It is with a great deal of prayer, thought and counsel that we have come to a difficult decision. Due to the resignation of key staff members including several Youth Care Workers over the past two months we have chosen to pause our programming at Rock Solid Refuge over the summer with the hope and intent to reopen our doors to students in the fall. This marks the first time since we began year-round programming in May of 2010 that we have had to make such a decision.

Having insufficient Youth Care Workers is problematic for two primary reasons: safety and intentionality.

We’re not a holding facility, we’re a discipleship program. The young people we work with need a lot of help. It is not enough to manage and correct behaviour, the Youth Care Workers also pour into the lives of the students and build lasting, meaningful relationships. If we cannot disciple these young men, their time here will not be accomplishing the core tenants of why Rock Solid Refuge exists.

During the summer we will continue to seek out and train Youth Care Workers and prepare them to work with troubled teens. Even as we begin this process of rebuilding, we will be continuing to do the following:

1. Helping and counselling the families of our students as they reintegrate over the summer
2. Setting up the next staff group for success
3. Creating content to help families who are not at Rock Solid Refuge

We appreciate your prayers and support during this time, especially prayers for our students who are reintegrating back into their families much earlier than expected. Please also pray that this would be a season where God brings the staff needed and also strengthens the foundations of RSR to fulfill our purpose even more.

“The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38, NIV)

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and if you or someone you know is interested in working with troubled teens, please check out our page on becoming a Youth Care Worker for Rock Solid Refuge

Dallas Block
Executive Director