Smith Clinic

Youth Services is a client centred provincial resource, providing a variety of services to children, adolescents and significant others. Youth Services works with the community in facilitating prevention and education programs. This voluntary program provides a five week intensive treatment for youth experiencing substance abuse programs.

The Alternative Education Program is located at Sister Margaret Smith Centre (Youth Services). The program is offered by the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board in conjunction with St. Joseph's Care Group.

The Alternative Education Program is offered to students who are directly experiencing the harmful effects of alcohol and other drug use. The goal of the education program is multipurpose; it is to provide the students with the opportunity to continue with their education, but also to create an environment where the students will experience a caring and more compassionate place for them to experience success.

The teacher position for the program is a 0.5 full time equivalent employed by the T.B.C.D.S.B. and can provide these students with a positive school experience and an opportunity that they may not have had before.

The class is offered from Monday to Friday, half days only, maximum enrollment is ten students, ranging in ages from 12 to 17. Most students enrolled in the program work independently on a variety of courses in which accreditation is obtainable.

Clients from our community and region receive priority in accessing services, however, individuals from across Ontario are accepted if they cannot access services elsewhere.

The teacher is responsible for contacting the former school attended by the youth and arranging for academic records to be forwarded.

Each educational assessment is reviewed at the end of the five week session and recommendations are offered to the students, their families and to the returning school. In addition, daily reporting is done to the facility on each student's progress and behaviour. Regular report cards are issued at the end of the five week session.