John Howard Society of Thunder Bay & District

Rehabilitative Residential Services

The JHS residence offers interim housing to nine women and 39 men in our rehabilitative treatment program. These individuals are currently involved or at risk of becoming involved in the Criminal Justice System.

By providing a safe place to reside, individuals are confident that their basic needs will be met and they can focus on addressing the underlying factors that have put them at risk. We develop care plans for each residential client using evidence-based criminogenic risk assessment tools to ensure that each plan not only addresses problematic behavior, but builds on strengths the client already has, and that will protect them against future criminal involvement.
Areas we address in risk assessment and care plans include resident’s criminal history and history of violence, strength of family relationships and social networks, ability to access financial and other resources, history of substance use, employment and vocational history, educational background, social and cognitive skills, and mental health status. Addressing these underlying factors through assessment and specialized programming helps to equip our residents to maintain housing, avoid (repeated) conflict with the law, build stronger relationships with their families and communities, and further their educational and vocational goals.

The JHS residence is also a Community Residential Facility for the Correctional Service of Canada. Currently there are eight rooms accessible to individuals on Federal Parole in Thunder Bay.

Treatment Programming

We offer the following programming as part of residential treatment:

  • Anger Management
  • Anti-Criminal Thinking
  • Life skills programming, including:
    • Stages of Change
    • The Art and Science of Job Searching
    • Budgeting and Practical Money Skills
    • Understanding Nutrition
    • Healthy Relationships
    • Options for Academic Upgrading
    • Goal Setting
    • Harm Reduction
    • Self Care
    • Active Living
    • Coping Strategies
    • Mindfulness
  • Recreational Programming

Case Management

  • Each client is responsible for attending regularly scheduled meetings with their case worker as part of their conditions of residence
  • Case managers monitor each client’s progress toward the goals laid out in their care plan
  • Case managers collaborate with community service providers to make appropriate referrals on a case-by-case basis

Do you or someone you know think you may benefit from our rehabilitative residential program? For more information, contact Desiree Danilko, Client Services Manager, at (807) 935-1300 ddanilko@jhstbay.ca