Mindful Minds & Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears and Mindful Minds are two John Howard Society of Niagara classrooms for secondary students, grades 9 to 12, who are youth-justice involved. Both programs are delivered in partnership with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Each classroom is staffed by a Youth Worker from the John Howard Society of Niagara alongside a DSBN teacher, and both are located in the same building.
Together, the teams support students in developing the personal and academic skills needed to succeed at home, in school, and in the community.
In our program, we:
We Create Space for Growth and Changes in Mindsets
Our program provides a safe, supportive environment where youth can build their confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills that they need to navigate challenges and experience success. We believe that every youth has strengths, potential, and the capacity to grow. Through meaningful relationships, individualized plans, and opportunities to reflect, learn, we help the students to move forward.
We Create Safety
We create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe space where students feel respected, heard, and valued.
We Build A Community Within Our Classrooms
We foster a strong sense of belonging within our classrooms and encourage youth to participate
We Validate & Support
We use a DBT-informed approach to validate students’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences while helping them develop practical skills for managing emotions, communicating effectively, and navigating relationships.
We Believe in Individuals
Every youth is unique. We provide individual programs and support, while being flexible and responsive to each students’ changing needs.
Aggression → Self-Awareness & Communication
Students develop greater awareness of their emotions, triggers, and needs while learning constructive ways to communicate.
Lack of Care → Healthy Self & Community
Students learn to recognize their own value and develop an understanding of how their choices can affect themselves and others.
Fixed Mindset → Growth Mindset
Students are encouraged to see their challenges as opportunities to learn, develop new skills, and recognize that growth is possible.
Negative Relationships → Positive Relationships
Students will learn to recognize healthy relationships, establish boundaries, communicate needs, and build positive connections with others.
Avoidance, Blaming & Denial → Responsibility & Repair
Youth are supported in facing challenges, taking responsibility for their choices, and learning how to repair harm when it occurs.
Growth Takes Time
Change doesn’t happen overnight. We meet students where they are at, build on their strengths, and provide regular chances to learn, practice and reflect.
Our goal is more than changing behaviour.
We help youth develop the self-awareness, communication skills, resilience, responsibility, and relationships that they need to move forward.
