It’s been 10 years since numerous social service providers in Red Deer decided to work collaboratively to help the city’s high-risk youth.

They created the Red Deer High Risk Youth Coalition, whose members include various agencies that work with young people.

Just a few of them include: Youth HQ, Vantage Community Services, Unlimited Potential Community Services, Heritage Family Services, and the 49th Street Youth Shelter.

On Wednesday, they held a celebration at Rotary Picnic Park.

Theresa O’Hara, a youth worker at the 49th Street Shelter, said one of their crowning achievements over the past decade has been “multidisciplinary case consultation.”

“If a family or youth comes forward or any other youth-serving agency, that is having barriers or frustrations of what to do with a young person, as a group we sit together and discuss it, in confidentiality of course. Together we’ll brainstorm ideas of which direction they can take,” said O’Hara.

Another has been a handbook for young people that includes all the services that they can access.

During the celebration, a number of former high-risk youth shared their stories for a video produced by Cache Productions.

Tayler Murphy, 19, said he once stayed at the youth shelter. He was also battling addiction at 17 years old.

He’s accessed a variety of services, from a social worker, from the food bank and voluntary detox through PChAd (Protection of Children Abusing Drugs).

“The people who work with the youth of Red Deer have vastly increased my quality of life and not only that, have kept me alive,” Murphy said.

“There’s a huge problem of addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, many different issues that Red Deer youth and the surrounding area face, that I just really hope to bring to light.”

Eighteen-year-old Cheyanne Thatcher also used to stay at the shelter and in group homes. Like Murphy, she’s been through detox.

“Now I’ve got my own place thanks to the supports, with Theresa at 49th Street Youth Shelter, McMan Services, Children’s Services at the Provincial Building,” Thatcher said.

“All the addictions services have helped me and I’m doing great now.”