Inclusion and Behaviour Support
BGC Durham is a recreation-based program with staff ratios of:
- 1 staff member for every 15 children – 4-12 years of age and older
- 1 staff member for every 20 children –13 + years of age
While our programs and locations are designed to be inclusive, they are not typically equipped to support complex needs or behaviours. As part of our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion, we continually strive to meet the diverse needs of our community, from staff to participants.
We understand the growing demand for additional resources and services for children and youth with exceptionalities. To better support these needs, BGC Durham has developed the Inclusion and Behaviour Support Program, which complements our regular programs and camps to ensure a more inclusive experience for all children and families.
We are dedicated to adapting our programs to better serve individuals’ unique needs as we grow and evolve to support our community.
Requesting Support for Your Child
If you believe your child requires additional support for behavioural, medical, or social/emotional needs to be successful in our programs, we ask that Parents/Guardians/Caregivers connect with the Inclusion & Behaviour Support Coordinator before registering (steps to apply below). This will help us ensure we have the necessary resources (staff, funding, etc.) to support your child.
When reaching out, provide clear and detailed information about your child’s needs. Please include the following:
- Inclusion Participant Profile
- Your child’s strengths and interests
- The level of support you believe your child requires
Once we receive this information, the Inclusion & Behaviour Support Coordinator will follow up and schedule an intake appointment – additional information and/or documentation may be requested to fully understand your child’s needs and determine the appropriate level of support.
After-School Program 2025/2026
PA Days 2025/2026
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Monday, October 20, 2025
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Friday, November 14, 2025
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Friday, January 23, 2026
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Friday, April 17, 2026
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Friday, June 5, 2026
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Preferred dates and locations
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Level of support required (Enhanced/Designated)
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We will maintain a waitlist and contact families as supports become available.
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Families will have the option of purchasing additional supports.
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Families can at any time request to provide their own support worker.
Levels of Support at BGC Durham
Basic Support
Children and youth designated for Basic Support are not assigned a dedicated staff member (i.e., a Designated Support Staff). Basic Support is intended for children and youth who would benefit from basic program room strategies, such as transition warnings, access to a calming space or calming materials, etc. These strategies can be reasonably integrated into the program room environment without the need for additional personnel.
Enhanced Support
Children designated for Enhanced Support are assigned an additional staff member on a shared or part-time basis.
- Shared Support: The additional staff oversees up to four children in the group who require enhanced support.
- Part-Time Support: The additional staff provides support on specific days and times based on the child’s needs.
Enhanced Support will be considered and assigned (resources permitting) to children and youth who require or would benefit from shared and/or part-time support.
These children/youth may need occasional support with social, behavioural, or emotional challenges. The Inclusion & Behaviour Support Coordinator will assign a staff member to assist the child/youth during their time in the program. A tailored support schedule will be created based on the child/youth’s needs and the times when support will be most beneficial. On days when the child/youth does not receive Enhanced Support, program staff are expected to facilitate inclusion for the child/youth.
Designated (1:1) Support
Children and youth requiring designated support are assigned an additional staff member (i.e., a Designated Support Staff) to support participation in program.
Designated support will be considered and assigned (resources permitting) to children and youth who require individualized support to attend and succeed in the program.
The Inclusion & Behaviour Support Coordinator will assign a Designated Support Staff to assist the child or youth. Please note that the child’s attendance schedule may be adjusted based on Designated Support Staff availability.
Limited Registration or Support Allocation for Enhanced; 1:1 Support
In cases where there are a high number of support requests, BGC Durham may need to limit the number of days or weeks of support available to ensure all children receive the support they need. For children requiring 1:1 support, they cannot attend on days/weeks without designated support.
For example, if a family requests support for 8 weeks of summer camp, we may only be able to offer support for 2-3 weeks, depending on availability. If a child is registered and paid for more weeks than support is available, BGC Durham will provide a full refund for the weeks without support.
We encourage families to plan accordingly when making program arrangements. We appreciate your understanding as we do our best to accommodate as many children as possible in BGC Durham programs.
Steps to Apply
- Fill out the Inclusion Participant Profile
- Submit request (with Inclusion Participant Profile attached) to cgenereux@bgcdurham.com
Please Note: Requests for inclusion support are processed in the order they are received and depend on the availability of appropriate inclusion staff. To ensure a safe, successful, and enjoyable experience for all participants, we conduct interviews with families and children as part of our registration process. These interviews help us determine whether we can meet each child’s needs and, if so, pair them with the most suitable inclusion staff member to support their individual requirements.
Registration is not complete until inclusion support requests have been addressed. Participants may also choose to provide their own Outside Support Worker if desired. Once all spots are filled, a waitlist will be available.