The history of TEEN TOUCH is fascinating. The roots of TEEN TOUCH lie in the youth justice system—at the Manitoba Youth Centre. Staff at the Centre were caring people who were trusted by the kids to help them find answers to their problems. In fact, the last words many kids heard on discharge were “keep in touch.” And they did—so much so that staff got a growing number of calls evenings and weekends.
Finally, something happened that convinced some staff at the Centre to take action and establish TEEN TOUCH.
A 13-year-old girl stole a necklace from a department store deliberately to get caught and taken to the Youth Centre. When asked why she had committed the theft, she said that she wanted to be taken to the Centre because she would be safe there and knew there were people she could talk to.
That, coupled with the growing number of calls from youth looking for answers and because there was no telephone helpline for kids, convinced our founders to establish TEEN TOUCH.
The TEEN TOUCH telephone Helplline opened in February, 1983. It had no funding. Volunteers staffed the Helpline, which for the first few years operated out of a volunteer’s living room.
Founders
- John Bock was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Corrections for the Province of Manitoba.
- Jim Bakken was the Superintendent at the Manitoba Youth Centre.
- Fr. Bernie Pinet was Chaplain at the Youth Centre.
- Don & Louise Newans operated the first open-custody halfway house for youth in the Province.
