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By Teagan Rasche

YMCA of Medicine Hat launches new Alternative Suspension Program

Mar 8, 2022 | 3:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The YMCA of Medicine Hat has launched a new program as an alternative to school suspensions.

The program is being piloted right now through the Medicine Hat Public School Division.

School administrators determine if students are looking at being suspended and rather than being suspended at home, they come to the YMCA.

The program has been offered by other YMCAs across Canada for the past 22 years. On its first day in Medicine Hat on March 1, there were already students in it.

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“They come and spend two to five days with us. They work with professionals while they’re here and they get access to all sorts of different programs to help assist them with whatever issues perhaps led to the suspension in the first place,” Sharon Hayward, CEO, YMCA of Medicine Hat, said. “Then the workers will support them in going back to school and help with that transition so they’re well supported and hopefully have fewer disciplinary issues in the future and no further suspensions.”

The YMCA states 85 per cent of participants had a positive shift in attitude and behaviour in the medium term and half of the participants had a positive shift in attitude andbehaviourr in the long term.

The Suspension Alternative Program is only with MHPSD until the end of the school year. Once piloted successfully, the YMCA will explore expanding to other local school divisions in 2022-2023.