As the COVID-19 continues to progress worldwide, Portage Atlantic similarly continues to adjust its programs to provide a safe and healthy environment for its residents and staff. Acting swiftly to ensure the well-being and a sense of normalcy, mobile bunker houses were acquired and set up at a safe distance from the main residential community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On May 13th<\/sup>, 2020, Portage Cassidy Lake<\/a> had the pleasure of welcoming five young ladies into its therapeutic community after a 14-day induction phase. The bunker houses acted as temporary homes for these 5 girls, as well as specific staff members that were exclusively assigned to this special admissions process. Even though the new admissions are physically apart from the rest of the therapeutic community for the first 14 days, they take part in everyday activities and group therapy via videoconferencing, just like their peers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now equipped\nwith a foundation of skills to help them continue their residential\nprogramming, they have left their induction program to join their peers. Here\nis what a couple of them had to say about their experience… <\/p>\n\n\n\n Erica, a\n16-year-old from New Brunswick, found the induction program to be very helpful\nand comforting. Being able to virtually speak to a staff member during her\npre-care phase. This was Erica\u2019s second program and the atmosphere helped her\nfeel calm and at ease. The entire program flew by quickly for her and made her\nfeel better than the first time around. After developing a sense of security\nwithin the induction program, Erica expressed that she felt both nervous and\nexcited when the time came to join the other residents in the main program.\nOnce she met her peers however, the feeling of nervousness dissipated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Emma,\n20-years-old, felt that the first few days of the induction program went by\nslowly. After getting acclimated with her new surroundings, time began moving a\nlittle more quickly. For Emma, it was a time to learn about her program and\nestablish a sense of preparedness. She enjoyed several of the activities that\nshe was able to take part in, namely yoga, painting, walks, and her group\nmeetings. She felt that the induction program staff were well prepared and knew\nwhat they were doing, even though it was everyone\u2019s first induction experience\nand a learning curve for all. Their knowledge was a comfort to her. Once she\nwas moved into the main program after the 14-days, getting to meet her new\npeers was the most exciting part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Monique Cormier,\na clinical worker at Portage Cassidy Lake for the past 6 years, is a member of\nthe induction program staff. Because the induction program mirrors what the\nyouth are doing in the main program, Monique expressed that the adjustment to\nworking with the new youth in quarantine was seamless. The main point of\ndifference is that due to the environment, there is more time for the youth to\nreflect and focus on themselves, even though they are busy with activities. When\nasked which part was most memorable as a staff on this assignment, Monique\nsaid: \u201cit was exciting to see the girls\u2019 group who finished their quarantine\njoin the female community in the main program\u201d. She also mentioned that the\ngirls in the main program prepared a big welcome sign of for the new girls, to\nmake them feel a little more at ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Portage Atlantic is grateful for the shower of support from the community during these times. The contributions<\/a> that have been made to make this induction program possible, have contributed immensely to the well-being of these girls and new admissions to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the\ndonors, staff, residents, and community, thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the COVID-19 continues to progress worldwide, Portage Atlantic similarly continues to adjust its programs to provide a safe and healthy environment for its residents and staff. Acting swiftly to ensure the well-being and a sense of normalcy, mobile bunker houses were acquired and set up at a safe distance from the main residential community…. 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