MEDIA
Alternative to Suspension : Program A Day in the life of a Youth Advisor
Press releases - October 22nd, 2010In the June 2010 edition of Growing Yser, the YMCA of Edmonton’s Community Programs shared information about the new YMCA program called the Alternative to Suspension Program (AS). In the program, YMCA Youth Advisors work with Junior High students at risk of suspension referred from both the Edmonton Catholic and Edmonton Public school systems. For typically five days, youth meet with a YMCA Youth Advisor at the west end Jamie Platz YMCA to focus on the issues which lead to his or her suspension. At the end of the youth’s time in the program, the YMCA Youth Advisor continues to provide follow-up support to the youth, to the family and to the school to aid in the reintegration process.
Below is a true example of a day in the life of an Alternative to Suspension Youth Advisor:
This past month, the Alternative to Suspension Youth Advisor received a phone call from the mother of a former participant, named Felix* (name changed for confidentiality) whom the Youth Advisor had worked with at the end of the following school year. Felix had made some great progress with the program, but because his final days of school were spent with AS, he did not have time to adjust himself back into school before the summer. Felix’s mother contacted the YMCA, with the fears that her son had gotten into using drugs pretty heavily over the summer time, and was no longer acting appropriately at home (He had run away and had been homeless for two and half weeks over the summer) and generally didn’t have any respect for anyone at home. Felix’s mother had received a call informing her that he had skipped the last class, and she was worried that, with his transfer to a new school, he was going to wear out his welcome quickly. The mom wondered if it was possible for the Youth Advisor to meet with Felix to see if perhaps he would open up to the Youth Advisor. Felix and the Youth Advisor had built a solid relationship based on trust and mutual respect when he was in the program for 15 days. His mother hoped the Youth Advisor would be able to aid him in seeking change.
The Youth Advisor began by setting up a meeting with Felix for the following morning where they had a lengthy talk. Felix confided to the Youth Advisor that he had been hanging around with people in their twenties who were regular drug users and he admitted that he tried “smoking pot” at that time. He also said that his home life had gotten pretty volatile over the summer. Felix and the Youth Advisor then spoke about what Felix thought he would need for things to change for him, and a behaviour contract was made. The following day the Youth Advisor met with both Felix and his mother to further develop the contract before all parties signed it.
Several days later, the Youth Advisor checked in with the youth, his school and his mother to see how Felix was doing. The Youth Advisor was very pleased to discover that Felix had been keeping to his behaviour contract in regards to good school attendance and keeping appointments. His mother reports that he has been hanging out with friends from last year that are his own age and his attitude at home as been wonderful.
The change at school has been tremendous. The school stated that Felix no longer had tardiness or unexcused absences being reported and that all of his teachers felt that he is a very respectful student.
The Youth Advisor continues to meet with the Felix at least once a week and has referred him to an additional YMCA Community Support program called Be Your Own Man through the Youth Transition Program where he can work on the issues which were getting in the way of school.
For further information about the Alternative to Suspension Program, please contact Michael Peters, Program Supervisor, by phone at 780-429-9622 or by email at mpeters@edmonton.ymca.ca
Or Andrea Bye, Youth Advisor, by phone at 780-429-9622 or by email at abye@edmonton.ymca.ca
