The executive director of Choices for Youth says work is underway to ensure continuation of their important programs.

Jen Crowe met with federal minister Marci Ien and Premier Andrew Furey on Thursday to discuss the organization’s funding shortfall, and she’s encouraged by recognition from both the provincial and federal governments of the important the work they do.

Choices for Youth went public last week after failing to achieve the $20 million in federal funding they had applied for over a four-year period. Instead they received $4 million dollars for the same time frame, forcing them to initiate layoffs and cuts to programming.

As an alternative, the organization tried to secure that $4 million up-front to keep their programs going.

Crowe says those discussions are underway.

“We are in the negotiation process with Service Canada right now around an agreement, and our hope certainly is that we land on that one-year agreement,” she said.