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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The YWCA Niagara Region is proud to provide structured workshops through our Resource Centre that are specifically designed to provide a safe, empowering environment for learning. Skills Development programming is an excellent way to increase knowledge, build self-awareness, and enhance the skills that will be transferable as the client moves towards stability and independence. Skills Development programs are created, facilitated, and delivered in unique ways that ensure a realistic, fun, and interactive experience for the women, gender-diverse individuals, and families that we serve.

Participation in Skills Development programming is a requirement of the On-Site Transitional Housing program. Case Managers will assist their clients in identifying their specific programming needs and work with the Skills Development Facilitator to ensure that each client’s goals are being reached. Once the referral form is completed, the Skills Development Facilitator will reach out to the clients and provide program details along with a monthly calendar.

If you would like more information about the YWCA Skills Development Centre, please contact Sabrina at 905-246-4483 or Smarcantonio@ywcaniagararegion.ca.

The YWCA Niagara Region is proud to provide structured workshops through our Resource Centre that are specifically designed to provide a safe, empowering environment for learning. Skills Development programming is an excellent way to increase knowledge, build self-awareness, and enhance the skills that will be transferable as the client moves towards stability and independence. Skills Development programs are created, facilitated, and delivered in unique ways that ensure a realistic, fun, and interactive experience for the women and gender-diverse individuals we serve.

Resource Centre

  • Brighter Hours Brighter Days is designed for individuals who are feeling overwhelmed by life’s stressors and the impact it might be having on their daily lives. This workshop, will allow the women to navigate these negative impacts and form connections to their mental health. Women will be provided tools and resources by staff that will help them build transferable skills to self-manage, cope, and heal.

  • Solutions to Anger is a program that provides individuals with tools to effectively resolve anger and to regulate their emotions. In six different modules we talk about solution based approaches to anger. The program teaches women how to identify their feelings and communicate them effectively and appropriately to provide them with the best possible situational outcome.

  • In this two part employment and financial management program participants will develop employment readiness skills to help obtain and maintain employment. Participants will engage in workshops such as resume and cover letter building, interview preparation, employment exploration, career planning and self-improvement. The goal of the program is to enable individuals to reach their employment goals as well as succeed in personal development.

  • In part two of the employment and financial management program, we will discuss spending plans that balance spending with income, allowing participants to work towards their financial goals and address financial barriers. This financial preparation program aims to provide individuals and their families with skills to become self-sufficient and financial stable by acquiring budgeting tools, money and debt management resources, income and expenditures support.

  • This program will empower participants to clearly create, state, and maintain healthy boundaries. It will provide women with tools for boundary awareness, confidence building, effective communication, and conflict resolution. With the enhancement of their current skills and development of new ones. This program allows for personal and future growth strategies, which brings awareness to the importance of healthy relationship building, and allow for participant to develop an understanding of creating more meaningful relationships with themselves as well as the relationships in their lives.

  • This program will have participants navigate and find their own balance of well-being. With discussion on the 7 key dimensions of wellness that contribute to overall health and quality of life, individuals will be able to do wellness mapping discovering areas of strengths and weaknesses. The program will provide tools for coping skills, mindfulness practices, self-care strategies, and hygiene routines that aim to achieve their mind and body wellness goals.

Learn more about our programs here:

If you would like more information about the YWCA Skills Development Centre, please contact Sabrina at 905-246-4483 or Smarcantonio@ywcaniagararegion.ca.

The YWCA’s STOMT programming has transitioned from drop-in style programming to offering confidential meetings and outreach supports for womxn who are engaged in sex work in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, and Welland. If there is an individual who is engaged in sex work and they are interested in the STOMT program an internal, external or self-referral can be made.  Our life Skills Facilitator and Transitional Support Worker can offer meetings on an as needed basis to offer care packages, harm reduction items, clothing, and a safe space to have good conversation, following with access to supports or referrals if needed. Supports can range from safe sex work practices, employment supports, budgeting support and housing maintenance.

This is a case management style of supporting sex workers, reaching more individuals with more unique needs and supports being offered. If there is someone engaged in sex work and would like any supports the Skills team can offer, please complete a referral form and send it to Olivia. You can also provide the individual with Olivia’s e-mail for them to reach out on their own to request supports. Our team works together to ensure all referrals are responded to within 2-3 business days.  Any case management or life skills that are offered during these meetings, will be documented.

Our focus is to support sex workers in building skills to maintain housing and maintain safety while working and/or wanting to exit the sex trade.

Sabrina-  smarcantonio@ywcaniagararegion.ca

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Programs for Adults

SEX TRADE ON MY TERMS (STOMT)

DOWNLOAD REFERRAL FORM HERE

With WARM, women and gender-diverse individuals are given the opportunity to access intervention and prevention services while living at home, maintaining a job and family responsibilities, and creating a schedule that works for them.

WARM values the unique needs of every person, addressing issues significant in women's and gender-diverse individuals’ lives in a safe and confidential environment with intervention strategies proven to be effective.

Warm is for the community!

Be sure to come out and access the resources you need at our weekly meetings.

WOMEN’S ADDICTION RECOVERY MEDITATION (WARM)

Icon of a clock behind a map pin marker.

Mondays

1-2 pm

6135 Culp Street, NF

Wednesdays

3-4 pm

176 Oakdale Ave, St. Catharines

Fridays

1-2 pm

183 King Street, St. Catharines

If you would like to learn more about the program and how to participate, please contact our Skills Development Coordinator at 905-246-4483 or Smarcantonio@ywcaniagararegion.ca.

Programs for Youth

STEPS and TEEN TALK

We believe in empowering and supporting kids and youth in our community. We offer workshops in schools all across the Niagara region, which address issues such as bullying and loving yourself. Many of our programs are run during lunch, and come with a free slice of pizza for those who attend. We offer two programs in schools; STEPS and TEEN TALK on behalf of United Way Niagara. Our work with youth is part of our preventative work. It helps reduce the risks of kids harming themselves or making choices that put themselves at risk.

FACES

We are pleased to offer our newest program FACES to the youth currently living in our family shelter. This is an after-school group designed to give the youth in our shelters a safe space for playing, learning, and growing.

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If you are curious to learn more about our workshops, please reach out to our Skills Development Team at 905-246-4483.

I NEED HELP RIGHT NOW

  • (289) 273-4308
    183 King Street
    St. Catharines, ON L2R 3J5

  • 289-686-0927
    176 Oakdale Avenue
    St. Catharines, ON L2P 2K9

  • (289) 267-0411
    6135 Culp Street
    Niagara Falls, ON L2G 2B6

If you are in distress and need help immediately call 911.

Are you in crisis? The YWCA Niagara Region is open with advocates on duty 24 hours a day 365 days a year.