Mia Golden usually starts each day with a specific plan.

Golden is a youth counsellor with Pacific Centre Family Services Association in Langford, working with the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST), which she coordinates with Victoria Police Const. Gord Magee.

Her day would ideally focus on working her way through a list of youth who Golden and Magee would track down and visit - offering support and counselling services. But that plan often goes out of the window early in the day.

B次元官网网址淭hen we have to triage every morning as emergencies happen and we choose which to prioritize,B次元官网网址� said Golden.

Golden B次元官网网址� who also serves as the coordinator for the Crime Exploitation and Exploitation Diversion (CRED) B次元官网网址� is regularly helping around 200 youth across southern Vancouver Island.

That number, however, could easily double if there more staff were available. Golden said her team (which includes her and Magee) could triple or quadruple in size and theyB次元官网网址檇 still be run off their feet.

But instead of growing, the team may soon shrink with the funding for GoldenB次元官网网址檚 position set to run out on March 31 and the Pacific Centre still looking for an alternative source of funding, according to Liz Nelson, executive director at the association.

The money originally came from the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund, initially for a three-year term, although that was extended for a fourth year. A number of municipalities have written letters calling on the provincial government to provide stable funding for the program, including Sooke and Metchosin. But so far the money hasnB次元官网网址檛 been found.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just kind of in denial about it, the impact it to families losing the position would have, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to think about it,B次元官网网址� Golden said.

This comes as GoldenB次元官网网址檚 team has never been busier. A myriad of causes is fuelling a surge in the exploitation of kids, with the opioid epidemic, sexual predators grooming children online and a spike in gang recruitment leading to a rise in the number of kids being impacted.

Younger kids are experimenting with drugs and coming into harmB次元官网网址檚 way via social media B次元官网网址� which makes it far easier for predators to lure and target youth.

During a City of Colwood council meeting on Jan. 23, West Shore RCMP Supt. Todd Preston said the detachment had seen a marked increase in the number of child pornography incidents. Part of the impetus behind the proposed new $82-million West Shore detachment building was to make room for specialized staff to tackle the issue.

The ubiquity of mobile phones has also led to an increase in sexual violence, with easy access to pornography leading to harmful behaviours.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had cases where youth will connect with social media, meet someone for the first time and have sex in the back of the car, and then the person tells them punching them in the face is part of the sexual act for them. This isnB次元官网网址檛 a one-off.B次元官网网址�

A lot of the topics Golden discusses in schools is the importance of healthy relationships and consent, and the impacts of watching pornography at a young age.

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Drugs and social media also led to a spike in violent incidents in downtown Victoria in the spring of 2022. VicPD frequently highlighted the number of youth heading downtown to party, which often led to using hard drugs and alcohol, according to Golden. This also led to random violence, mischief and assaults, according to Magee. Social media often connects these kids, who sometimes donB次元官网网址檛 know each other, but make plans to meet, Golden said in a previous interview with Black Press Media.

B次元官网网址淒rugs and alcohol are involved, including access to harder drugs,B次元官网网址� Golden said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e seeing harder drugs now being considered as a party drug.B次元官网网址�

Golden has been working in the field since 2014 and, in that short time, sheB次元官网网址檚 seen a drastic shift in the age of youths being impacted.

B次元官网网址淚t used to be we were just in the high schools, now weB次元官网网址檙e going to the middle and elementary schools,B次元官网网址� Golden said.

Though sheB次元官网网址檚 trying to not to think about it, Golden said there could be wide-ranging impacts of her position not continuing to be funded.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always to fund with the future in mind but thatB次元官网网址檚 really whatB次元官网网址檚 needed,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f youth and families donB次元官网网址檛 get help, they often end up either in the mental health system or the justice system.B次元官网网址�

~ with files from Rick Stiebel.

READ MORE: UPDATE: Youth suspects identified after West Shore RCMP seek tips in assault call

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