Temporary Emergency Services
Established in 1988, Alternative Programs for Youth and Families, Inc. has facilitated a variety of therapeutic, community-based services in collaboration with child protection agencies across mainland Nova Scotia.
In early 2000, Alternative Programs for Youth and Families, Inc launched the Short-Term Placement Program for children and youth in care and transition of placement. This Program supported, stabilized, cared for and supervised children and youth in Child Welfare’s care until such time as long term planning and care could be secured.
Over the past 20 plus years this program has evolved and grown to become known as a Temporary Emergency Arrangement (TEA). The TEA is an approved child-caring arrangement used for the immediate, emergency, and temporary accommodations of children in Care.
Alternative Programs for Youth and Families, Inc. offers 4 TEA placements.
Our TEA Provision of Services
- TEA staff provide 24 hour, 7 days a week care and supervision of children and youth in care.
- TEA staffing ratio is 2:1. Additional staffing is available as required to assist in meeting client needs.
- TEA staff provide programming that supports good hygiene, healthy meals, safe medication, administration, life skills teaching, addresses educational needs in collaboration with local schools and school boards, assists in the attendance of medical appointments and parental access as requested.
- TEA Supervisors provide child welfare agencies with weekly client focused communication, daily shift and incident reporting.
- TEA staff welcome Child Welfare staff to their placements at any time for any reason.
- TEA Supervisor on call 24 hour, 7 days a week.
Our TEA Staff Qualifications
- All TEA staff are trained and experienced in the field of child and youth care or related field.
- All TEA staff possess knowledge of child/adolescent development, the impact of maltreatment on children/youth, trauma informed service delivery, cultural identity and diversity and behavior modification.
- All TEA staff are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR.
- All TEA staff have been trained and or certified in Non Violent Crisis Intervention, Food Handlers, Medication Awareness, Mental Health First Aid, WHMIS, Trauma Informed Service Delivery, IPP Development and Cultural Diversity.
✲ Additionally, all TEA staff are required to submit a Vulnerable Sector Check, Child Abuse Registry Check, and completed ICM check, valid driver’s license, drivers abstract, confirmation of insurance, registration and safety inspection as requested.
✲ Verification of all TEA staff documentation is available at any time by contacting our offices.