Thank you so much.
Take a Hike operates in partnership with public schools, and public schools have a very unique and interesting view into the lives of the youth they serve. What we find is that schools are full of caring adults who are really looking out for the mental health of young women and girls and all the youth they serve.
What I'm seeing in Ontario, as well as here in B.C. and also in my conversations with folks in the territories, is that they are building systems to be able to ensure that the youth are getting this care. They're able to identify them, but what the kids are saying is that they want to have the help available in school. That's where a program like Take a Hike is so important for the youth, because we're able to offer them a year's worth of a caring and safe environment. They're there all day, every day. They're not able to fall between the cracks, because we know who the kids are and we're able to follow up with them.
I'd encourage the committee to really think about how we can partner with school districts in providing this support. They're the ones who know the kids better. They don't know them as well as their parents do, but they're the ones who know them the best in the community.