Youth Diversion

10/15/2026

Our Executive Director, Joanna Conrad, will be presenting at the Down Right Extraordinary Family Conference! 💙💛

Drawing on her work at Youth Diversion and her experience as Vivi’s mom, Joanna will share practical ways families can support digital safety while encouraging independence, confidence, and connection for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We’re looking forward to bringing these important conversations to more families!

10/13/2026

NEW SWAG. SAME IMPORTANT MESSAGE. ⭐☆☆☆☆

We're giving digital safety a little attitude with the newest addition to our collection!

Introducing the PRIVATES tee.

⭐☆☆☆☆
Would not recommend sharing.

And before you ask, no, we're not *just* talking about those privates. 😉

We're talking about your passwords, personal information, private conversations, photos, videos, location, and everything in between.

Because your digital privacy is about more than what you post. It's about what you share, who has access to it, and how much control you have over where it ends up.

At Youth Diversion, we believe important conversations don't always have to start with a serious message. Sometimes, a little humour is exactly what gets people talking.

Our newest design is a playful reminder that some things are worth keeping private.

We're excited to share a sneak peek at our latest swag, with plans to make our collection available for purchase through our website in the future.

Stay tuned. More to come!

10/08/2026

We’re proud to share that our Executive Director, Joanna Conrad, will be presenting an upcoming continuing education session through the Wayne State University School of Social Work.

Digital Independence: Understanding the Digital Landscape, Risks & Vulnerabilities will explore how professionals can support people with intellectual disabilities in navigating online opportunities and risks—while respecting autonomy, privacy, dignity, and inclusion.

📅 March 23, 2027
🕐 1–3 p.m. Eastern Time
💻 Live on Zoom
🎓 2 Social Work CECHs
💵 $25

Joanna brings more than 20 years of experience in youth justice, prevention, family intervention, education, and community leadership—as well as a deep personal commitment to promoting digital independence for people with intellectual disabilities.

We’re proud to see this important conversation reaching professionals across our region and beyond.

Register through Wayne State University Continuing Education: https://events.wayne.edu/socialwork-continuing-education/2027/03/23/session-1-digital-independence-understanding-the-digital-landscape-risks-107707

I’m excited to present Session 1 of Digital Independence: Understanding the Digital Landscape, Risks amp; Vulnerabilities, offered through the Wayne State University School of Social Work’s Office of Continuing Education.

Digital access can foster friendship, education, employment, self-advocacy, community participation, and independence for people with intellectual disabilities. It can also introduce complex risks—including online scams, catfishing, identity theft, cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion, and AI-generated deception.

This practical session will help social workers and other helping professionals consider how we can promote digital safety without unnecessarily limiting autonomy, privacy, dignity, or inclusion.

📅 March 23, 2027
🕐 1–3 p.m. Eastern Time
💻 Live on Zoom
🎓 2 Social Work CECHs
💵 $25

Participants will explore:
• The benefits of meaningful digital inclusion
• Today’s evolving online risks and vulnerabilities
• Warning signs of exploitation and coercion
• Accessible, person-centred approaches to digital safety
• Ways to balance protection with choice and independence

Register through Wayne State University Continuing Education:
https://lnkd.in/gY4jkMvP

I hope you’ll join me—and please share this opportunity with colleagues working in social work, disability services, education, community support, youth services, or related fields.

10/08/2026

🍂 The Fall Family Toolkit is here!

Big feelings. Difficult behaviour. Communication breakdowns. They’re all part of family life—but knowing what to do in the moment isn’t always easy.

Our Fall 2026 Family Toolkit: Emotional Wellness Edition is packed with practical tools to help parents and caregivers better understand what may be happening beneath behaviour, support emotional regulation, strengthen communication, and navigate challenging moments while still maintaining clear and healthy boundaries.

Inside this FREE issue:
🧠 Understanding emotional regulation & communication
💬 Practical family activities
🔎 What may be underneath challenging behaviour
❤️ Strategies for before, during & after big feelings
🗣️ Conversation starters
📍 Trusted local supports & resources

One message we want families to remember:
All feelings are valid. Not all behaviours are acceptable.

📬 Want the newsletter delivered directly to your inbox?
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/ZbmhifkQ4cKKKAKj9

Please share with a parent, caregiver, educator or family who could use it. 💛

10/07/2026

Flex kindness. Not hate.

Speaking up with purpose starts with knowing what to do.

Youth Diversion’s Beyond Bullying presentations help students recognize bullying in person and online, explore safe responses, and understand how to support peers and get help.

Schools have trusted our presentations for years. Through familiar scenarios and discussion, students develop shared strategies that school staff can reinforce afterward.

Presentations are available for Primary and Junior students and Grades 6–8.

Beyond Bullying Week | November 15–21

Parents: want Youth Diversion to visit your child’s school? Share this post with your principal or school council and ask about a Beyond Bullying presentation.

Schools can contact us to discuss options and availability:
Tel: 519-253-3340
Website: ecyouthdiversion.ca
Email: [email protected]

10/06/2026

Because their online world matters.

Questions about keeping your kids safe online, setting healthy boundaries, or navigating technology together? Let’s talk.

Join Youth Diversion, in partnership with the Municipality of Leamington, for Device & Internet Safety for Families—a FREE workshop featuring practical tools and real conversations to help families build safer, healthier digital habits.

We’ll explore online safety basics, age-appropriate guidance, healthy habits and boundaries, and tools and resources you can use at home.

📅 Tuesday, October 27, 2026
🕕 6:00–7:15 PM
📍 Nature Fresh Farms Community Centre - 249 Sherk St., Leamington

There’s a session for the kids, too! Youth ages 6–14 will take part in a separate session for most of the workshop, then reunite with their families at the end.

FREE for families and caregivers. Light refreshments included.

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/yBncDxKaer3haUSa8

Know a family who would benefit? Please share this invitation!

10/01/2026

How do we respond when younger children become involved in serious harmful behaviour -and how do we intervene sooner?

Joanna Conrad, Executive Director of Youth Diversion recently spoke with CBC for two connected stories: one about concerns surrounding children’s possible involvement in vehicle theft, and another about Windsor Police’s dedicated youth crime coordinator position.

At Youth Diversion, we’re seeing more referrals involving younger children. Addressing that requires us to understand what is influencing their behaviour, hold them accountable in ways appropriate to their age and connect them and their families with meaningful support.

The harm experienced by victims matters. So does preventing the next incident. Strong coordination between police, schools, families and community agencies is essential to both.

09/24/2026

09/19/2026

Recent reports of increasingly serious youth crime in Windsor—including children as young as 10 being involved in vehicle theft—are deeply concerning.

Our Executive Director, Joanna Conrad, spoke with CTV Windsor about the importance of responding with both meaningful accountability and early, individualized intervention.

An immediate police response may stop an incident, but preventing the next one requires us to understand what is driving the behaviour. Families, schools, police, justice partners, and community organizations must work together to address underlying needs before concerning behaviour becomes more serious or entrenched.

Young people must be held accountable—but they must also be given the support and opportunity to make different choices. Early intervention strengthens youth, supports families, and builds safer communities.

09/16/2026

Young people deserve more than outdated information or fear-based messaging.

Youth Diversion presentations are regularly updated to reflect current research and the issues students are facing today. Every session is age-appropriate, engaging and designed to encourage open, honest conversation.

Our presentations explore topics such as:

• Internet and digital safety
• Bullying and healthy peer relationships
• Substance awareness and va**ng
• Peptide awareness for high-school-aged youth
• Practical strategies for navigating pressure and making informed choices

Our goal is not to scare students. It is to give them accurate information, strengthen their decision-making skills and equip them with strategies they can use in real-life situations.

Presentations are available for students in Grades 1–12 and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Book a presentation for your school or organization:

ecyouthdiversion.ca
519-253-3340
[email protected]