Social Programs

Encouraging all areas of social development in youth is one of the main goals of The Door. This encouragement can take a variety of forms in programming: from encouraging participation in group activities, to providing youth with the information and resources they need to make responsible decisions regarding their health and success. Our social programs also seek to provide youth with practical skills that can be applied to all areas of life. These skills range from personal health to getting a job. Along with education, our social programming seeks to provide youth with opportunities in seeking resources and confidence needed to pursue them. Dedicated staff and volunteers encourage inclusion, healthy competition, and socializing among youth of all ages. Our Social Programs are an important part of inspiring youth to become responsible young adults that contribute to their community.

Employment Preparation

One of our most accessible resources for job hunting is our internet and the Job Board. Job postings are pulled from various employment agencies and posted on our board, offering everything from part-time to full time work, from retail to food service, and from permanent to temporary contracts. Many youth don't know how to look for a job and this board offers them a good place to start. Staff and volunteers are always available to teach them how to also search for a jobs using the internet. The Door also run at least 2 resume workshops through the help of partner organizations which are hands on style.
In addition to above services, the youth at The Door are able to use the computers to create resumes, and to complete applications for employment and volunteer opportunities. Once the youth get the interview, we also offer tips on how to act, dress, and some do's and dont's of the interview process.

The Healthy Living Resource Room

The Door attaches great importance to informing and educating youth on all the options available regarding sexuality, along with their responsibilities to both themselves and their partners. Our resource room provides information on everything from abstinence and dealing with sexual feelings to safe sex and the different forms of birth control, along with a supply of free condoms. Staff is always available to answer any questions the youth might have.
The Door also tries to provide the youth with as much information as possible on other important lifestyles issues including the use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, gambling and mental health as well as socially relevant subjects such as HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, homophobia, body image, and peer pressure. We gather this information from reputable sources such as Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, The David Smith Centre, Pink Triangle, The Sexual Health Clinic, and youth related Internet sites. Many of these organizations provide their services at least once a month to provide our youth with the appropriate workshops.

Physical Activity

The Door is limited in its capacity to provide facilities for physical activity but makes the best of what is possible. The Door offers basketball on an outside court, which has remained consistently popular during the warmer months. Dedicated volunteers provide supervision while encouraging inclusion, healthy competition, and socializing among youth of all ages. The Door also has a modest boxing room designed for the beginners. Through the help of volunteers, boxing classes are offered on a weekly basis. These classes became a popular resource that encourages regular physical activity and discipline while retaining a recreational feel. Here too, information regarding healthy lifestyles is available, including proper nutrition and tips for getting the most out of exercise routines.

Healthy Eating

The Door continues to strengthen its healthy food program. We believe that there is a natural connection among healthy eating, healthy living and positive self image that can be easily reinforced through social activities built around food preparation and sharing and the inevitable need for clean-up! We offer a nightly full dinner program that emphasizes healthy eating while maintaining popularity with the youth. These nightly meals are made by two of our youth volunteers supervised by the staff. Not only does this provide youth the opportunity to acquire important life skills through food preparation, but it also reinforces the role of healthy eating and provides both the volunteers and youth the information and inspiration to make wise food choices. We have been assisted in these activities by the generous contributions from McPhail Memorial Baptist Church, The Golden Baguette and The Ottawa Food Bank.

Twice a month members of the congregation of the McPhail Memorial Baptist Church prepare a home-cooked meal, bring it to The Door, and serve it to the youth members. This night is always busier than most, with the youth (staff and volunteers, too) eagerly awaiting the church to bring their goodies.

Speakers and Workshops

The Door finds that there are certain topics that are better dealt with by the experts. Educated and professional speakers allow the youth the opportunity to find out information about somewhat sensitive subjects such as, body image, drug prevention, safe sex, gambling awareness, gangs, cultural sensitivity, and homosexuality in a nonthreatening environment. Some guest speakers have included Planned Parenthood, Ottawa Police, Sexual Health Centre of Ottawa-Carleton, Somerset West Community Health Centre, The David Smith Centre, and our own Teen Talks.

The goal of our workshops is to make them interactive and fun while allowing the young people to be exposed to new ideas, acquire new information and perhaps learn some new skills. Through working with outside agencies, The Door has been able to offer a wide variety of workshops. We count on these organizations to help us deliver accurate and up-to-date information to the youth in stimulating and appropriate ways and we are grateful for all of their help.

Clothing exchange

The Clothing Exchange Closet is stocked with donations of gently used clothing from the community. All items we receive are examined by the staff before being put on display; we make sure all pieces of clothing are youth appropriate and in good conditions. We also encourage youth to drop off any items they might not want any longer in exchange for the items they pick up. This promotes a commitment to recycling and gives the young people an opportunity to give back at the same time that they are acquiring something 'new.'