The Youth Services Bureau Sherwood Unit is located in Ottawa, ON, and serves male students between the ages of 12 and 18. There are eight spaces in this unit. Students in this facility are placed by the judicial system; some may be awaiting sentencing while others may be completing their sentence in an open custody setting.
M.F. McHugh provides educational programming for students who have been placed in open or secure custody through the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Students may be placed in detention pending sentencing, while others may be completing their sentence. The length of stay can vary from a couple of days to years.
Students come to us from a variety of lived experiences. This population has a range of cognitive profiles, identified learning exceptionalities and diagnoses. For example, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, verbal and nonverbal learning disabilities. Many also experience mental health issues including affective disorders.
While in our custody programs, students work to achieve curriculum learning expectations set out by Ontario’s Ministry of Education. We support various pathways including apprenticeship, college, community living, university, and workplace.
In addition to their regular academic programming, students are given opportunities throughout the year to work with a McHugh Itinerant Tech Teacher on a variety of projects to develop hands-on skill, and to create meaningful learning opportunities.
All students have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which is developed collaboratively by the classroom teacher and student, in consultation with a primary child and youth worker and parent/guardian if a student is under 18.
All classrooms are staffed with a McHugh Teacher and a minimum of one Child and Youth Worker. There is an emphasis on creating safe and secure learning environments to foster student wellbeing and achievement.
Referrals to this program are made through the judicial system.
