School is only part of settling in
Youth services: find your people, your voice and your next step
Being new can mean learning school routines, making friends and helping your family navigate unfamiliar systems—all at once. Support should include what matters to you, not just what adults think you need.
Reviewed 7 September 2026 · Durham Region, Ontario
If school feels confusing, ask for a named person
Write down the part that is hardest: understanding assignments, choosing courses, making up missed learning, communicating with teachers or dealing with bullying. Ask the school which staff member can help and how to arrange a meeting. If a parent needs language support, request it rather than assuming a young person should interpret every conversation.
Community Development Council Durham is a directory starting point for newcomer youth and school-related settlement connections. Explain your age, community and whether the issue is at school or outside it. Ask which program is accepting participants and whether a school referral is needed. Our school guide can help families organize the broader registration conversation.
Build a connection that is not another test
A group does not have to advance your career to be worthwhile. Look for an activity you would actually enjoy: a youth gathering, volunteering, recreation or a language-practice opportunity. Ask the organizer about ages, cost, location and whether you can attend a first session before committing.
The Ajax Welcome Centre lists newcomer youth services. Use the listing to ask for current options, rather than assuming an old event notice is still running. Tell the worker if transport, equipment or family responsibilities make attendance difficult. Ask what is possible before ruling yourself out.
For work or study plans, break the decision down
Separate an immediate goal, such as a part-time job, from a longer-term goal, such as college or a profession. Gather questions about applications, references, costs and training. If you are not sure whether your immigration status permits a particular kind of work, use an authorized adviser rather than guessing from another student’s experience.
A useful request is: “Can someone help me compare my options and choose one next action?” Use our employment guide for job-search planning and language-learning guide if confidence with English or French is a barrier.
You can ask for emotional support, too
Kids Help Phone offers support for young people. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868; its site explains counselling and crisis-support options. For immediate danger, call 911. You do not need to wait until a problem feels “serious enough” to start a conversation.
Before sharing something sensitive with a program, ask how confidentiality works and when a parent or another service might need to be involved. If you are helping a young person, let them describe what they want from support. Offer help arranging the contact without turning the appointment into a report about them.
Put this guide into action
Relevant contacts in our directory
Community Development Council Durham
Ask about newcomer youth and school-settlement connections.
info@cdcd.orgAjax Welcome Centre
Ask about current youth programs, age ranges and how to join.
awc@welcomecentre.caPublic business emails are for routine enquiries, not emergency assistance. Confirm intake, eligibility and fees with the provider.
Sources and further help
This independent guide helps you find services; it does not replace professional advice or an individual eligibility assessment. Report a correction.