At Panache Haven, we believe that healing and empowerment begin when a young person feels fully seen, accepted, and celebrated—especially in their identity. For many youth in care, especially those from racialized, Indigenous, immigrant, or 2SLGBTQ+ backgrounds, their sense of self has been ignored or erased by the systems meant to protect them.

That’s why we integrate culturally responsive, identity-affirming care at every level of our program.

This includes:

• Celebrating cultural traditions and heritage events
• Providing foods and music reflective of youth backgrounds
• Offering safe spaces for gender identity expression and pronoun respect
• Ensuring representation in staff, mentors, and visuals
• Inviting cultural elders, advocates, and leaders for workshops and discussions
• Providing materials in multiple languages when needed

We also support youth in reconnecting with ancestral roots, spiritual practices, and community networks that may have been disrupted by placement or trauma. Youth are not just encouraged to be who they are—they are taught that who they are is powerful, valuable, and sacred.