Program structure
TYPICAL PROGRAM CONTENT
School Work
Students who are behind in their studies when they return to school risk experiencing an accumulation of failures. The youth workers ensure continuity in a suspended student’s education.
Group Workshops
Workshops provide a framework in which the students can think about their situation, and a setting conducive to positive peer influence. While each workshop focuses on a different theme, they are all designed to meet the needs of the students.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
- Outings to vocational schools.
- Outings to social integration organizations.
- Guidance services based on students’ needs.
ESSENTIAL PROGRAM FEATURES
Neutral Ground. The Alternative Suspension program is always offered away from the school in order to completely remove the student from his/her usual environment.
Personalized Approach. The small group formula allows youth workers not only to build a significant relationship with each student, but also to deal directly with the causes of their suspension.
Balanced Assistance. Alternating between individual sessions and group workshops is a highly effective approach
Communication Channels. Regular communication with the school and the parents allows all parties concerned to be involved in the process as a way to optimize the program’s impact.
Accompanied Return to School. A program youth worker provides accompaniment when a student returns to school and reports on the results of the student’s participation.
Three-Day Minimum. Participants must attend the program for a minimum of three days so that a relationship of trust can be developed
Follow-up. Following the program, the youth worker will conduct individual follow-up with the participants to assess their progress and remind them of the commitments they made at their reintegration meeting with the school.
All these features are essential to the program’s success and the implementation of an effective program by our future partners.
The importance of the program location, according to a vice-principal: “The program helps stabilize the student’s behaviour. It takes the students away from their friends, their social circle, and helps them gain insight into their situation. It’s a time out for the student in a setting away from the school, which gives the student an entirely new perspective – an outside opinion. Having to leave the school environment has a major impact on their behaviour.”
According to a participating student “We are less bothered by friends and the school staff; the atmosphere is easier going, quieter…. it helps me relax. I am away from the places where I have problems. It’s a change of scene; it’s more interesting and there’s more freedom to say what you think The other students and my friends don’t know what I’m doing, and it’s good to meet new people and have new experiences.”
The relationship with the youth worker, according to an educational psychologist: “A program youth worker can have access to personal information that the school does not possess. The youth worker has the time to invest in the relationship, which provides a safe space for students to start trusting and to open up. The quality of the relationship that develops with the youth worker is obvious.”
