Attendance Centre
Why the Attendance Centre Works
The staff of the JHSoN Non-Residential Attendance Centre (NRAC) create a safe environment for youth to explore alternative behaviours. Staff role-model pro-social behaviours when interacting with the youth and their peers. The role-modeling behaviour forms the framework for building respectful, trusting relationships.
The NRAC runs a Cognitive Behavioural service delivery model that focuses on the perceptions and thoughts of youth, and how those thoughts translate into negative behaviour in the community.
The supportive staff relationships with the youth, linked with the role-modeling and cognitive behavioural approach to programs and casual interactions creates a positive environment for change for all of the youth attending the NRAC.
Purpose of the Program
The Non-Residential Attendance Centre will focus on the rehabilitation of youth between the ages of 12 & 17, and their reintegration back into the community. The JHSoN intends to empower the youth enrolled in the Attendance Centre to become positive contributors to the Niagara Region.
The Attendance Centre will operate from two primary sites, located in the JHSoN offices in St.Catharines and Welland. The program has been designated to be portable with the availability and flexibility to utilize any of our other sites situated throughout the Niagara Peninsula as needed.
Program Goals
- Provide effective, youth focused programming on prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration.
- Provide community programming that addresses the individual needs of youth targeting specific criminogenic factors using a cognitive-behavioral approach.
- Provide quality programming that meets the needs of the client, not based on their chronological age, but their development stage and identified criminogenic factors that will hold the youth accountable in a timely, appropriate and restorative fashion
- Focus on keeping the Attendance Centre responsive enough to service specific individual needs as well as support positive group dynamics
- Reduce risk levels to re-offend
- Change anti-social attitudes
- Reduce anti-social peer associations
- Improve problem solving skills, educational performance, & job search abilities.
- Promote positive family interactions through support and counseling.
- Address chemical dependencies
- Encourage and facilitate family and community resource networking to engage, plan and support the youth in the Niagara community.
The Non-Residential Attendance Centre intends to provide flexible programming tailored to the unique needs of each youth. Individual and group instruction is offered dependant on the cognitive, developmental level of the youth. Age and Gender are also taken into account when programs are being scheduled
Referral Process
A youth may be referred through an order from youth court, a probation order, or a condition on an existing probation order. An Attendance counselor will be assigned to each youth to ensure the implementation of the case management plan.
Cognitive Programs
Cognitive Skills – designed to assist young people learn to make responsible choices by developing effective strategies for problem solving, decision making and goal setting.
Anger Management – will provide an understanding of anger as an emotion and teach effective anger management techniques.
Life Skills – to develop practical experience and resources to manage day-to-day life situations.
Anti-Criminogenic Thinking – designed to increase awareness of different forums and levels of violence, and to encourage youth to consider how violence affects everyone in the community.
Substance Abuse – provides education and accurate information to motivate youths towards self-evaluation and promote change.
Girls Group – provides information and guidance for young women related to the many challenges they may encounter in life.
Victim Awareness – provides individuals with an understanding that every type of criminal activity has a subsequent impact on all involved.
Guys Group – examines what it means to be a man in today’s society by reviewing the issues that can rise through relationships, family, friends and gangs.
Female Bullying – provides young women with the opportunity to understand the impact of bullying on all who are involved.
In Addition to the cognitive based programs, we will provide:
Literacy and Tutoring – to meet the individual needs of the youth through educational activities and tutoring. Our sites have a dedicated study area complimented by computer labs, with access to Internet and printers.
Employment – links the youth with a Job Gym Employment Counsellor to assist them with all facets of effective job searching.
Healthy Eating – recognizing the direct relationship between good nutrition and cognitive performance, we will provide a light nutritious meal each evening of operation. The preparation of the meal with the youth will provide useful life skill opportunity.
The JHSoN has established many effective partnerships and successfully collaborated with the courts, police, probation, institutions, schools, different levels of government, as well as many other community agencies.
Locations:
210 King Street
St. Catharines , Ontario, L2R 3J9
Tel: (905) 682-2657 Ext.263
Fax: (905) 346-1215
www.jhs-niagara.ca
225 East Main Street
Welland, Ontario, L3B 3W7
Tel: (905) 732-7655
Fax: (905) 732-2912
Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday:
12 noon – 8 p.m.
The Attendance Centre will provide transportation for program participants.
Funded by Ministry of Children and Youth Services
