Integrated Youth Services Nova Scotia (IYS-NS) will provide a safe space for youth aged 12 to 25 years to receive support for mental health, substance use and related issues. IYS-NS sites will offer young people and their caregivers free, rapid access to health and wellness resources, programs, services and supports within an integrated community-led partnership model.
IYS-NS will bring together multiple services to operate out of one location, improving access and removing barriers for youth. This includes counselling and peer supports, primary health care, employment and training supports, and social services such as housing and income assistance support.
Services at each site are coordinated and provided by community-based organizations under the leadership of a provincial team from the IWK Mental Health and Addictions program and strong partnerships with multiple government-based departments and services.
“Together with our generous community of donors, the IWK Foundation is committed to the changing the course of mental health and addictions care for children and youth throughout the Maritimes. We are proud to join national and local partners to support the creation of IYS in Nova Scotia. IYS is an essential step forward to removing barriers and improving access to mental health and wellness services for our region’s most vulnerable children, youth and families.”
~Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, IWK Foundation
In April 2024, the IWK Foundation joined IWK Health, the Province of Nova Scotia and philanthropic partners to announce the locations of seven IYS-NS sites:
- Amherst
- Bridgewater
- Eskasoni – serving youth in six First Nation communities in the Eastern Zone
- Halifax Regional Municipality
- New Glasgow
- North End Halifax
- Sydney
Another site will be added in the western part of the province. All eight sites—two in each health zone—will be open by March 31, 2027.
If you would like to support Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia, please reach out to our major gifts team to discuss donor opportunities.
Additional Resources:
- IWK Health – Overview of IYS-NS
- Government of Nova Scotia – Announcement of IYS-NS sites