Volunteer Information.
Alternate Shelter Society started operating in March 1977 as a non-profit, reporting society governed by a Board of Directors. Members of the society and Board of Directors consist of a variety of stakeholder representing community members.
Alternate Shelter Society provides residential and support services to a population of youth variously described as “high risk”, “at-risk”, or even “behaviourally disordered”. Alternate Shelter Society assumes that many behaviours have meaning and purpose. Behavioural issues such as anger/violence, street involvement, substance misuse, criminal connection,
and even self-mutilation are survival strategies for youth. Such behaviours are attempts by youth to create situations where they feel in control – where they believe they have a choice. We have seen that strong people can emerge when this survival drive can be reassigned from self-destructive behaviour to healthy functional skill development that will help them integrate into their families and communities. We believe that the most important aspect of our mandate is our commitment to increasing a young person’s control over all aspects of their life and therefore, increasing their self worth.
Alternate Shelter Society’s Annual General Meeting will be held in August of 2007. Everyone is welcome. General membership to the society is available for a nominal fee of $5. We are looking to ensure that a variety of cultural and ethnic groups are adequately represented on the Board of Directors. We strongly encourage First Nations persons and former youth in care to apply, as well as individuals with experience in addictions, health, human resources, fundraising, and law. Board members are expected to commit to a minimum of 2 meetings a month to the society, which includes board meetings as well as committee meetings. Alternate Shelter’s board for the upcoming year will be selected at our Annual General Meeting. We encourage anyone who has an interest in youth care to become an Alternate Shelter Society Board of Directors member.
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