From: Leslie.Schentag@fquest.FidoNet.Org (Leslie Schentag)
Newsgroups: alt.missing-kids
Subject: SKID(Street Kids In Distress)
Date: 29 Oct 92 05:27:40 GMT


        	Street Kids In Distress Association
        	     (SKID)                  DRAFT 92-05-30


        The name S.K.I.D. (Street Kids In Distress) identifies an organization
dedicated to working with young people alienated from society.

        A street kid is a young person, usually between the ages of 13 to 30,
who has become an outcast from normal life and is forced to find alternate
means of survival. The causes of this alienation are numerous,but in almost all
instances are the result of family, societal, or relationship trauma. A street
kid is a victim. He or she is not, except in rare cases, not there by choice.
Like most victims, the street kid is not able to effect change without help.

        S.K.I.D. has been formed to assist street kids with such basic needs as
food, clothing and shelter. However, the provision of these needs is only the
first step in a return to a normal and productive life.
S.K.I.D has identified the following purposes:

        -to meet the emergency needs of street kids;

        -to provide long-term help in becoming a whole person, able to
        contribute to society;

        -to give street kids the opportunity to develop thier full
        potential through gainful employment, education, trade or
        career training;

        -to provide access to health needs including medical, dental,
        mental health and drug rehabilitation;

        -to provide access to legal assistance;

        -to provide street kids with access and support for thier
        spiritual needs;

        -to lobby all levels of government to improve the social judicial
        systems as instruments of assisting street kids effect life style
        change;

        -to work with law enforcement and government agencies in creating
        an awareness of street kids, the issues surrounding them, and to
        search for solutions to effect change;

        -to re-establish contact with family members whenever advisable
        and possible;

        -to promote public awareness of the Association and the plight of
        street kids in general;

        -to foster development of project similar to S.K.I.D in other
        urban centers.

        These purposes can be summed up in the two-fold objective of meeting
the emergency needs of street kids in the downtown areas of Vancouver,and of
providing access to long-term rehabilitation needs, made available in locations
removed from the street.

        S.K.I.D. works with a street committee composed of non-voting members
of the Association. A young person, desiring to change, and with some
attainable and realistic short and long term life goals, is assessed by the
street committee and, if found to be genuine in the desire for change,welcomed
into membership of S.K.I.D. with access to the full services and support
provided by the Association.

        S.K.I.D. is in process of incorporation under the Society's Act of
British Columbia. Since formation in December 1991 S.K.I.D has been in contact
with more than 25 street kids. Three street kids have been "rescued",thier
lives changed, and returned to the possibility of full and productive lives.
Eight other street kids are in process of seking suitable employment and/or
completing thier education. S.K.I.D organized both a Christmas and an Easter
dinner, open to all, at St. Davids Anglican Church, Tsawassen. Between 25-30
street kids attended both events. Similar events are planned for the summer and
fall of 1992. Although success cannot be claimed, the prognosis for S.K.I.D. is
very encouraging.

        The immediate short term needs of S.K.I.D. are:

        -to open a downtown coffee shop, health care store front facility;

        -to be in a position to offer emergency, overnight shelter for
        street kids in need;

        -to provide a safe haven for street kids in a secure location.

        The long term needs of S.K.I.D. include a farm or ranch style facility
        with full rehabilitation and employment opportunities.

        The vision and purpose of S.K.I.D. are not new. The approach used
is,however, different from that used by other organizations with somewhat
similar aims. S.K.I.D. begins by getting alongside street kids; by meeting
street kids where they are. A meeting bteween one street kid and another street
kid - not a rescuer seeking for victims to be saved. S.K.I.D. accepts people
for what they are, where they are, and begins to work from this position.

        This is a rough draft compiled in May, 1992.
        There will be more information forthcoming in the near future.
Newsgroups: alt.missing-kids