History

Key individuals such as Lou Drouillard, Neil Libby, Joan Legue, Al Gatti and Al Meloche contribute to establishing New Beginnings by property and funding acquisition. New Beginnings moves to Church Street, George Ave, and Crawford Ave. Funding received from Community and Social Services of Ontario, Canada Works Grant, and United Way.

The Young Offender Act replaces Juvenile Delinquent Act.

New Beginnings as a group home closed down. It re-opened as a designated "Open Custody - Phase II" facility, fully funded by the Ministry of Correctional Services. It was located at 866 Rossini Blvd and was named the Neil Libby Residence.

A Secondary School Program opened on location in partnership with the Public School Board.

A new residence was opened - The Butch Collins Residence, at 1049 Janette Avenue. It was not only an Open Custody, but also had Open Detention designation.

Affiliation with the St. Leonard’s Society of Canada ceased.

New Beginnings adopted the program: Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) from Dr. Gregory Little and Dr. Kenneth Robinson of Tennessee, USA.

Provincial alignment of Open Custody Service by restructuring local operations of New Beginnings. Neil Libby Closes.

Neil Libby (866 Rossini Blvd.) re-opens as a Children’s Aid Foster Group Home for males ages 13-18 years.

The Rossini Girl’s Home, a Children’s Aid Foster Group Home for females is opened at 867 Rossini Blvd.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act replaces the Young Offenders Act.

2003/2004
Butch Collins Residence begins "Open Detention" pilot project and commences the program under the YCJA.

The Ministry of Children & Youth Services –Youth Justice Services, provides funding for a pilot project for a Non-Residential Attendance Centre. The agency purchases a building at 1015 Highland Avenue.

Open Custody/Detention Program moves to 1015 Highland Avenue.

A second secondary school program opens on site at 1015 Highland Avenue. The two school programs are renamed New Beginnings I for the open custody/detention youth and New Beginnings II for the Children’s Aid Society Youth from the New Beginnings group homes and referrals from the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Society.

The New Beginnings main office and building complex, located at 1015 Highland Avenue, is formally dedicated to the Honourable Saul Nosanchuk. It is now proudly named The Honourable Saul Nosanchuk Building in recognition of his contributions.

New Beginnings purchased 866 and 867 Rossini Boulevard from the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society, marking a significant step forward in enhancing its service offerings. A new service agreement was also established with the Catholic School Board to deliver counselling services through the Attendance Centre Program. Additionally, the Youth Opportunities Strategy Program relocated to 1049 Janette Avenue and expanded to include an Employment and Life Skills Worker, strengthening its support for local youth. The Summer Jobs Program also grew significantly, now offering employment opportunities to 240 youth, helping them gain valuable experience and skills.

The Compass Classroom for students who are expelled is provided at New Beginnings through partnership with the Greater Essex County District School Board for students from the Public and Catholic School Board.

The Transitions Classroom for youth on probation is piloted through a partnership with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services- Youth Justice Division, the Greater Essex County District School Board and New Beginnings.

New Beginnings begins a Supervised Access and Exchange Program in Windsor and Leamington. The program is named the Windsor Essex Child and Parent Place funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Additional therapeutic programs are added to the Youth Justice programs to include: Art Therapy, Domestic Violence and Trauma programs.

New Beginnings provides focus on outpatient services, phasing out residential group care services.

Youth Opportunities Strategy expands into a fifth priority neighbourhood known as “University”. Services include both Outreach and Jobs For Youth Summer Employment Program.

New Beginnings provides a Youth in Transition Worker offering services to youth exiting the care of Children’s Aid and residing in Windsor.

Introductory Trades Training Program launched at the Youth Opportunities Strategy in partnership with the Canadian Tooling and Machining Association.

Jobs for Youth program phased out across the province. New Beginnings starts delivering the Youth Job Connection program funded through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

Risk Intervention and Prevention Project (RIPP) launched in Windsor with funding through the Ministry of Children and Youth Services Youth Justice Division. Will assist the most acute youth from Windsor, Tecumseh, Belle River, Amherstburg and Lasalle.

Youth Employment Experience Program launched in partnership with the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Society. Program provides part time jobs to youth in care to gain work experience.

Open Custody and Dentetion  Facilty is phased out due to funding. The  Butch Collins Residence was an open custody and detention facility funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Youth Justice Division.

Opening of Sober Living Residence. Youth Mental Health Court Worker program starts at New Beginnings and is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services - Youth Justice Division. The program  provides services that address the issues and supports of young persons with mental health and/or behavioural needs who are in the youth justice system. The specialized services program starts funded by the same Ministry as the Youth Mental Health Court Worker program and   is a program that addresses and supports  youth who have significant mental health and/or behavioural needs and are involved in the youth justice system, ultimately aiming to reduce the potential of recidivism.

New Beginnings received funding support  through Public Safety Canada's Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), enabling us to expand our efforts in addressing youth gun and gang violence through prevention and intervention initiatives, creating new roles within our organization, including a program coordinator and two dedicated youth risk intervention and prevention workers. The program coordinator works in partnership with the City of Windsor to oversee new community safety initiatives and to implement the region's first Regional Crime Prevention Council, further strengthening our community's safety measures.

YJC/YJC-S  program's funding model changed and it became the CareerWise program as a response to Employment Ontario’s new employment service model, Integrated Employment Services. This new delivery model is to streamline services for job seekers and employers more efficiently and effectively.