Pioneer Youth Services provides residential treatment for children and youth with severe emotional, mental health, developmental, and behavioural needs. Our treatment facility consists of eight individual group homes that are licensed and supervised by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Our standards exceed the standards and regulations required by the Ontario Child and Family Services Act, 1984 and the Children’s Residence Act.
Our homes are nestled in the neighbourhoods of Kitchener - Waterloo and are close to many recreational activities and facilities including health care and public transportation. A high level of supervision by our qualified staff team ensures their safety in the home and community.
MandateOur goal is to assist each child toward the realization of his or her individual potential. Pioneer creates a warm, secure environment for our residents, while at the same time promoting positive changes, independence and resourcefulness. Pioneer Youth Services strives to prepare our children for a return to family, foster placement or independent living.
Pioneer Youth Services was established on January 2, 1980 as a privately owned and operated residential treatment centre. Pioneer provides residential care and treatment for up to 68 children and young adults with emotional and behavioural challenges.
We are very proud of the fact that many of the children and youth we served in over the past 30 years have achieved great success in the community as adults.
Today, Pioneer Youth Services continues to provide excellent services and programs for our children and youth with pride.
Pioneer Youth Services works in partnership with the Waterloo Region District School Board to operate Pine Grove Section School. Our school program offers classrooms that provide modified curriculum to all students based on their individual needs. The highly structured and supervised setting supports students to reach their academic, social and behavioural goals and facilitates integration to community school for those who are ready.
In addition, Pine Grove values opportunities for life skill development and experiential learning and incorporates these components into the daily curriculum. These programs include but are not limited to:
Waterloo Region Public and Catholic school boards also offer many “Life Skills” and “Special Needs” programs within their Secondary School facilities that are available to the residents of Pioneer Youth Services. These programs are designed to provide students with the opportunity for experiential learning, community independence and basic life skills, while incorporating academics, such as language, art and math. All programs are adapted to the students’ individual needs and skill levels.
At Pioneer Youth Services we believe in the intrinsic worth of every child and youth. We believe all children and youth can and will maximize their potential, given a secure environment with nurturance, care, encouragement and an inter-disciplinary treatment team approach that focuses on the specific child’s needs.
In our programs
we encourage the recognition and acceptance of individual differences and special needs, individual growth, individual rights and responsibilities and the individual’s ability to be an integrated part of society.
We are convinced and proud of the fact that given this latitude our program is one of excellence and has many times in the past been noted for its achievements. It is our belief that the real task lies in creating relationships and bonds with the children in our care. This grounding gives our program warmth, caring, understanding and safety.
At Pioneer Youth Services we offer:
Milieu Therapy, which offers a stabilizing environment that is characterized by structure, routine, predictability, and respect to accomplish a variety of purposes. The primary goal is the provision of a psychologically and physically safe and secure environment that promotes grou and individual development. Then environment is safe and need-responsive twenty-four hours a day in order to help each resident attain the following goals:
Some of the other services and Support Pioneer includes:
There are ample programs offered within the K-W community that are available to most children who reside with PYS. Residents are encouraged to participate in order to gain social skills, balanced life style and widen their network of friends and associates within the community.
During the summer, in addition to community programs, Pioneer Youth Services also provides the residents with a structured outdoor program on a daily basis. Some of the summer highlights include; the annual summer camping trip, Canada’s Wonderland, Bingemans Water Park, and visiting Grand River Conservation areas.
Interested in a challenging but rewarding career working with children and youth?
We offer rewarding positions for Child and Youth Workers in a progressive agency committed to best practices.
Our positions offer a competitive wage scale, a full benefit plan and in house training and professional development opportunities. At present we employ about 80 full time equivalent and 50 relief or temporary employees. Volunteer CYW, BSW, MSW placement opportunities.
To be a candidate for full time Child and Youth Worker positions you must meet the following criteria:
For further information about employment with our agency, or to apply for a position with us, send an email to hr@pioneeryouthservices.ca