Community Integration

Supportive Employment and Training:

The Supportive Employment and Training (SET) programs help people to move towards and achieve their employment and education goals.

The SET programs can provide jobseekers and students with wraparound services to help support emotional, intellectual, social and occupational needs, with the goal to build self-reliance, a sense of purpose and belonging, and overall mental health and wellness. The SET programs often work collaboratively with other JHS programs and other social service agencies.

The SET programs are committed to supporting and responding to the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We welcome racialized persons, persons of colour, Indigenous People, women, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. We also recognize that people from diverse groups have different needs and require different solutions to gain equal opportunity for success. We provide any necessary accommodations during program enrollment and program participation.

ACElinks

ACElinks is an academic upgrading program, offered jointly by John Howard Society of Ottawa and Algonquin College. Students can earn a high school equivalency diploma, called the ACE Certificate (similar to a GED), or upgrade individual subjects (English, Math or Computer Skills) to the grade 12 level. We welcome all students, even those who do not yet have a clear personal goal to pursue the diploma.

The program uses the same teachers, texts and tests as the Academic Upgrading program offered at the main campus of Algonquin College, but ACElinks has greater flexibility to accommodate and support clients who are dealing with different personal challenges. We ask students to aim to attend at least half of their classes in person, but we also provide remote options.

ACElinks is available free of charge to Ontario residents, aged 19 and over. The ACE Certificate can be used for entrance into community college, apprenticeship or employment.

“You taught me to persevere and have confidence in myself, and for that, I will be forever grateful. Yes, I know I always had it in me, but you showed me the way. I remember the good times, bad times, the victories, and the challenges. I am grateful to you and everyone at John Howard.” – ACElinks student

Skills Plus

The Skills Plus program helps prepare students for further education or employment by improving their reading, writing and digital literacy skills. We help clients who are working below the grade 9 level. We help them understand how their brains work, and we show them how to apply strategies to help with learning disabilities and other barriers. We help them work towards stable, productive lives in the community. We create individualized learning plans to help each person progress at a pace and format that is right for them. Mindfulness and creativity are explored via activities and field trips.

“I don’t know of anywhere else that’s helped me the way this place has.” – Skills Plus student

YouTube link: 

Skills Plus & ACElinks Education Programs

Arches Supportive Employment

Arches Supportive Employment Services works with individuals who experience barriers such as mental health, substance use, or justice involvement and helps them find and maintain meaningful employment opportunities. Arches recognizes that individuals may be in different places in their employment journey and tailors its approaches accordingly. This can include education and career exploration, mentorship, goal setting, access to employment training, job search and application, writing resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, advocacy for the jobseeker to employers, on-the-job support, accommodations and disclosures, and assistance with upward career mobility.

Arches also provides workshops at our partner sites, including the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, and the Salvation Army. These workshops focus on preparing individuals for work and helping them maintain employment, with a recognition of the challenges that come with lived experience of mental health or substance use issues.

“They keep my spirits up and keep pushing. They provide emotional support as well as employment support and that’s equally important to me right now.” – Arches Program participant

YouTube links:

Arches, Supportive Employment Services

United Way Minutes featuring Arches

Key Skills

The Key Skills program operates out of the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. The program helps prepare participants for future employment and training opportunities (especially the Skills Plus, ACElinks and Arches programs, which operate out of our main office) upon their release or transfer out of the detention centre. We help clients who are working below a grade 10 level, and we focus on offering them individualized learning. While the core of the program is to improve our clients’ reading, writing and basic math skills, the Key Skills program also serves as a positive and productive way for clients to serve their time, improve their self-esteem and gain a sense of taking control of their futures.

“It means [that] in a place where I can’t leave, I’m still going somewhere.” – Key Skills student

Share Forward Mentorship program

The Share Forward Mentorship program connects clients with mentors in the community for goal setting, networking and community building. Mentors provide support and resources to clients through skill sharing, social connection and lived experience. Members meet for informative discussions on topics that range from interview skills to cultural education.

Recreational programs:

Creative classroom

We provide weekly art classes and creative workshops to help clients engage in their community and help them achieve stable, long-term success. We have a partnership with the Ottawa School of Art, which culminates each year in an art exhibition at their downtown gallery. A local artist teaches and facilitates the classes.

We also have a partnership with Ottawa BluesFest that helps us provide music education for our clients. This partnership provides us with a local musician or spoken word artist who guides weekly workshops with clients. This allows our clients to practice skill building in an enjoyable way.

The third Thursday of every month, we hold an open-mic coffee house on-site at our main office location. Here, clients can participate in a safe, social networking environment that incorporates music, art and a delicious meal. Clients, staff members, community members and local musicians perform side-by-side. These coffee houses provide a unique opportunity for everyone who attends.

Contact information for all Community Integration programs:

Jan Goatcher

Manager, Community Integration Services

613-789-7418 ext. 226

Jang@jhsottawa.ca