The Beothuk word for “where you go,” Becket was created in response to a simple but urgent truth: too many young people in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling to access the support they need, when they need it most.

Community-based engagement is what got us here. We spoke to over 1,000 youth and over 300 service providers in 32 communities throughout the province — and many of the key learnings emerged in the “We Are Ready” report published by Choices for Youth in December 2017.

Following these six years of consultation and engagement with steering committees across NL, in 2024, Choices for Youth stepped forward as the backbone organization to lead the creation of a province-wide Integrated Youth Services (IYS) network alongside communities across the province. The project was developed in close partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services and a coalition of generous national and provincial funders.

That same year, a public call for proposals was launched — inviting communities across the province to imagine what local IYS could look like. In 2025, we announced one new site (and the existing Integrated Youth Services site in St. John’s) would become the official Becket hubs:

• Becket Corner Brook (operated by Vine Place Community Centre)
• Becket St. John’s (operated by Choices for Youth)

Each of these hubs will be operated by an established community organization acting as the local “lead agency,” following Becket’s shared standards of care while tailoring services to reflect local needs.

These welcoming, youth-friendly spaces will offer integrated access to mental health care, housing support, career services, education programs, peer connection, and more. They will function as one central intake point where youth can get access to the supports they need and receive guidance on how to navigate them.