Thousands of B.C. youth in care to receive government-funded iPhones
Thousands of youth across B.C. will be eligible to receive an Apple iPhone to provide them with better access to online resources and help keep them connected to friends and family.
The province announced it will be providing nearly 4,000 youth in government care with iPhones over the next two months as it rolls out the Phones4Youth program.
“Youth in care told us they don’t always have access to the essential technology they need to stay connected to school and key people in their lives, like friends, family members or mentors,” said Minister of Children and Family Development Mitzi Dean in a news release Thursday.
Dean added that access to a phone can also support youth in developing their self-esteem and sense of belonging while also enhancing their safety.
“As we continue to slowly emerge from the pandemic, having a phone can help to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation for young people,” said Dean.
The program is a first of its kind in the province and the Telus smartphones will be distributed to every B.C. youth in care aged 13 or older.
“While cellphones provide a sense of safety and security, this program does more than just that. It helps bridge the divide between youth in care and most other teens,” said Taylor Maynard, a member of the provincial director of child welfare's youth advisory council.
“It allows youth in care to experience what most teens enjoy nowadays – texting, FaceTiming and connecting with friends. It provides a semblance of normalcy to these youth whose lives have been so different than most.”
It will be an ongoing program with additional iPhones being provided to any youth in care once they reach the age of eligibility, the province said.
The iPhones will have five gigabytes of data and come with a phone case, screen protector and charger.
“Youth in government care don’t always have access to many of the traditional supports their peers rely on,” said Pat Griffin, executive director of Victoria Youth Empowerment Society.
“Providing this technology will not only help level the playing field, but it gives them a better chance to participate in school, in day-to-day social life that is a central feature of teen development and identity, and in the job market as they get older. This type of support is absolutely necessary, as we increasingly depend on cellphones and apps for sharing information and accessing vital services.”
Youth will also receive support through Telus Wise, which is a free digital literacy program that aims to educate people on how to manage their smartphone in a safe and responsible way.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
A child killer legally changed his name in B.C. The province is trying to stop that from happening again
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
CN Railway suspends service on some networks due to wildfires
Canadian National (CN) Railway suspended service on its network between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in B.C. and north of High Level, Alta., due to wildfires, the company said on Monday.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.
What Michael Cohen said on the stand in Trump hush money case
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.