JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY OF NORTH ISLAND

575 10th St., Courtenay BC V9N 1P9

Phone: 250-338-7341   Fax: 250-338-6568

Email: mail@jhsni.bc.ca Website: www.jhsni.bc.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am– 6 pm (closed noon – 1pm for lunch)

Mission Statement:

The John Howard Society of North Island is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide programs and support to help children, youth, adults, and families lead safer and healthier lives.


Programs & Services

Counselling & Support Services:

  • Foundry Comox Valley: Website: www.foundrybc.ca/comoxvalley
    • Free and confidential services for youth and adults ages 12 to 24. Offers a range of services around topics including health care, mental health, sexual health, substance use, youth outreach, housing support, youth to adult transitions, employment support, Elders and cultural support, free support groups and courses, LGBTQ2S+ support, Aboriginal youth navigator, peer support, and youth and family conflict resolution. Services are free. Drop-in service is from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4:30 pm Monday, 1 pm to 6 pm Tuesday, 1 pm to 4:30 pm Wednesday, 1 pm to 6 pm Thursday, and no drop-in Friday.

Programs & Services:

  • Youth and Family Substance Use Services: Provides alcohol and drug counselling services for youth. Includes assessment; treatment; individual, group, and family counselling; and follow-up support. Accepts self-referrals.
  • Alcohol & Drug Prevention & Early Intervention: Provides alcohol and drug services within designated School District #71 schools. Assists youth in early identification and access to services, including education, counselling, referrals, and groups. Provides information and education on substance misuse to youth, families, caregivers, educators, and community service.
  • 180 Degrees Detox and Supportive Recovery Program: The 180° Detox and Supportive Recovery Program provides young people ages 13-19 with a comfortable, home-based setting to withdraw from harmful substances and transition to a healthier lifestyle. Youth reside in John Howard Society Family Care Homes. Youth can self refer. They can also be referred by family, friends, social workers, probation officers, schools, or community agencies.
  • Level UP @ The Station: a supportive recovery program operating within a youth independent living facility. Youth ages 16- 19 reside in one of 10 individual suites in a facility with 24-hour staffing.
  • Behavioral Consultant: Provides behavioural consultation support to foster parents referred by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
  • Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services: Provides psychological assessment and treatment for court-ordered youth and their families. Coordination of community treatment-release plans for youth in conflict with the law.
  • Child & Family Mental Health Outreach Program: Provides a team-based approach to support families whose children require intensive intervention strategies and interagency coordination. Referrals accepted from Child and Youth Mental Health.
  • Youth Justice Family Support: Assists youth on probation to make healthier lifestyle choices through: short or long term individual/family support, advocacy, crisis intervention, case planning and management.
  • Intensive Support and Supervision: provides support and supervision to assist youth referred by probation to develop healthy functioning in education, work, family and community settings.

Programs & Services:

Prevention & Support Services:

  • KidStart Mentoring Program: Mentoring services for vulnerable children and youth delivered by carefully screened and trained volunteers. The mentor and buddy relationship is a recreationally-based friendship that connects caring adults one-to-one with kids ages 6 – 18.
  • Youth Outreach Program: provides an outreach service to youth who may be at risk by misusing substances, vulnerable to sexual exploitation, and need to connect with resources and healthy activities. Offers a safe after hours contact for youth – cell number: 250-218-0483.

Housing Services

  • The Station – Provides transitional housing for youth ages 17 to 22 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Youth are supported to assess their own life skills and develop a plan to acquire the skills necessary to live independently.
  • The Junction – Provides 46 supportive housing units for adults ages 19+ who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Application and assessment process required for potential residents. Includes 24/7 staffing.