Community Aftercare

Many offenders are unable to live successfully in the community because of their inability to recognize problem areas in their lives or find legitimate ways of meeting their needs. Community Aftercare is a supportive counselling service that focuses on helping offenders to assess their needs, to access community resources and to develop a realistic plan of action to attain their goals.

Funded by: United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area, United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries and the United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington. 

Community Service Order Program

This is a court ordered program in which selected offenders are required to complete a designated number of hours of volunteer work for non-profit, community based organizations. Participation in a volunteer role allows offenders to make amends and contribute to the community in a positive and meaningful way.

Funded by: Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services.

Domestic Violence

Partner Assault Response Program (PAR)

This program is a specialized educational / counselling program for individuals who have been physically violent and/or emotionally abusive or controlling towards a spouse or intimate partner.

In Ontario, PAR Programs are part of the Domestic Violence Court Program.  This initiative provides a coordinated criminal justice system response to domestic violence.  Following a guilty plea or a finding of guilt, a Judge may order the offender (male or female) to attend counselling as a condition of Probation, Bail or other court order.  This is a fee for service program, however, no one will be refused entry due to inability to pay.

Court mandated referrals are funded by:  Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General

Funding also received from:  United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area.

Partners for Healthy Relationships

This is a mult-couple treatment group for couples who have experienced domestic abuse or violence.  It is offered collaboratively with Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region.

Over the course of 12 weeks, couples aim to improve communication skills, develop strategies for conflict management, create an environment where couples can openly share feelings and concerns and build respect for individual needs.

Male participants must have completed the Partner Assault Response Program and female participants should have completed a counselling support group or a Partner Assault Response Program for women in order to be eligible for group.

Funded by:  Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Caring Dads

This program is a specialized educational / counselling program to help fathers improve their relationships with their children and end controlling, abusive, and neglectful behaviour.  It is offered collaboratively with Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region, Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

Over the course of 17 weeks, fathers will develop skills to cope in healthy ways with frustrating siutations.  This program assists fathers to understand how different fathering strategies and choices affect children and will provide them with strategies to strengthen the father-child relationship.

Participants are required to attend a screening interview to determine eligibility. 

Funded by:  Ministry of Community and Social Services.

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Community Justice Program (Pilot)

This program provides adults (18 years and older) who have been charged with a minor criminal offence, an alternative to the normal court process while still being held accountable for their charges. The Crown Attorney must approve all program referrals.   All participants are required to complete appropriate sanctions, which might include a letter of apology, completion of a relevant program, a charitable donation, volunteer work or some other agreed upon measures. Other sanctions may include referral to educational workshops relating to Anger Management, Substance Abuse (run by John Howard Society), Problem Solving and Stop Shoptheft.  Workshops are offered on a monthly basis in Kitchener and bi-monthly in Cambridge.

Adult Diversion Program (for Federal Charges)

This program provides adults (18 years and older) who have been charged with a minor federal criminal offence, an alternative to the normal court process while still being held accountable for their charges. Referrals may be received directly from the Police (pre-charge).  If post charge, the Crown Attorney must approve all program referrals.   All participants are required to complete appropriate sanctions, which might include a letter of apology, completion of a relevant program, a charitable donation, volunteer work or some other agreed upon measures.   This is a fee for service program.

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Back on Track

This is a mandatory remedial program for individuals convicted of a drinking and driving offence. Under Ontario Ministry of Transport legislation, all convicted impaired drivers are required to successfully complete the program before their driver’s licence can be reinstated. The program is designed to help participants make lasting changes in both their behaviour and in their attitudes towards drinking and driving.

This province wide initiative is contracted through the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. In order to cover the costs of the program, participants are required to pay a fee of $578.00 (plus GST) payable to the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health.

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