How Huddle and Winnipeg School Division are working together to reimagine support for students
When students are reckoning with extra challenges like their mental health, asking for help is often just the first hurdle.
Figuring out what to do, where to go, and who to trust can leave young people feeling stuck and alone—without ever getting the help they need.
That’s why Huddle and Winnipeg School Division (WSD) are working together to turn barriers into bridges.
“We know the research continually highlights schools as some of the best places for universal mental health promotion, stigma reduction, and as spaces to link children and youth with appropriate support and resources,” said Jón Olafson, Director of Student Support Services at WSD, Manitoba’s largest school division.
“Through our partnership, we’re connecting students to help beyond the classroom—so they can thrive not only academically, but in all aspects of their lives.”
Four Huddle staff, known as Service Navigation Specialists (SNSs), began working directly out of WSD high schools in late 2022, meeting youth right where they’re at—a key principle of the Integrated Youth Services (IYS) model Huddle is based on.
“Our students are growing up in an incredibly complex world. From mental health challenges to global uncertainties, they’re carrying more than ever before,” says Lorelei Bunkowsky, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services at Winnipeg School Division.
“Supporting their well-being has never been more urgent—and it’s something WSD is deeply committed to every day.”
In just one year, 586 students and 92 families in Winnipeg were supported through this partnership, with 29 schools being positively impacted.
Among those was a student who lost their home and everything they owned in a fire. A Huddle Service Navigator helped them get a new backpack, school supplies, and some clothes, so they could return to school and not fall behind.
Another student was linked to a counsellor at Huddle. He was pleased he could also see a nurse practitioner in the same space, without needing an appointment or referral.
“It would be wonderful to have more places like Huddle in our community,” his mom shared.
The right support—right where youth are
At its heart, the SNS model is all about connection.
Whether they’re organizing back-to-school campaigns around coping with stress and anxiety, or simply eating in the cafeteria alongside students, Huddle Service Navigators are a warm and friendly presence—ready to listen without judgment.
From there, SNSs connect students to nearby support in the community, like Huddle youth hubs—a front door to the full continuum of mental health, substance use, and overall wellness services for youth ages 12-29.
“At Huddle, youth are treated as whole people,” shared Alysha Oliver, Huddle’s Systems Transformation and Strategy Lead. “They can find a wide range of services—from mental health or substance use counselling, to primary care, to Indigenous wellness—all under one roof.”
Working together
This innovative, made-in-Manitoba model is gaining attention on a global scale.
Recently, Huddle and WSD co-presented at the 7th International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH) Conference in Vancouver, which brought together 944 delegates from 48 countries—all committed to improving youth mental health worldwide.
“No one geographic area has all the answers, and we want to be open to all possibilities,” shared Barbara Dooley, President of IAYMH, at the opening session—setting the tone by emphasizing the need for collective solutions.
And that’s the true magic behind the Huddle x WSD partnership.
“We co-designed the framework together,” said Laura Horodecki, Huddle’s Evaluation and Research Lead, at an IAYMH workshop. “Everything was entirely collaborative.”
The session included the debut screening of a new video, featuring students who received SNS support in navigating the confusing maze of systems and services.
“Through the help of the Huddle Service Navigator at my school,” said a student who moved to Winnipeg from Nigeria last summer, “I was able to settle down and get connected to great services for newcomers—and I found a good friend.”
Growing the model, scaling the impact
What began as a pilot project in Winnipeg is quickly expanding to impact more youth, more schools, and more communities around Manitoba.
With a recent $3.5 million investment from the federal Youth Mental Health Fund, Huddle Service Navigators will continue supporting Winnipeg students—and more will be embedded in schools in Brandon, Selkirk, northern Manitoba, and rural/southern Manitoba over the next few years.
“This is more than a Winnipeg success story,” explained Olafson.
“It’s a blueprint for how different sectors can work together to put young people at the centre and meaningfully support them in a way that’s accessible, personalized, and truly impactful.”
