Strive Niagara

Strive Niagara Through education and support, Strive Niagara empowers young families. There is a teacher and other students always willing to help with your courses.

Strive Niagara, formerly Adolescent’s Family Support Services of Niagara (AFSSN), is a non-profit, social service organization dedicated to assisting the needy by fostering the independence of young families pursuing an education through the provision of quality child care. Strive is geared towards supporting young mothers and their families as they work toward graduating from high school. We work

on our courses at our own pace as well as in a group on a course we want or need towards attaining our secondary school diplomas. Each centre has a wonderful asset...a Community Worker, she is there to support you five days a week...no matter what the situation. She will facilitate programs and workshops in parenting, life skills, employment and post secondary preparation and a wide variety of programs that help us to reach our future goals. The daycare that is provided for our children is second to none. The staff is supportive and always there with a helping hand for you and your child. The atmosphere throughout the building is one of the greatest parts of this program. You'll never have to worry about being judged or looked down upon when you are in the centre. The supports we acquire while at school help us gain confidence in ourselves and our skills as mothers. They also give us the tools needed to get a good job. We also acquire a "family support" network that many of us would never have known if we hadn't of come.

05/22/2026

Thank you, Niagara Catholic Student Senate, for thinking of us at Strive Niagara!

To celebrate the Month of Mary, Niagara Catholic’s Student Senate is “hosting” a baby shower in Mary’s name to support mothers in need across Niagara.

Throughout May, students, staff, and families can donate new personal care items for our Strive Niagara Young Parents Outreach Program, helping support young families as parents continue their education and work toward independence.

Currently, we support 31 young mothers at our Welland and Thorold locations.
Donations can be dropped off at any Niagara Catholic high school or the Catholic Education Centre in Welland during regular school/office hours throughout May.

Thank you to Niagara Catholic District School Board in helping make a difference for young mothers and families in our community!

Our kiddos at the Sven H. Dohnberg Child Care Centre had the sweetest visit to Heidehof, a local long term care home.Tog...
05/22/2026

Our kiddos at the Sven H. Dohnberg Child
Care Centre had the sweetest visit to Heidehof, a local long term care home.

Together we sang songs, played games, shared smiles, and created such special memories across generations. It was truly a heartwarming morning filled with laughter, connection, and joy.

Moments like these remind us how meaningful community and kindness can be for both young and old alike 💕!

Our preschool friends at Sven H. Dohnberg Centre had an amazing time getting their hands dirty and helping build our gar...
05/12/2026

Our preschool friends at Sven H. Dohnberg Centre had an amazing time getting their hands dirty and helping build our gardens with the wonderful team from Links for Greener Learning!

From planting to exploring nature together, there were smiles, laughter, and lots of learning along the way. We are so grateful for this fun-filled experience and can’t wait to watch our gardens grow!

Thank you, Links for Greener Learning, for helping us create something so special with our little learners!

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all the incredible moms, grandmothers, aunties, guardians, foster moms, fur-baby moms, and...
05/08/2026

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all the incredible moms, grandmothers, aunties, guardians, foster moms, fur-baby moms, and caring grown-ups who fill our children’s lives with love, comfort, and support.

This week, our Child Care centres celebrated early with special Mother’s Day crafts and activities as the children created thoughtful gifts and shared in the excitement of celebrating the important people in their lives.

On Sunday, we celebrate the many ways families nurture, guide, encourage, and care for little hearts every single day. Thank you for the hugs, the patience, the bedtime stories, the packed lunches, and the endless love that helps our children grow with confidence and joy.

From all of us at Strive Niagara, we wish you a day filled with appreciation, laughter, and special moments with the ones who love you most. Happy Mother’s Day!

We were proud to have our Executive Director, Michelina Horton, share the spotlight with our Young Parents Outreach Prog...
04/30/2026

We were proud to have our Executive Director, Michelina Horton, share the spotlight with our Young Parents Outreach Program at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer Appreciation Night recently.
As a guest speaker, she highlighted how some of the young parents we support are participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters' Young Parent Mentoring Program (YPMP), where parents aged 25 and under are matched with a caring mentor for bi-weekly social engagement and mentorship.
A huge thank you to BBBS for the incredible support they provide by connecting our young parents with mentors. These relationships make a real difference—offering guidance, encouragement, and someone to lean on when it’s needed most.
Many of the young parents in our program face a variety of challenges, and having a supportive mentor can be a powerful part of their journey. We’re so grateful for this partnership and for the volunteers who show up with compassion and commitment every day.

Pictured above, from left to right, are Brittany Weaver, Outreach Program Facilitator, ED Michelina Horton and Big Brothers Big Sisters Sarah Ludberg, BBBS Senior Director of People and Programs.

After what felt like non-stop rain, yesterday’s sunshine was the perfect little reset.Puddles took a break, clouds parte...
04/28/2026

After what felt like non-stop rain, yesterday’s sunshine was the perfect little reset.

Puddles took a break, clouds parted, and our playground came back to life! The kids at our Welland Parent Child Care Centre soaked up every minute—running, laughing, and enjoying some much-needed Vitamin D.

Here’s hoping that sunshine sticks around a little longer… we’re not quite ready to trade it back for rain just yet!

Snail-abrating science at our Sven H. Dohnberg centre today! Our little learners had a blast getting hands-on with scien...
04/24/2026

Snail-abrating science at our Sven H. Dohnberg centre today!

Our little learners had a blast getting hands-on with science and making some slow-moving new friends. From curious observations to lots of giggles, it was a fun way to explore the world around us—one snail at a time!

Who knew science could be this cute?

Thanks Early Childhood Community Development Centre - ECCDC for hosting our Sven H. Dohnberg centre staff for one of th...
04/17/2026

Thanks Early Childhood Community Development Centre - ECCDC for hosting our Sven H. Dohnberg centre staff for one of their staff meetings!

Sensory Fun in the Kitchen! Today our little learners had a delicious adventure exploring their senses with our amazing...
04/02/2026

Sensory Fun in the Kitchen!

Today our little learners had a delicious adventure exploring their senses with our amazing cook Becca at Pine Grove Child Care Centre! From smelling the sweet ingredients, to seeing how everything comes together, and of course the best part… tasting! 😋

Yumm! Fresh strawberry and banana bread was on the menu, and it was a big hit!

Hands-on experiences like these help spark curiosity and make learning so much fun. 💛

Who else loves learning that tastes this good?

A friendly reminder to our families and clients that our child care centres and programming will be closed on Good Frida...
04/02/2026

A friendly reminder to our families and clients that our child care centres and programming will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

We hope this long weekend brings you time to relax, recharge, and enjoy special moments with your loved ones. 💛

We look forward to welcoming everyone back after the holiday!

Happy Easter! 🐰🐣

Address

285 East Main Street
Welland, ON
L3B3X1

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(905) 735-2566 Ext. 221

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Strive Niagara posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Strive Niagara:

Shortcuts

Share