For PARENTS
Parent Ambassador Program
The Black Youth School Success Initiative (BYSSI) has partnered with the Family Education Center to provide a free parenting support program for Black parents/caregivers in Peel Region.
Participating parents/caregivers have the opportunity to:
- Strengthen their parenting skills
- Gain access to coping, psycho-social and peer support resources
- Receive information and tools to facilitate workshops/meet-ups in their communities
- Obtain a parent educator certificate of completion
- Continue their parent ambassador affiliation through paid opportunities with the Family Education Centre by facilitating parent/caregiver meetup groups, support with program development, and represent the Family Education Centre at community events
- Enroll in the Parent Educator Training Program and participate in additional paid opportunities such as structuring groups and facilitating courses/workshops
Participating parents/caregivers have the opportunity to:
- Strengthen their parenting skills
- Gain access to coping, psycho-social and peer support resources
- Receive information and tools to facilitate workshops/meet-ups in their communities
- Obtain a parent educator certificate of completion
- Continue their parent ambassador affiliation through paid opportunities with the Family Education Centre by facilitating parent/caregiver meetup groups, support with program development, and represent the Family Education Centre at community events
- Enroll in the Parent Educator Training Program and participate in additional paid opportunities such as structuring groups and facilitating courses/workshops
“The information I learned, and the connections I have gained are something which will always stay with me…Learning more about the history of Black people and the struggles and abuse and disrespect that they went through helped to better understand myself, my parents and grandparents and why they raised their children the way they did.”
Quick Stats
Two Parent Ambassador cohorts were concluded in 2021/2022
60% of parent ambassadors pointed to improved relationships as a result of the program
100% of parent ambassadors were equipped to serve their family and community
600+ youth supported by BYSSI since 2018
Academic and Wraparound Supports
Academic Support
BYSSI students have access to one-to-one weekly sessions with our academic instructors. Currently, BYSSI is offering support with the following subjects: Math, Science, French, and English.
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25 youth accessed tutoring services in 2021
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2021/2022 81% of students reported improvement in marks
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2021/2022 over 750 hours of tutoring were logged
Afterschool Programming
Hybrid Programming – Tools for tomorrow. A variety of virtual programs, workshops, and events are available to help students develop their academic, professional, and practical life skills
Post-Secondary Transition Support
BYSSI has partnered with Queen’s University First-Generation Student Admission Pathway Program. This program provides post-secondary transition support to students interested in studying at Queen’s University and who are within the first-generation of their family to pursue post-secondary education. Areas of focus are; education and career planning, general application support, financial assistance, parental assurance, and campus visits. BYSSI collaborates with various universities and colleges to connect students with representatives and host post-secondary events. In 2022, BYSSI hosted 11 events in collaboration with Sheridan College and Queen's University. The goals of these events are to help students to make informed decisions regarding their post-secondary pathway.For more information about the First-Generation Student Admission Pathway Program, visit queensu.ca
Case Management Support
The Student Success Program (SSP) is a case management focused service, connecting BYSSI Youth Engagement Coordinators with families and students, to develop and implement an educational success plan, based on the needs and goals of each student. Youth Engagement Coordinators work directly with students and families to connect them to collaborative partners, community services, and resources to move them in the direction of their educational goals. Resources which students in the SSP have access too include: educational success coaching, tutoring supports, counseling services, ethno-specific community programs and events, advocacy and mediation services volunteer and employment opportunities, and youth mentorship opportunities.
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15 clients supported in 2021
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25+ clients supported in 2022
Counseling Support
We offer free counseling support services to BYSSI youth and families.
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Online Tutoring
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Academic Support
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Afterschool Programming
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Post-Secondary Transition Support
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Case Management Support
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Counseling Support
"I wish I had this support when I was in high school. All in all a very informative session. My son just started grade 9 however it is important to start establishing the goals now. Keep up the great work. I need you here when he graduates."
“We know it takes a village to raise a child. And we are only one person. As a single mother, any help, any resources, any community-based programs that will help foster [my child’s] growth, that understands their walk as a child, as a Black child, is very helpful to us because it takes that weight off of us, because we have the world on our shoulders.”
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People Connected With BYSSI in 2021
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Youth Supported by BYSSI since 2018
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Hours of Tutoring Offered in 2021/2022