Tabono Centre
A day program for youth aged 12-17 who are not finding success in the traditional school system.
Tabono provides alternative educational opportunities and a place to learn and belong during the weekdays. Programming is offered in six areas: social & emotional learning; life skills; health & recreation; leadership & volunteering opportunities; work & vocational; and arts & culture.
Tabono Centre is introducing a wraparound approach which provides additional, individualized support to youth and families. Using a guided approach, we help youth and families to identify their needs, goals, strengths and their vision of a better future.
The Tabono Centre
- Accepts referrals from anyone, including parents/guardians
- Provides youth with alternative, strengths-based learning opportunities and a place to belong
- Is open four days each week with scheduled programming in the afternoons
- Includes learning opportunities in the community at a variety of locations and service providers
- Is focused on helping youth gain the skills they need to return to school or be successful in work
- Incorporates a wraparound approach to help youth and families set and reach their goals
Connect with the Tabono Centre
More information:
780-532-0373
info@johnhowardgp.ca
Who can access our program?
The Tabono Centre is a day program for youth aged 12-17 who are not finding success in the traditional school system. They may have been out of school for a while or be struggling to maintain their connection to school.
The Tabono Centre accepts referrals from families, schools, counsellors, probation and other community service providers. Families can call or email using the contact information on this page and we will complete a referral form, or complete the referral form found below. Agencies and other referral sources can complete and send in the referral form.
What is the process to be accepted into the Tabono Centre?
Youth and families can expect to hear from Tabono Centre staff within a week of receiving a referral to talk about what the youth and family are looking for and to explain what Tabono Centre offers. In some cases, there may not be an open spot available so there may be a delay in proceeding to the discovery process. When there is an open spot for a new youth at the Tabono Centre, we will reach out again to the parents or guardians of youth who have been referred to see if they are prepared to start the discovery process.
The process to become involved with Tabono Centre involves a series of sessions where we discover more about the needs, goals, strengths and culture of the youth and family. We work together to see if the supports and programming offered at Tabono Centre are a good fit for the youth and family and if the youth and family are interested in engaging in working towards their vision of a better future.
What can youth and families expect once accepted?
Tabono Centre uses a wraparound approach which provides additional, individual support to youth and families. The primary goal of wraparound supports is strengthening people’s own belief in their ability to meet the challenges ahead. Wraparound supports help to:
- Identify needs, strengths, culture and goals
- Support youth and family voice and choice
- Create a vision for a better future
- Engage with other supports to reach goals.
Youth and families should expect to be very engaged in the wraparound process with our staff and with the team of supporters and champions that they identify as part of their Circle of Support.
The Tabono Centre offers youth learning opportunities in six key areas:
- Life skills
- Social & emotional learning
- Health & recreation
- Leadership & volunteering opportunities
- Work and vocational
- Arts & culture
At Tabono “the community is the classroom,” meaning that youth are out in the community learning at other agencies and locations. For example, youth spend time together at community facilities like the library and the park, and also at other organizations such as the Centre for Creative Arts, Forest School, and Grande Prairie Friendship Centre. Tabono Centre youth also contribute to the community through volunteering.
Tabono Centre is open four days a week. Youth are expected to attend afternoons and there may also be morning hours depending on youth circumstances and staffing levels.
Where is the service?
The Tabono Centre is located in Grande Prairie. Youth must be able to attend in-person.