The agency I have chosen to talk about is Skylark, it started out as a center for children and young people but has now expanded to children, young people and families, which has made the organization more inclusive of all and more welcoming to adults. When you think of Skylark you're probably wondering why they chose this name or what they actually do. For starters, Eurasian meadowlarks are actually birds capable of flying up to 100 meters while singing a very unique type of song that makes it very different from other ground-nesting birds, and apparently, many writers talk about this bird for his extraordinary strengths and skills. Which also connects with this agency because it is determined to help young people and children along with their families through this organization. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThis agency works with children, youth and families with their mental health and/or developmental needs so that they can be successful in life and achieve their goals greater potential for their well-being (Skylark Youth, 2018). They also focus on parents of LGBTQ+ youth where they welcome parents to come in with their child to go for a walk at clinics that offer counseling services for free. These walk-in clinics are available to anyone at the time you need them since they are urgent care. You do not need a health card or an appointment to attend these counseling sessions. They state that they have 5 values ​​in their agency which are integrity, evidence-based information, collaborations and partnerships, youth and family engagement, and diversity. They have 2 locations, Downtown Toronto (Church and Wellseley) and North Toronto (Yonge and Eglinton). They also provide programs and services to clients in “underserved” neighborhoods such as Regent Park and St. James Town. They have clinics for counseling services as mentioned before but you need to arrive two hours before closing to get the paperwork started and you are entitled to speak to a counselor for an hour and as it is first come, first served the place is not always promised on the same day. Skylark welcomes all youth and families of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and racial communities. They also try to adapt to different linguistic, cultural and communication needs. Regarding your rights in this agency as a client, you have the right to be treated with respect and be free from discrimination or harassment, as well as your information must be handled in a confidential manner and will not be shared without the client's permission. Skylark also explains why they need the information and how they will use it, unless required by law they will not disclose personal information without the customer's permission or consent. They will also share customer information with the customer when requested and answer any questions the customer may have in planning to choose the best service for them. Additionally, as a client, there are certain responsibilities that the agency expects, such as that the client participates in service planning at Skylark, treats staff with the same respect they expect, and attends meetings or services or communicates to the agency in advance that you will not be attending. The advantage of this agency is that it is open to help anyone who needs it, regardless of who they are. They are willing to help the community and anyone who comes to their locations. It is a very welcoming environment that not only focuses on children, but also on familyaround them, which is very useful when the child needs a support system to help him fight his battle. They also provide specific needs to each family which they review by working with the client to find which agency works best not only for them but also for their family. Even though their main target is mainly young people, children and their families do not forget the important role played by the family in helping children/young people. Another thing that the agency provides is that it is very welcoming towards young people, that being said there is a whole dedicated page on their site which helps you if you live with a sibling who has a mental illness and also if you have a friend who has a mental illness, which being shown on the website encourages other siblings/friends to talk about their feelings with a counselor, regardless of whether they have a mental illness or not. This opens up more of the idea that you don't have to have a mental illness to talk to someone like a counselor when you need help. For siblings, they invite them to come to the clinic and call the number provided to get more information on how they can not only help their sibling get better, but also help themselves. That said, the website states: “You don't have to go through this alone. Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do when trying to take care of someone else. Rather than trying to have all the answers, seek support from the professionals who are here to help you. (Skylark Youth, 2018) I think this is very important to remember because fighting a battle alone may not always be the best option for someone and as the quote says, you have to take care of yourself so as not to take care of your brother or friend like GOOD. They also have a handy place where they give you options if your friend is the one who needs assistance, they focus a lot on teenagers and how they can help each other better themselves. They welcome friends of the person who needs help to go to the doctor's office and if it is urgent to call 911, they also encourage the friend to talk to an adult they trust, as well as help children make calls and provide them with connections where they can read about the help that can be requested if it is not urgent. Additionally, in addition to the walk-in clinic, other counseling programs and services offered are counseling services that are accessed by making an appointment, day treatments, and programs that customize services to best meet the needs of the student they serve in a program high-level day school to help them learn in small, focused classes with up to six to eight students per TDSB teacher. (Skylark Youth, 2018), drug education where they educate students about the use of drugs and how they can drastically affect their lives through workshops where they use music, art and literature to create a safe space (Skylark Youth, 2018) , LaunchPad Maple Leaf Sports and entertainment (MLSE), a counseling service that provides children not only with mental health education, but helps them learn about living a healthy lifestyle, the residential program involves youth living in a home referred by a social worker, therapist or healthcare professional through CARS for young people who need a place to live, Wraparound is an innovative approach that mobilizes the community to help children, young people and families with complex needs, find solutions that will improve the quality of their lives (Skylark Youth, 2018) and Youth Outreach Worker (YOW), which is part of a multi-agency outreach initiative for marginalized youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and special populations.