™

S.A.S.S. Conference 2011

• Overview of the Alternative Suspension program (development process, objectives, curriculum)

• Program impact (target youth, risk and protective factors, outputs and outcomes)

• Questions

AGENDA

15 min.

10 min.

10 min.

Numerous organizations and school boards are trying to address the problem of school

dropout. They offer placement and academic resources to young people who have already dropped out and are ready to undertake new

steps.

Few, however, work on issues that arise before the problem reaches a critical stage, that is, before the youth is too involved in

the events that lead to them dropping out of school. The direct correlation between

repeated suspensions and dropping out of school prompted the founders of Alternative Suspension™ to develop an

intervention structure to address this problem.

INTRODUCTION

PHILOSOPHY

A suspension from school has come to represent a failure for the student, the parents,

and the school. The Alternative Suspension

Program aims to make this time spent away from school

an overall success, for everyone involved.

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

• Strong relationships with schools

• Asset development based approach

• Research based vs. “ Leaps of faith ”

• Clear, attainable and measurable outcomes

• Solid and expanding financial structure

• Continued quality of services• External evaluation

THE PROGRAM

Alternative Suspension is a resource for students who, for different reasons, are

referred by the school they attend.

The goal of this program is to decrease the number of repeated suspensions by offering young people an opportunity to

transform the time they spend away from school into a positive experience all

of which is accomplished through educational workshops, individual interventions and group activities.

TARGET GROUP

Alternative Suspension focuses on adolescents ages 12 to 18

who are experiencing difficulties with their school and social

development either on a recurring or sporadic basis.

These young people often come from difficult socio-economic environments or ethnically

diverse backgrounds, populations that are often at the

centre of the school dropout phenomenon.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

A neutral place: In order to remove the young person from his/her environment, the Alternative Suspension program always takes place outside the school walls.

A minimum of three days: The minimum stay is 3 days so that a confidential relationship can be developed.

A tailored intervention: The small-group method allows for establishing an important tie with the young person, while acting directly on the cause of the suspension.

A balanced intervention: Alternating individual meetings with group workshops allows for an effective intervention.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

A channel of communication: Regular communication with the school and the parents allows for all players to be involved and to maximize the impact of the intervention.

An accompanied return to school: The youth worker accompanies the student when he/she returns to school to present the results of his/her stay in the program.

A follow-up: After their time spent in the program, the youth worker organises individual follow-up meetings with the participants to review their progress and reiterates the commitments made by the students during their reintegration process.

CURRICULUM

• Minimum 3 day participation in a neutral environment outside of the school setting (Y).

• Individual sessions and small group workshops (anger management, reactions towards authority, etc.).

• Homework tutoring and a chance to catch up on school work.

• Daily contact with the student’s parents.

CURRICULUM

• Return to school accompanied by a youth worker (school staff and parents participate in session).

• Individual follow-up meetings (2-3) with the participants after their time spent in the program.

• Follow-up with the school staff and the parents.

• Educational outings to vocational schools

• Referrals to internal (Y) and external resources.

SCHOOL APPROCHES TO SUSPENSIONS

1 - The program is used as a preventative measure prior to a suspension. The students referred to the program do not deserve a suspension but have shown some worrisome signs and the school staff wants to take action before the students get into trouble. The program is seen solely as a preventative measure to help youth; it is not used as a disciplinary measure.

2 - A suspension results in a automatic referral to the program. Alternative Suspension is the main resource used when a student is suspended from school, regardless of the reason. The program basically replaces home suspensions. If there is a spot available at the point of service and the parents are in agreement, the student is normally sent to the program.

Every school has its own vision when it comes to student discipline – and by extension – its approach to suspensions. Five general approaches to suspensions have been noted:

FIVE GENERAL APPROCHES

3 - The program is part of the regular options the school considers and referrals are made on a case by case basis. The school tries to identify the students for whom the program would be useful. The decision to refer a student to the program is normally made in regards to the reason for the suspension or the student’s personal profile (the behaviours and profiles targeted can vary greatly from school to school).

4 - The program is used when other options have failed. Alternative Suspension is used when all other disciplinary measures attempted with the student have been exhausted. The students referred to the program are considered serious cases with a long history of troubled behaviour.

5 - The program is the youth’s last resort. These are the most serious of cases; the situation has become unmanageable by the school. The program is generally taken as a last step prior to transferring the student to another school. Some students are sent to the program while they await transfer.

ALTERNATIVE SUSPENSION IS…

FOR THE SUSPENDED STUDENT

A structured and safe environment provided by qualified youth workers.

An opportunity for the student to reflect on their behaviours and share their

thoughts.

An opportunity to catch up on and receive help with

schoolwork.

One-on-one meetings and group workshops.

FOR THE COMMUNITY / PARENTS

Supervision for students during the suspension.

An approach whose aim is to help the student reintegrate

into school and society.

Additional program workers who intervene with troubled

youth.

A referral service for youth toward other community

resources.

ALTERNATIVE SUSPENSION IS…

FOR THESCHOOLS

An added resource for dealing with troubled youth.

A continuation of the students schooling during the

suspension period.

A service adapted to the needs of the student and the

school.

Support for the reintegration process after the suspension.

FOR THEYMCA

Opportunity to implement a proven research and asset

development based program in their communities.

Opportunity to develop a solid working relationship

with local school boards and schools.

Additional resources to intervene with

youth

RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Here are some risk and protective factors addressed by the program.

Short term:

• Awareness by the student of their problematic behaviours and the root causes.

• Improvement of academic results.

• Expanded network of social support for the participating student (referrals).

• Decreased associations with delinquent peers.

Medium term:

• Decrease in aggressive, impulsive, disruptive and antisocial behaviours.

• Increase in academic and professional aspirations and renewed motivation towards school.

• Decrease in school suspension and completion of school year (less dropouts).

EVALUATION

Alternative Suspension has benefited from an assessment tool

that few programs have the opportunity to take advantage of,

namely a three-year formal assessment process led by experts from the firm CAC International.

The results exceeded expectations, and the assessment process

showed that the methods and principles used in the program

effectively contributed to reducing risk factors associated with

dropping out of school.

EVALUATION

EVALUATION

14 PROGRAM SITES IN QUEBEC

AASSAASS

AASSAASS

AASSAASS

2X AASS

AASS

AASS

AASSQuébec

Montréal

Longueuil

Valleyfield

City of Québec

AASS

Repentigny

Joliette

AASS

Huntington

AASS

Trois-Rivières

PROGRAM SITES NATIONALLY

AASSChilliwack (BC)

AASS

Edmonton 2 sites

(AB)

AASS

Regina (SK)

AASS

Winnipeg (MB)

AASS

Moncton (NB)

AASS

Halifax and

Cape breton (NS)

AASS

St-John’s and

Corner Brook (NL)

Moose Jaw (SK)

Abbotsford(BC)

QUESTIONS

RESOURCES

The YMCA of Regina

(306) 757-9622www.regina.ymca.ca

John BaileyDirector of YMCA Alternative Suspension

jbailey@regina.ymca.ca

Alternative Suspension Program – Regina

www.alternativesuspension.ca

THANK YOU