Downtown Street Voice (DSV)
Downtown Street Voice is the youth advisory committee of Covenant House Vancouver. With the support of our Executive Director and Youth Participation Coordinator, DSV is run by and for youth ages 16-24 and alumnus clients up to age 26. The committee exists to provide staff and Board members with feedback and direction related to the policies, programs and community issues that affect our clients directly. DSV meets on a weekly basis and all meetings are chaired and facilitated by the members.
Advocacy:
Advocacy is an integral part of DSV and the YPS. Program members and staff role model and promote advocacy in everything they do. Members learn about advocacy by learning about their rights, how to exercise rights appropriately and effectively, and how to speak out about the issues that matter to them.
Volunteering:
Volunteer opportunities play an essential role in the healthy development of all young people. Members of the committee are encouraged to participate in a variety of our programs in addition to DSV such as The Peer Helper Program (see below), weekly donation sorting and clothing room upkeep,media engagements, community outreach and education and, agency events.
By offering volunteer or work placements to our clients, we show them that we trust them and, it instills a sense of responsibility and accountability that we all require in order to reach our individual competencies.
The Peer Helper Program:
Peer Support is practiced informally and formally within CHV. Through peer support clients find a sense of support and belonging with their peers that compliments the services of our other programs. Youth feel a sense of safety and unconditional acceptance amongst those with similar experiences and backgrounds. In the words of one of DSV member: "It feels like home."
The Peer Helper Program is intended for current/alumnus clients ages 18-25 interested in learning about peer support and counseling. For some, this program is an introduction to future careers in the child/youth care field.
Following successful completion of training and graduation, Peer Helpers are placed in one of our departments to work directly with staff and clients. In some cases, Peer Helpers provide direct peer support whereas others are more interested in the administrative aspect of our agency and may learn about program management, fundraising or media related tasks.