The
Non Residential Attendance Centre is funded by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services – Youth Justice Division. This program is a non-custodial sentencing option as identified by the Youth Criminal Justice Act focusing on youth who have come into conflict with the law who are 12-17 years of age at the time of the offence. Services are provided in Windsor and surrounding County areas. A youth may be referred through an order from youth court, a probation order or as a condition on an already existing probation order. Youth participate in a selected program or combination of programs based on a holistic assessment of the social, emotional, mental, behavioural and environmental needs or risks to improve functioning. The interventions available are individualized to the unique needs of the youth.
Learn more about the variety of therapeutic program interventions:
- What Got Me Here
- Relationships and Communication
- Anger Management
- Youth Domestic Violence
- Trauma Program
- Addiction Support
- Art Therapy
- Girls Group
- Pro-Social Skills
- Life Skills
- Job Readiness
- Literacy & Tutoring
- Victim Awareness
- Embracing Differences
- Stand Strong Bullying Prevention
- Digital Wellness
- Volunteer Program
Kristin Durham
Co-Ordinator of Attendance Centre and Program Evaluation
Non-Residential Attendance Centre,
(519) 971-0973 ext. 122
kdurham@newbe.ca
The What Got Me Here program helps participants explore the consequences of past decisions while learning skills for controlling anger and handling negative peer pressure. It will also allow participants to gain and understand how to work with authority figures and strengthening family ties.
The Healthy Relationships Program educates youth participants on the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships, how to cope with and understand codependent and problematic relationships and how to evaluate their own personal relationships. The program objective is to help youth understand, cope and improve problem relationships by providing them the tools to clarify relationships based on values and exploration of impacts. Participants learn to address the underlying issues that contribute to the breakdown of their relationships and some techniques to help them improve and repair these relationships while expressing themselves in healthy ways.
This program is a cogntive behavioural based program aimed at teaching new ways of understanding anger to faciliate more healthy responses to emotions. The objective of the program is to help youth deal with anger by learning about various emotions and methods/strategies to cope and practice healthy responses to anger.
The domestic violence program is an educational based program which addresses the unique needs of male and female youth ages 12-18 that are displaying and/or experiencing violence in their relationships. The objective of the youth domestic violence program is to deliver youth focused information specific to teen relationships and current issues; to educate about the origins of abusive behaviour; to change attitudes that may condone violence; to build relationship skills and increase social competence. The Youth domestic violence program provides a safe environment in which participants can discuss and explore their relationships, learn skills to contribute positively to relationships and promote nonviolence.
The trauma program is a therapeutic psycho-educational based program that is individualized to address the unique needs of male and female youth ages 12-18 who have experienced the psychological effects of any trauma. The program incorporates a combination of treatment modalities and provides a safe environment in which youth participants can discuss and explore individual trauma with the goal of normalizing their response to the trauma and obtaining coping strategies to contribute positively to recovery from the after-effects of trauma.
Upon intake, a Certified Chemical Dependency Counsellor completes a comprehensive clinical assessment using evidence-based tools allowing for recommendations. Treatment needs and options will be discussed with the client and their family to develop a treatment plan and goals. Program material will then be covered ensuring that the program is tailored to the client's individual needs based on a harm reduction framework. Includes substances, internet, gaming, phone, etc.
Is offered as a mental health promotion service in a clinical setting. It provides a creative forum for the expression of life challenges and triumphs. Selection of materials and interventions are interwoven with therapeutic elements aimed at enhancing the physical, mental and social-emotional wellbeing of youth.
Pro-Social Skills is a program offered to youth to enhance interpersonal skills and competencies. The program objective is to provide applied information and practice of social skills and competencies to enhance the outcomes in their interactions and environments. Through providing opportunities to learn, practice and apply skills through activities, games and role plays youth are supported in social situations. This program covers core skills areas and is also used in lieu or post anger management program. The skill program operates as an open ended program, covering 8 weeks and includes: Beginning Social Skills, Advanced Social Skills, Dealing with Feelings, Alternatives to Aggression, Dealing with Stress, and Planning Skills. There is flexible to individualize specific skills to meet the unique needs or targeted areas of youth participants.
Life Management Skills is a program consisting of eight or more sessions which identify key skill areas that youth will benefit most based on goals and life circumstances. The program objective is assist youth gaining skills relative to living and becoming independent. The topic areas could include activities of daily living such as identification, shopping, laundry, housing, and financial literacy. Other areas of focus may include sexual health, medical needs and making community connections or resources. A specific SMART Board program is available for female youth.
The Job Readiness Program develops basic and advanced employment skills. All youth will benefit from a coordinated approach, providing long-term support and services that will make finding and keeping a job easier. Youth Workers provide assistance by assessing needs and developing an employment action plan with the youth. This plan will meet their individual employment needs and career goals, while providing support for the youth to follow through with their plan. This may include job search, resume building and interview preparation and ongoing support once employment has been obtained.
The Literacy and Tutoring program provides educational support to youth as they work towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Through the collaborative process, Staff work to encourage and support positive attitudes and orientations towards academics. This is also reinforced in their study habits and behaviour.
Victim Awareness
This program helps participants consider the idea of taking personal responsibility for their criminal behaviour. They look at the ripple effect of their behaviour on themselves, their families, their victims, their victims' families and their communities and consider ways to make amends for the harm they caused.
Embracing Differences
Embracing Differences is a 4-part video series of a community collaboration of agencies and youth discussing experiences of racism and discrimination. This interactive program will challenge negative thinking and empower youth to embrace and advocate for people of all different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. There is a heavy focus on celebrating diversity and a call to action for change and understanding the importance of allyship.
Stand Strong Bullying Prevention
This program is designed to develop an understanding of the elements of bullying and the different types (ex. cyberbullying, physical, verbal, social bullying). Youth will learn the seriousness of their behaviors, develop problem-solving strategies to reduce these behaviors, as well as develop conflict resolution skills. The individualized program design will allow youth to develop conflict resolution skills, learn about the negative effects of being a by-stander, and skills to stand up for others. The Stand Strong program will also educate youth on diversity, inclusivity and discuss hate crimes.
Digital Wellness
This program will provide youth with knowledge of the online world and how to navigate it safely while using it in a positive way. The program objective is to educate youth about safe social media and the dangers that exist, having an online presence, digital footprint, and the effect social media can have on one’s mental health.
Volunteer Program
The volunteer program is offered to provide participants the opportunity to earn volunteer hours through an education-based program that includes a variety of topics including leadership, spreading kindness, professionalism, learning about the community, etc. Staff will provide a one-hour educational session followed by an activity that aligns with the education provided. The client can earn up two volunteer hours for each session completed with twenty different topics available.
Youth Mental Health Court Worker
The Youth Mental Health Court Worker supports youth ages 12-17 years to provide programs and services that address the issues and supports of young persons with mental health and/or behavioural needs who are in the youth justice system. The program serves youth under the jurisdiction of the Youth Justice Court and aims to reduce barriers to youth accessing necessary mental health and ancillary services. The Youth Mental Health Court Worker will help diver youth with mental health needs out of the formal just system as appropriate. The program started at New Beginnings in 2022 and is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services-Youth Justice Division.
