Youth Justice Fund Projects - 2007-2008

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:
International Congress on Street Gangs

Location
Montreal, Quebec
Duration
2007/10/09 – 2007/12/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$48,558.00

The Recipient proposes to focus on lessons learned about street gangs and highlight successfully applied methods that range from prevention to enforcement to re-integration. The objective of the Congress is to explore the development of a comprehensive and holistic strategy—one that contributes to the development of a framework to guide government, community, and policing interventions and investments. The Congress is designed to be of interest to police executives and managers, specialists in street gang intervention, municipal governments and community leaders, government policy makers, criminal justice agencies, and social, educational and youth-serving organizations.

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:
The National Invitational Symposium on the Youth Justice System

Location
National
Duration
2008/03/17 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$70,884.00

The Recipient proposes to host a National Invitational Symposium on the Youth Justice System. It will be a day-and-a-half facilitated session with 30 stakeholders from across the county to identify what is working and what is not working with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and to identify issues that call for improvement in the youth criminal justice system and the Youth Criminal Justice Act in particular. Sectors to be represented are: police, youth court judge, child welfare, education, community development, health, mental health, corrections, addictions treatment services, recreation, Aboriginal youth services and youth engagement.

Centre Communautaire Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre:
The Internship Program

Location
Montreal, Quebec
Duration
2008/01/22 – 2008/10/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$32,520.00

The Recipient proposes to give youth who are living in the Little Burgundy neighbourhood of Montreal and who are involved in gangs or at risk of involvement in gangs an opportunity to make "smart choices" by offering them mentorship, entrepreneurial and pro-social skills training. Youth are referred to this program by probation offices, Trajet Jeunesse, Batshaw Youth Protection Services, the Montreal Police Department or through self-referral or referral from a parent through the local community service centre of St-Henri.

Centre des jeunes l'escale 13/17:
“Forum : La foire aux questions”

Location:
Montreal, Quebec
Duration
2007/09/04 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$49,050.00

The Recipient proposes to organize a forum for community organizations and service providers working with youth in contact with the youth justice system and involved in guns, gangs and drugs activities. The intent of the forum is to identify community needs, discuss best practices and develop a cross-sectoral action plan for youth involved or at risk of being involved in gangs.

Coalition for Gun Control:
Les jeunes et les armes à feu : Lutter contre la violence par les armes à feu chez les gangs

Location
Montreal, Quebec
Duration
2007/05/22 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$49,785.00

The Recipient proposes to consult stakeholders working with youth involved in the justice system to develop strategies to reduce the risks related to gun use by youth involved in gangs. At the outset, intervention methods and strategies are to be developed, followed by training workshops for stakeholders, including teachers, police officers, probation officers and community workers. The aim of the workshops is to create awareness of the risks related to gun use by youth involved in gangs in Montreal and to distribute intervention tools to the stakeholders.

Intercultural & Community Development Resources Inc.:
Motivational Interviewing: Training for Front Line Youth Justice Staff in Community and Custody Settings

Location
Calgary / Edmonton, Alberta
Duration
2008/01/25 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$73,038.00

The Recipient proposes to undertake, on behalf of the Alberta Solicitor General & Ministry of Public Security, the organization and delivery of Motivational Interview Training for frontline youth justice staff in community and custody settings. Four two-and-a-half day training sessions are to be delivered in Calgary and Edmonton to teach and practice motivational interview techniques for approximately 80 staff.

Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre:
Addiction Treatment Model for Youth Justice Clients: A Collaborative Approach

Location
Nova Scotia
Duration
2008/01/01 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$29,500.00

The Recipient proposes to develop a promising addictions intervention model for incarcerated youth through expansion of the existing CHOICES service to the Nova Scotia Youth Facility. Drug treatment follow-up into the community upon discharge/release is included in this model. Program interventions also take place at various points in the youth justice system, such as a diversion away from the formal court system, during reintegration, or during a custody and supervision order.

National Judicial Institute:
National Judicial Institute Youth Criminal Justice Act Judge's Training

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2008/01/30 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$32,900.00

The Recipient proposes to bring together key players from the National Judicial Institute and others to attend a planning meeting for the development of a Train the Trainer session on key provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Train the Trainer session is targeted at Head Judges from across Canada who in turn are to provide training within their home regions.

Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad:
Turning the Tides: Community Led Gang Prevention through Mentoring

Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Duration
2008/02/18 – 2010/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$185,429.00

The Recipient proposes to develop and implement an integrated mentorship model for gang-involved youth. The project provides supported mentorship by adults who have successfully left gang/criminal involvement; links youth to alternate activities and peer groups; and strengthens the employability and social supports to help youth involved, or at risk of involvement, with gangs. Youth attend the program as a result of a requirement to complete community service hours at Ndinawe. While at the Centre, the youth are matched with mentors who will help them to develop skills and stay away from the gang lifestyle.

Regesh Family and Child Services:
Reconnecting Youth - A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2007/10/22 – 2009/06/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$156,920.00

The Recipient proposes to pilot a peer-group approach aimed at building life skills such as self confidence, ability to handle stress, personal control, anger management and pro-social behaviour with youth who are in a gang or have been identified as being likely to join a gang, are drug users and are at risk of dropping out of school. The majority of youth are referrals from probation officers. The program is piloted at Pearson Collegiate, located in one of the 13 designated priority neighbourhoods in Toronto, and targets youth in grades 10 to 12. Some youth also participate in the program based on recommendations of teachers, parents/guardians and self referral.

Strong Heart Teaching Lodge Ltd.:
Seeing Oneself Community Justice Initiative

Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Duration
2007/11/26 – 2010/03/3
Total Youth Justice funding
$224,286.00

The Recipient proposes to support 60 youth in the Manitoba Youth Centre, who have drug and gang involvement, through a justice system-based therapeutic intervention program. The project includes the development, implementation and evaluation of a tailored illicit drug treatment intervention for Aboriginal youth. The treatment intervention offers a culturally relevant, evidence-based, multifaceted skill building program to target illicit drug use and the related problem of gang involvement. Correctional personnel are trained to co-facilitate the program.

View the summary of the project evaluation

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba Inc.:
Aboriginal Female Gang Intervention

Location
Manitoba, Canada
Duration:
2007/04/11 – 2009/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding:
$300,000.00

The Recipient proposes to provide services such as intervention, education and re-integration to approximately 200 Aboriginal female youth in Manitoba, between 12-17 years of age, who are living in urban cities, in rural communities, on-reserve or who are in custody, and who are involved or are at risk of being involved in gang activities. In addition, a number of gang information and awareness workshops are to be given to approximately 320 Aboriginal female youth living on-reserve as well as in urban and rural areas. These effective services and workshops are designed to help reduce the number of Aboriginal female youth who are choosing gang activities as a viable lifestyle.

The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington:
Been There Project

Location
Bowmanville, Ontario
Duration
2007/05/01 – 2007/10/31
Total Youth Justice funding:
$28,380.00

The Recipient proposes to provide programming to young people who have a propensity to follow gangs/drugs in order to help them making smart choices. Through this project, approximately 20 youth involved in the justice system and involved or at risk of being involved in gang activities will be referred to a gardening and art program aimed at providing entrepreneurial, employment, social and artistic skills.

Trinity Theatre Toronto:
Moving Forward - Leadership for Life

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2008/03/01 – 2010/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$243,340.00

The Recipient proposes to have youth involved or at risk of being involved in gang activities, as well as involved in the justice system and expelled from school, participate in a peer leadership programming intended to successfully reintegrate them into the mainstream school system. The aim of this project is to involve youth with mentors and in activities that will help develop their pro-social and communication skills while also reducing the lure of gang involvement and lessen their risk of re-offending. The program sees approximately 250 youth involved in the justice system participating in this program offered in five Specialized Programs for Expelled Students (SPES) schools and 15 mainstream schools in the Toronto area.

View the summary of the project evaluation

Wabano Centre sor Aboriginal Health:
Wabano Way

Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Duration
2007/04/11 – 2009/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$340,000.00

The Recipient proposes to provide program services to about 75 Aboriginal youth, aged 12 to 17 years, that are in conflict with the law and who are involved or at risk of being involved in gang activities through the establishment of a formal relationship with the Ottawa Police Service and other community partners. The project offers programming such as mentorship, peer support, life skills development, cultural teaching, youth camps, employment readiness programming, homework and study skill clubs, and other crime prevention activities through presentations and social development strategies. At least 70% of referrals are for youth referred post-charge either through the Police, Crown Attorney, probation services or the Ottawa Regional Detention Centre.

View the summary of the project evaluation