family group therapy or other classes.
Access to fitness equipment at Game Ready.
Access to music studio at Game Ready.
Access to computer equipment and educational classes at Game Ready or other educational resource (if required).
Support to participate in educational, vocational and other training programs based on the unique strengths, needs, abilities and preferences of the person served.

Individuals served LRFC are referred by the Ministry of Child and Family Development or a Delegated Agency (B.C. Metis Family Service, Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child and Family Services, Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services) and all youth in our care have experienced trauma of some form. Generally, youth in our care range from 10-19 years of age, although LRFC will accommodate youth outside this range from time-to-time based on needs. We recognize the impact of trauma on brain development, attachment, social engagement and self-concept and we ensure that care/behavioural plans are reflective of lived experiences. We are mindful of the impact of trauma and deliver trauma-informed care, while also creating safe, supportive environments that minimize triggers.

We have developed expertise supporting youth with physical, cognitive, language or behavioural disorders, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol/narcotic spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and other mental health diagnoses.

Our Philosophy

DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS

Our goal remains to develop long-term relationships and offers stability through a consistent living situation. To develop these relationships Life Ready utilizes the Developmental Relationships Framework.

"Developmental relationships are the roots of thriving and resilience for young people, regardless of their background or circumstances" (Search-Institute, 2020). These relationships help young people discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them.

"Just as trees rely on a system of roots to support and nourish them, young people need to experience developmental relationships in their families, schools, programs, and communities" (Search-Institute, 2020). Many of the young people at Life Ready have not had the opportunity to foster developmental relationships due to bias, prejudice, their race, ethnicity, income, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, or other differences.

Life Ready ensures that every youth who is in our care has the chance to experience the impact developmental relationships have on their growth and ability to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

THE FRAMEWORK

The Developmental relationship model is a dynamic mix of five elements: Expressing Care, Challenging Growth, Providing Support, Sharing Power, and Expanding Possibilities. These five elements are expressed through 20 actions and each person in a positive relationship engages in and experiences each of these actions. (Roehikepartain, 2017).

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR INTERVENTIONS

Policy Information - Learn More.

Program Goals & Expectations

"At LRFC we strive too never turn down a youth who needs our services and to never move a youth unless it’s for family unification or the youth is ready to take on life on their own. LRFC have been very successful at being able to take some of British Columbia’s most vulnerable youth and creating a relationship of trust and compassion. This relationship allows the youth to begin the process of healing, obtaining individual goals and learning their way in this world."

The Life Ready Team

Life Ready Outreach

Life Ready established outreach services in support of children, youth, and families. Our core purpose is to improve the lives of the individuals that come into our care, often from very unstable backgrounds. Through our Residential Respite Support Services, we aim to give short-term relief to primary caregivers by providing multi-day residential care and mentorship support. We recognize the importance of this program to preserve relationships between children, youth, and their caregivers. This includes both physical and emotional time and space. These elements are critical for everyone to build up energy to respond positively and gain perspective on challenges that impact their lives and relationships.

We work in collaboration with all stakeholders to customize our level of support for each child. For our Residential Respite Support Services this can include the number of days, type of engagement and learning activities the child participates in. We actively review youth's health, education, family environment, community involvement, and employment status. Our initial goal is to develop trust through safety in our relationships and residential settings. Our focus is on engaging children and youth through a whole person perspective in the context of both family and community.

We believe every individual , regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or disability should have the opportunity to be their authentic self and should be treated with empathy and unconditional positive regard. Our team works from a trauma-informed lens. They recognize and have a deep understanding of complex and multidimensional effects of trauma on one's physical, mental, and social development.

The goal is to work collaboratively with children and youth to support the unique needs and goals of each individual as they foster their own innate strengths and resiliency, enrich their sense of self, and nurse their ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships.