Alternative Suspension

Building resilience one young person at a time.

The YMCA Alternative Suspension program aims to reduce future school suspensions and disciplinary sanctions by offering participants an opportunity to turn their time away from school into a positive experience that encourages personal growth, the development of social skills and autonomy.


The Program

Suspension is often seen as a failure for both the student and the school. Alternative Suspension aims to make the student’s time away from school a success, both personally and academically. The YMCA Alternative Suspension program is a resource offered to secondary schools to support students, who are experiencing challenges at school, towards a positive reintegration of the classroom setting.

The Alternative Suspensions Program has 3 steps:

  • 1. Cool down
    Students find themselves in a new and structured environment, putting a stop to the downward spiral.

  • 2. Reflection
    The program encourages students to reflect during one-on-one meetings and group workshops.

  • 3. Commitment
    Students are motivated to make changes that will have a positive impact on their school experience

Participants Goals

  • To cope with the crisis constructively, gain knowledge as well as personal and social skills

  • To become aware of problematic behaviours and their root causes and discover the resources that are available to them

  • To take a step back from school and identify what empowers and motivates them

  • To catch up on schoolwork

**Please note that the Alternative Suspensions program is available through referral only.**


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