Program Model Guide and Operations Manual
Youth at risk of homelessness often show early warning signs long before a crisis. The Reconnect program model equips schools and communities to identify those signals early and intervene with the right support before a young person loses their housing.
Reconnect is a flexible, evidence-informed early intervention model that embeds trained youth workers in schools to identify risk early, strengthen family and natural supports, and keep students connected to education and community. These resources give service providers, schools, and funders the tools to design, implement, and sustain the model in any community.
Curious about how Reconnect works?
Why Reconnect?
Schools are a vital but underused site for preventing youth homelessness. Reconnect brings community expertise into schools so staff can focus on teaching while youth get tailored, timely supports that stop crises before they start.
“Virtually every young person who becomes homeless was once in school. Moreover, there was likely an adult in their life—a teacher, a counselor, a coach—who knew something was wrong, but did not know what to do.” – Stephen Gaetz, President and CEO, Canadian Observatory on Homelessness
Why Prevention Matters
Understanding the importance of programs like Reconnect starts with recognizing the reality of youth homelessness in Canada. Each year, over 35,000 young people aged 13-24 experience homelessness. Addressing this issue means acknowledging that the causes and solutions for youth homelessness differ from those for adults. Download our backgrounder to learn more about why youth homelessness prevention matters.
What’s in these resources
Reconnect Program Model Guide
- Conceptual framing, core principles, and evidence base for school-based prevention.
- Descriptions of the Reconnect model and how it has been adapted to the Canadian context
- Practical guidance on the program’s seven key features (early intervention, school engagement, family & natural supports, place-based work, housing stabilization, stigma reduction, cross-system coordination).
Reconnect Operations Manual
- Implementation guidance: readiness, partnership development, staffing models, standards of practice, and supervision.
- Operational tools: referral pathways, intake and triage workflows, caseload guidance, barrier-removal process, and transition/discharge planning.
- Templates, checklists, and fidelity tools to support quality and consistent delivery.
- Case studies from Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, Trellis Society, and Choices for Youth.
- Guidance on cultural and contextual adaptation, including Indigenous-led program considerations.
Who this is for
These resources were written for practitioners and leaders who want to implement or strengthen school-based youth homelessness prevention:
- Community organizations and program managers
- Frontline youth workers and program supervisors
- School administrators and guidance teams
- Funders, policymakers and planners
- Indigenous, cultural-specific, and identity-focused organizations seeking
- contextual adaptation
“Students and families come to schools for help. This program brings that help into our building and removes the expectation on teaching staff to know all the answers.” —Trellis Society, Reconnect school partner
Want to bring Reconnect to your community?
Download our Conversation Starters Tip Sheet to spark a conversation in your community or organization about designing and delivering Reconnect.
For hands-on training and technical support, reach out to A Way Home Canada to learn more.
This research was funded by Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, co-led by A Way Home Canada and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. Additional funding from Porticus made community-based learning possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are these resources available in French?
Are these resources adaptable to small or rural communities?
Yes. Reconnect is intentionally flexible. The program model guide and operations manual offer adaptation guidance for different geographies, including remote communities and Indigenous-led variations. However, all Reconnect programs should uphold the core principles for youth homelessness prevention.
Can Reconnect support youth under 16?
Reconnect specifically targets younger youth (as young as 11) and is designed as an early intervention to prevent crisis and chronic homelessness into adulthood.
Does Reconnect align with other school frameworks?
Yes, Reconnect aligns closely with the Social Determinants of Health, social justice, and Comprehensive School Health frameworks. Download our School Frameworks comparison document to learn more.
Do schools need to fund the program?
Reconnect is delivered by community organizations in partnership with schools. Funding models vary — the manual outlines examples, shared resource approaches, and partnership agreements to support sustainability.
Are there tools for measuring impact?
Yes — the Operations Manual includes data collection templates, fidelity checklists, and evaluation indicators to track outcomes and inform improvement.
How do we ensure cultural safety, especially for Indigenous youth?
The Operations Manual includes a section on Indigenous-led Reconnect and stresses that programs should engage Elders, incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing, and be led by Indigenous organizations where possible.
