Clients are referred to Bernhardt House from four main sources:

• The Sopinka Court House in Hamilton;
• Referrals from other direct intake detention facilitys in our region, i.e.Brantford or Niagara courts
• Overflow from other regions
• Youth in transition from a Secure Custody disposition to an Open Custody disposition.

Responsibilities of being the Direct Intake Facility:

All Young Persons that have been charged with a criminal offence, have the right to a bail hearing within twenty-four hours. If the young person does not get released on bail, he or she is then remanded in Detention. At this point, the officials at Sopinka Court House contact Bernhardt House and provide the staff with the necessary information to classify the young person's level of detention and appropriate placement There are two levels of detention: Open Detention and Secure Detention. Under the Youth Justice Services Manual, it is expected that the young persons be placed in Secure Detention only if they meet certain criteria, or if there is approval from the Provincial Director. A young person's level of detention is determined by four main criteria: the severity of the young person's current charge; prior convictions within the past 12 months; any failures to appear for court; and any previous escapes from custody. If the young person meets the criteria for secure detention, Bernhardt House will contact Sopinka Court House and Arrell Youth Centre with the necessary information to coordinate the placement for the young person. If the young person does not meet secure criteria, they are then determined appropriate for Open Detention. Staff will contact Sopinka Court House and organize transportation of the young person to Bernhardt House. Staff at Bernhardt House determine what placement is most suitable for the young person's needs.

Bernhardt House is also the direct intake site for the placement of female young persons who obtain an Open Custody disposition (males and females 12-15). Similar to the detention process, Bernhardt House receives a call from the Sopinka Court House with the information that a young person received an open custody disposition. The young person is transported to Bernhardt House by Court Constables. The decision as to where the youth will be placed is made in consultation with the Ministry's Open Custody Placement Coordinator.

Intake Process:

During the intake process, staff fill out several forms and questionnaires that are designed to provide the Staff team with as much relevant information about the young person as possible. Staff will phone the guardians of the young person and, where necessary, staff will call the Lawyer, Probation, and CAS to gain any further information about the young person.

It is required by legislation that the young person is informed of the following:

• their rights as a young person in custody and their rights as a guardian;
• the internal grievance procedure, the role of the Ombudsman, and the Child Advocacy office;
• the behavioural expectations and general house rules;
• the fire escape procedures and a house tour;
• a general overview of the daily structured activities;

Once the paper work of the intake process is complete, the young person is encouraged to have a shower and is given a clean change of clothes. The youth is also encouraged to call their parent(s)/guardian(s). The young person may assimilate with the resident group after the intake process is completed, given there are no behavioural concerns or escape risks.

Programming.

Bernhardt House has a Section 23 classroom on site that is administered by a teacher from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. The classroom is the main focus of daily programming. Other programs offered to the clients outside of the classroom are presented by qualified staff and by accessing the professionals within our community's resources.

Our areas of rehabilitation are mainly focused on:

• Pro Social Skills;
• Anger Management;
• Victim Awareness;
• Suicide Prevention;
• Planned Parenthood and Sexual Education;
• Substance Abuse;
• Life Skills...resume building, job search,hygiene, chores, house maintenance.

The most important element of rehabilitation is the effort that is put forth in building professional relationships with our clients and trying to teach them the importance of accountability, self awareness and a strong sense of values. The staff team put a great deal of pride into programming and are very diligent in providing the daily structure and consistency that is necessary for a safe and healthy environment.

For more information about Bernhardt House, please contact:

Mike Troskot, Program Manager

Bernhardt House is located at:

125 Victoria Avenue South, Hamilton, ON L8N 2S9

Tel: 905-528-2315
Fax: 905-528-8778
 

Admission Criteria:

Clients are admitted to the PASS Program through Probation Services only. Youths have to be deemed medium to high risk to re-offend according to a Risk Needs Assessment which is completed by the Probation Officer. Youths must also have an order to attend counselling on their Probation Order.

Intake Process:

Upon receiving the referral from Probation Services, a staff member will attempt to contact the client/guardian within seven days. A date, time, and location for an appointment convenient to all parties involved will then be arranged.

During the intake, a description of the PASS Program is explained in detail. The goals identified by the Probation Officer are discussed with the client and the guardian to ensure that all parties are in agreement with the identified objectives. Any signatures necessary for the exchange of information or any authorization required is obtained at this point. A first appointment is then arranged and a counsellor is assigned.

After the admission process is complete, the youth enters a program that, in accordance with the Dawn Patrol Child & Youth Services’ Mission Statement, promotes the acceptance of personal responsibility & personal accountability, and the development of healthy relationships among youth that are experiencing conflict with the law.

Services offered at PASS include:

• “Steam” Anger Management;
• “Brake” Anti Car Theft;
• Victim Awareness;
• Parent Support;
• Family/Individual Support;
• “Choices” Problem Solving, Communication Skills;
• School Support;
• Employment Search and Independent Living Skills;
• On Call Weekend Support;
• Recreation & Leisure; and
• Family or School Mediation.

To ensure that the client receives the rehabilitative services recommended while being accountable for his/her actions, counsellors liaise regularly with Probation Officers, schools, and community agencies that may have involvement with the youth. With the help of the assigned counsellor, the youth completes each goal on his/her way to a successful discharge.

For more information about PASS, please contact:

Mike Troskot, Program Manager

PASS is located at:

837 King Street East, Hamilton, ON L8M 1B3

Tel:  905-544-9974
Fax: 905-544-9933
 

Originally established with the generous funding of the Hamilton Community Foundation

The project consists of two steps:

Component One is called Academic Readiness and consists of a classroom, a certified Teacher and a School Counsellor. Students work on credits toward achieving a secondary school diploma and/or vocational readiness,as well as participating in various therapeutic activities. On-site individual and group counselling are incorporated into each student’s Plan of Care.

Component Two is called Transition and consists of a School Transition Counsellor advocating and mediating on behalf of our students to ensure they successfully integrate into community school or receive appropriate vocational placement support. The Transition Counsellor will maintain regular contact with the student for consistent support. The Plan of Care goals will continue to address individual needs.

Service Components

• Credit Courses;
• Individualized programming thought which youths can work at their own learning pace;
• Low teacher to student ratio;
• Individual & Group Counselling that addresses behavioural/social issues;
• Advocacy/Supervision/Support for transition into community school;

Who Can Apply For BRIDGE?

• Young Persons who are enrolled in a Section 23 classroom in a custody setting, prior to discharge;
• Any youth being discharged from custody mid-semester or having difficulty finding a community school placement;
• Any youth on a Probation Order whose Probation Officer believes needs special academic or vocational programming.

Those youths interested in applying fill out an application with the teacher/counsellor and send it to BRIDGE. If the student is accepted into the BRIDGE Classroom (we have two classrooms, each with a capacity of 8-10 students), he or she can start immediately upon release. A student may start with either Component One or Component Two depending on their needs.

Our Community Partners

• Hamilton Probation & Parole Services;
• YMCA;
• Youth Employment Centre;
• Sexual Health Awareness Centre;
• Alternatives for Youth;
• Threshold School of Building;
• Hamilton Literacy Council;
• Area Detention/Custody facilities.

For more information about BRIDGE, please contact:

Mike Troskot, Program Manager

BRIDGE is located at:

837 King Street East, Hamilton, ON L8M 1B3

TEL: 905-523-0407

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The Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton

PAC is a family focused, client responsive intervention for families in crisis and at risk of breakdown or harm because of parent/adolescent conflict.

PAC offers parenting support, behavioural contracting, and conflict mediation for families in conflict with their adolescent children.

The service provides immediate response to crisis situations for the purpose of:

• preventing escalation of conflict to the point of harm or family breakdown.
   
• stabilizing the family situation by intervening with both parent and adolescent.
   
• where necessary, creating a bridge to longer term support.

PAC is a program funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.  It is operated by Dawn Patrol Child & Youth Services in cooperation with the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton and the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton.

Referrals to the PAC Program are made exclusively through the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton or the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton.  All clients/families referred for service will be accepted, provided there is available space.  There are no restrictions on client eligibility, but there must be some capacity for voluntary participation in the service.

Intended Outcomes of PAC Service

• Lowered risk of admission to child welfare care of adolescents in conflict with their parent (or caregiver).
• Reduced parent/adolescent conflict and increased positive attachment and communication.
• Increased consistency, effectiveness and appropriateness of parental discipline and behaviour management.
• Provide parents (caregivers) with practical (behavioural) and emotional support for their parenting skills and role
• Provide adolescents with active, short-term intervention in identified client-specific problem areas (e.g. anger management, substance abuse, peer relations, problem solving, stress reduction, criminogenic risk, school conflict, etc).
• Provide families with skills and techniques for coping with future conflict and challenges in family development.
• Link familes with appropriate and needed long-term supports (e.g. counselling, cultural, social, educational, recreational resources).

For more information about PAC, please contact:

Kamille Ten Brinke, Director of Service & Finances

PAC is located at:

82 Victoria Avenue South, Hamilton, ON L8N 2S7

• TEL: 905-526-9529
• FAX: 905-526-7852

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The Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton

The two main purposes of ESP are:

• to ease the stress and pressure placed upon foster parents, as a result of school issues, in an effort to prevent foster placement breakdown, and
• to increase the likelihood of school success.

A secondary benefit includes reducing the risks that make youth vulnerable to criminal activity through their successful involvement in the educational system.

All too often school problems can create a significant negative impact on the lives of the foster family and may cause jeopardy to the actual placement. With the support of an Educational Support Program Counsellor (ESP Counsellor), foster children will be able to benefit from enhanced support to improve attendance, behaviour, performance and relations within their schools.

All referrals will be made to ESP through the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. The referral process includes a consent form and an application form to be completed by the Children’s Services Worker (CSW). The child/youth is also expected to complete a brief application form. Upon referral, the ESP Counsellor will meet together with foster parents, CSW, the youth and the school in order to develop a Plan of Care to address individual school needs. The ESP Counsellor will continue to have regular ongoing contact with both the foster parents and the CSW in order to maintain open communication and sharing of information.

The ESP Counsellor will meet regularly with school personnel and the student in an effort to work together to gain positive outcomes. The ESP Counsellor will be asking each school involved how they would like to see ESP utilized and what needs they feel should take priority for their particular students involved in the Program. The ESP Counsellor will meet weekly with students to maintain regular contact and address individual needs. They will also be able to assist with the design and modification of attendance supports, behaviour contracts, etc., which will assist the school and student in working together to achieve success. The ESP Counsellor will also be able to assist foster parents when needing to find appropriate school placements and negotiating schedules, terms of admission/discharge, etc.

The ESP Counsellor will initially remain highly involved and then will slowly step back as the school and student begin to support one another independent of the additional supports. A final Discharge Report will be submitted to the CSW for each child/youth.

For more information about ESP, please contact:

Mike Troskot, Program Manager

ESP is located at:

837 King Street East, Hamilton, ON

TEL: 905-544-1991

REACH will provide individualized and group support to young persons in the school setting in order to promote & enhance positive development in the following areas:

• Prosocial values & accountability;
• Academic performance;
• Peer interactions/Social skills development;
• Self-Esteem/Self-confidence;
• Family/Individual Support;
• Linkages with supportive cultural, social services, and recreational resources.

Student Selection

The Principal and/or Teachers at each school will identify 8 students that will benefit from REACH. The Principal or Teachers will consider young persons that may be experiencing difficulties in any of the following areas:

• Classroom behaviour;
• Academic performance;
• Peer interaction;
• Problem-solving/Anger management;
• Family/Individual Support; or
• any other area of social development.

Role of Parents

Parents consenting to their children’s attendance will be given a service outline and encouraged to discuss the program with their child. Students & parents will be given an orientation to the program and will participate in the development of program rules, expectations, and evaluation. The Child & Youth Counsellor will contact each family to meet and review needs and goals for the student – and will remain available for ongoing contact with the family throughout the project. In addition, parents may also access:

• a trained mediation counsellor who may assist the family in problem areas, including family communication, discipline, school liaison, or parenting concerns;
• cultural supports such as links with cultural organizations, mentors, volunteers, etc.

Services

Each student referred to REACH will be able to learn new skills and develop a stronger understanding of the value and importance of:

• anger management;
• problem-solving;
• listening skills;
• effective communication;
• honesty & trust;
• helping others;
• identifying & expressing feelings;
• respect;
• team work;
• victim awareness;
• self-esteem & confidence;
• cultural awareness;
• recreation;
• responsibility & personal accountability

Students will spend one period each week (approximately 1 hour) with the Child & Youth Counsellor [CYC] in individual activities during school time. Activities will include: completing class work or assigned tasks with assistance of the CYC; social skills exercises that focus on positive peer interaction and communication; and developmental games & recreation.

Students will also participate in a one-hour after-school group each week designed to enrich social skills, enhance self-confidence, and increase their ability to cope with change & stress. The CYC will use a variety of games, exercises, crafts, group discussions, and recreation to promote and reinforce the topics listed above.

The CYC will also be available for in-class support for referring Teachers, related to: (1) work with the student’s peers (mediating conflicts, processing concerns related to behaviour/values/attitudes, victim support); and (2) educating peers and school personnel on the youth justice system.

For more information about REACH, please contact:
 

Kamille Ten Brinke
Director of Service and Finances

REACH is administered through:

82 Victoria Avenue South, Hamilton, ON L8N 2S7

Tel:  905-526-9529
Fax: 905-526-7852

PMAB is a Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services (MCFCS) designed and approved training method for non-violent crisis intervention.

PMAB certification (or equivalent) is a mandatory staff-training requirement for all MCFCS licensed residential services. Many other Programs have also adopted similar training requirements for their staff, students, and volunteers.

Why Choose PMAB?

The Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behaviour course is being used widely in the Hamilton, Niagara, and Toronto areas within programs and agencies that offer services to children, youth, and their families. The Course:

• Recognizes the rights of children as identified in the CFSA and the YCJA;
• Promotes the protection and well being of the child;
• Promotes the safety and security of children and the caregiver;
• Emphasizes the prevention of aggressive behaviour;
• Advocates the use of interventions which are consistent with the principles of least intrusiveness;
• Advocates and promotes positive change; and
• Provides an understanding of the nature and cause of a child’s aggression which is critical to prevention and management.

The Training Involves:

Step One: Understanding Aggressive Behaviour.

Step Two: Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behaviour.

Step Three: Management of Aggressive Behaviour – Physical Intervention Techniques.

Step Four: Testing, Evaluation, and Certification.

Who Can Attend?

• Students who are interested in working in the Child and Youth serving field;
• Professionals who are returning to the field and who do not have a current certificate in PMAB;
• Para-professionals interested in gaining new skills and certification.

What is the Cost?

$100 per person if trained at our site and $125 per person if we come to your location 

This includes:

• Eight hours of instruction, training, and certification;
• A PMAB Certificate (upon successful completion of the course).

Our PMAB Trainers: Lindy Burlingham, Andrew Burns, Pat Landriault, Rosemary McIlvaney, Jennifer Smith and Louise Williams.

To REGISTER for Training or for more information, please contact:

Pat Landriault, PMAB Trainer or Kamille Ten Brinke, Director of Service & Finances 

Tel: 905-544-9974
 

For more information about Section 23 Schools, please contact:

Mike Troskot, Program Manager

Tel: 905-528-2315
Fax: 905-528-8778
 

Mediation is a cooperative and constructive method for solving interpersonal conflicts. Through the services of an impartial & neutral mediator, people in conflict can reach a fair and reasonable agreement that meets their individual needs and protects their interests. Mediation is also sometimes called Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mediation is not “counselling” and it is not “therapy”. It is a problem-solving process focused on helping people communicate better and on finding a “win/win” solution to their conflict. It is the mediator’s job to create a non-adversarial atmosphere in which both parties are listened to and respected.

Mediation is not “arbitration” or “litigation”. No decisions or agreements are imposed on the parties in conflict. Both sides remain in control of the solutions to the conflict and in control of the commitments they decide to make. Participation in the process is completely voluntary – and no one is expected to agree to a solution until he or she is satisfied that it is reasonable, fair, and worth committing to.

Who can benefit from Youth MEDIATION Services?

Our Youth Mediation serves youth in a variety of conflict situations, whether with their families, peers, classmates, school officials, neighbours, or community businesses. Mediation works best for people that:

• want to (or need to) maintain an ongoing relation with the person they have the conflict with;
• will negotiate in good faith; and
• honour the commitments they make during the mediation process.

  It is not appropriate for anyone seeking to impose their own solutions on the will of the other participants, or for anyone unwilling to explore alternative methods for managing the conflict or dispute.

  Because of the nature & mission of our agency, our Mediation Services are available only if one of the participants is a child or youth – or if the conflict is over the behaviour or circumstances of a child or youth. Accordingly, we provide mediation for:

  • Parent/Child (or Guardian/Child) conflict;
  • Sibling conflict;
  • Parenting Plans in support of separation or divorce;
  • Other intra-familial conflict;
  • Peer conflict;
  • Conflicts in or with schools;
  • Conflicts within neighbourhoods; or
  • Any community conflict involving a child or youth.

  [Adults seeking mediation for adult issues, divorce, child custody agreements, or property settlements will be referred to an appropriate service.]

  What’s involved in MEDIATION?

  First, the mediator will meet with both parties separately. The purpose of this initial meeting is:

  • to assess whether mediation is a realistic possibility (i.e., to assess if the participants are truly committed to finding a resolution to the conflict);
  • to gain an understanding of each participant’s perspective on the conflict and what their goals & expectations are; and
  • to ensure that the participants understand the ground rules of the mediation process.

   

  If mediation goes forward, the mediator will meet with the participants together in order to:

  • permit the participants to share their perspectives (and goals) in a non-adversarial, non-defensive, and productive atmosphere;
  • identify key areas of concern and mutual interest;
  • to generate possible solutions to the conflict; and
  • negotiate the participants’ voluntary commitment to what both sides see as the best solution.

  Once an agreement has been reached, the mediator will put it in the form of a written Contract between the participants. The Contract will specify:

  • the goals that the participants have agreed upon;
  • the actions that each participant has agreed to contribute toward the solution of the conflict; and
  • the time frame within which each participant will accomplish his or her commitment.

  The mediator will review the terms and expectations of the Contract with each participant separately. When satisfied, the participants will sign the Contract and keep a copy.

  Finally, the mediator will be available for future meetings with the participants should any confusion or disagreement arise about the terms or fulfillment of the Contract.

  What do participants get out of MEDIATION?

  • A chance to improve an unhappy relation and change conflict into cooperation.
  • A chance to work more positively towards ones goals and interests.
  • Reduced time and less money spent dealing with conflict or expensive litigation procedures.
  • A more effective and longer lasting agreement than those imposed by third parties.
  • Improved communication and understanding between participants.
  • A reduction in frustration, anger, anxiety, depression, or other stress-related conditions.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Control over your own actions and commitments.
  • A win/win solution to a difficult and disagreeable situation.

  For more information about Youth Mediation Services, please contact:

• Kamille Ten Brinke, Director of Service & Finances.

  Youth Mediation Services is located at:
  
  82 Victoria Avenue South, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 2S7
  Tel: 905-526-9529
  Fax: 905-526-7852

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