Youth Justice Fund Projects - 2006-2007

African Canadian Legal Clinic:
African Canadian Youth Justice Program

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2006/06/01 – 2009/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$449,112.00

The Recipient proposes to offer community-based culturally appropriate services and referrals for African Canadian youth involved in the youth criminal justice process. The project is aimed at youth 12 to 18 years old and provides direct service as well as networking support along a continuum from police involvement to re-integration of the offender and serves as a resource to stakeholders (Judges, Crowns, Probation Officers, Duty Counsel, family members etc.). Funding is provided for three Court Liaison Workers who act as a resource and support within courts in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Argos Foundation (The) - Stop the Violence:
Youth Mentorship Program, Phase 2 - Life Coaches

Argos Stop the Violence
View the STOP THE VIOLENCE video
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/01 – 2007/05/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$42,122.00

The Recipient proposes to help young men in custody succeed in reintegrating into society, by supporting pro-social choices and rehabilitation, minimizing the risk of re-offending. In the program, Argonaut players act as life coaches at the Centre and work with youth in the community upon their release from the facility. Phase 2 of the program is the next step for young men who remain in custody at the Sprucedale Youth Centre but will soon be released to a group home setting.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs:
United Nations Model Youth Forum on Justice

Location
Manitoba
Duration
2006/11/20 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$100,000

The Recipient proposes to organize a three-day strategic planning session to develop a Regional Youth Initiative that can contribute to a more effective youth justice system and use of resources in the areas of prevention, intervention, and post-intervention for youth in conflict with the law (including youth involved in gangs, or having contact with police, probation, and the courts). The event will bring together 200 First Nation youth from urban and rural communities from across Manitoba.

Ben Calf Robe Society:
Animal Therapy

Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Duration
2006/11/27 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$230,328.00

The Recipient proposes to provide an effective intervention for Aboriginal youth involved in, or at risk of involvement, in a gang. In the project, the Recipient designs and runs therapeutic, cultural summer day camps using animals, nature and traditional Aboriginal teachings to intervene with approximately 60 Aboriginal youth. The goal is to teach the youth a permanent alternative lifestyle that will prevent them from on-going involvement in the justice system.

Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria:
Kick-Start Attendance Program

Location
Victoria, British Columbia
Duration
2007/02/16 – 2009/01/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$198,751.00

The Recipient proposes to facilitate youths’ compliance with court orders by providing educational modules for youth on the YCJA, the court system and youths’ responsibilities with respect to court orders, while also connecting youth with community resources that they have been court-ordered to attend. As part of the Kick-Start Program youth are also encouraged to volunteer in the community as well as participate in positive recreational activities that improve their health and wellness.

Boys and Girls Club of Charlottetown:
Project No Gangs

Location
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Duration
2007/01/03 – 2007/06/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$50,000

The Recipient proposes to work with provincial government officials to develop a justice system response to youth involved in guns, gangs and drugs or at risk of becoming involved. The project focuses on a population of youth that operates in a defined group and commits criminal offences, breaches court orders and enters custody collectively and repeatedly. The project examines the issues surrounding this target population, develops a report that describes the issue, identifies best practices, and recommends long-term intervention strategies.

Calgary Police Service, Calgary Chief of Police:
Youth At Risk Development (YARD) Program

Location
Calgary, Alberta
Duration
2006/11/15 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$60,000

The Recipient proposes to provide intervention supports for youth at risk of becoming involved in serious criminal behaviour and gangs. Programming is also made available to youth who are already involved in a gang and looking for a way out of the criminal lifestyle. The Youth at Risk Development (YARD) Program also partners with community resources to address the youths' specific risk factors, providing ongoing support to the youths and their families in the youths’ efforts to become contributing members of society.

Clean Nova Scotia Foundation (The):
The Youth Environmental Reclamation Service (YERS) Project

Location
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Duration
2006/09/01 – 2007/11/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$73,200.00

The Recipient proposes to work with approximately 75 youth completing community service hours as part of an extrajudicial measure. Through this program, the organization works with youth to help them develop employment skills and assets while providing a positive rehabilitative experience that also benefits the community. Youth participants are identified and supervised by the Nova Scotia Community Justice Society and the Recipient. Participation is voluntary and is designed to be completed in the evenings and on weekends.

Community Legal Information Association of Prince Edward Island, Inc.:
Informing the Community About Youth Justice

Location
Prince Edward Island
Duration
2006/08/28 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$41,040.00

The Recipient proposes to continue to promote, distribute and revise previously-produced youth justice PLEI materials and to work collaboratively with partners to develop and produce youth justice PLEI materials for specialized audiences such as newcomers to Canada, French-speaking Islanders and Aboriginal Islanders. The Recipient proposes to promote and deliver youth justice information sessions to alternative education classrooms and community groups, and develop ways to ensure relevant youth justice information reaches youth and families at their first contact with the justice system. Finally, the Recipient proposes to organize three regional workshops to bring together youth-serving agencies for the purpose of planning and developing an ongoing network of community-based support for youth in conflict with the law and youth at risk.

Coverdale Centre:
Coverdale's Youth Services Project

Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Duration
2006/04/01 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$60,160.00

The Recipient proposes to develop understanding and support partnerships that assist female youth who are in conflict with the law. It also proposes to assist in reducing the reliance on pre-trial detention through the development of bail release plans, as well as by supporting young female offenders in their efforts not to re-offend while in the community.

Eastern Health (Youth and Family Services):
Youth and Violence Conference

Location
St. John’s Newfoundland
Duration
2007/03/01 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$30,543.00

The Recipient proposes to host a two-day conference for youth service providers in the St. John's area to address the issue of youth participating in pre-gang activities. Participants, including provincial and municipal governments, Eastern Health, Eastern School District, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and youth serving community agencies and organizations, are to learn about the issues and ultimately develop a strategic action plan for the region to respond to youth at-risk or involved in gun, gang and drug activities.

Fédération franco_ténoise:
“La prévention, l'information et l'intervention au coeur de la justice”

Location
Northwest Territories
Duration
2007/01/15 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$35,876.00

The Recipient proposes to create awareness about juvenile delinquency for youth aged 12 to 17 living in the Northwest Territories. Prevention tools are distributed to youth in French schools and French immersion programs to inform them of the law. Youth are also invited to participate in workshops in which police arrests and trials are simulated. The purpose of these workshops is to demonstrate to youth that they could be involved in the youth justice system if they don't make smart choices. This project also informs youths’ parents about the youth justice system and laws applicable to youth. The parents are invited to participate in information sessions where they are able to provide opinions on the workshops provided to the youth.

Focus Foundation of British Columbia:
Changing the Life Trajectory of Gang Involved Aboriginal Youth who have Complex Needs and Co-Occuring Problems

Location
Vancouver, British Columbia
Duration
2007/02/12 – 2008/06/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$225,004.00

The Recipient proposes a project for approximately 8 off-reserve First Nations justice system and gang-involved youth with complex and co-occurring problems. The youth are referred to the project by youth probation officers from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. In addition to participating in a therapeutic wrap-around program designed to address their needs and change their life trajectories, youth have the opportunity to achieve an education through the Whytecliff Education Centre. The youth are also immersed in a First Nations' community which serves to enhance their self-esteem, helps root them in their history, better connects them to their land and culture, helps them learn from powerful role models and helps establish longer-term connections that could continue well past their time in the program.

Harbour Grace Community Youth Network:
Investing in Youth

Location
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
Duration
2006/12/19 – 2007/12/14
Total Youth Justice funding
$68,024.00

The Recipient proposes to offer the Changing Lanes program to youth involved in the youth justice system. The Changing Lanes program is offered three times over the duration of the project and consists of 15 weeks of interactive, informative sessions for approximately 45 youth. Sessions focus on five areas of learning: Education and Careers, Health Promotion, Recreation, Community Living and Volunteer/Employment Placement.

Intercultural & Community Development Resources Inc.:
Sharing Hope & Courage for Aboriginal Youth Communities Against Gangs, Drugs and Violence

Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Duration
2006/12/20 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$121,293.00

The Recipient proposes to host a two-day forum on youth gangs in rural Aboriginal communities in Alberta. The forum takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, in February 2007. Through the selection of topic areas and presenters, the forum focuses on gang-involved youth from a justice system perspective and aims to create awareness of gang activities in Aboriginal communities, identify community services needs and provide more opportunities for partnerships.

John Howard Society of Belleville & District:
Community Support Worker for Youth Program

Location
Belleville, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/21 – 2008/11/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$192,201.00

The Recipient proposes a multi-year community-based intervention to develop individualized services and supports for youth ages 12 to 17 who are in conflict with the law or at high risk of recidivism. The program provides immediate crisis response, case management planning, bail supervision and develops housing alternatives, benefitting an estimated 200 youth.

John Howard Society of Brandon:
Canupawakpa - Our Children - Our Future

Location
Brandon, Manitoba
Duration
2006/12/06 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$46,900.00

The Recipient proposes to focus on empowering members of this First Nation Community through training on Inter-Personal Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills, Youth Anger Management, Adolescent Partner Abuse and Domestic Violence and through on-going mentoring provided by the John Howard Society of Brandon. The Birdtail Dakota Nation also benefits from the training sessions. This project supports both communities in their efforts to become less reliant on the criminal justice system and assists in establishing a community-driven justice process for youth who are involved in the criminal justice system.

John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area:
Breaking the Cycle: Youth Gang Exit and Ambassador Leadership Program

Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/01 – 2008/11/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$404,116.00

The Recipient proposes a project which is modeled after the Canadian Training Institute's successful program of the same name. This pilot runs for 24 months over 3 fiscal years. The program directly addresses the issues of gang involvement at two levels. The primary level assists gang-involved youth and those on the periphery of gang involvement in making a positive behaviour change through the development of pro-social, leadership and employability skills. The secondary level of success is accomplished as these youth take their message to youth in the larger community about the "perils of gang involvement".

Justice Education Society of British Columbia:
Youth Criminal Justice Activities for 2006-2007

Location
British Columbia
Duration
2006/08/25 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$46,190.00

The Recipient proposes to deliver eight youth justice information workshops to specialized audiences. These workshops are to include information about relevant programs and services in BC that support the legislative framework of the youth justice system. The Recipient also proposes to prepare, organize and deliver orientation sessions on the youth justice system to marginalized and at-risk youth, making efforts to reach Aboriginal youth in remote and other areas of BC as well as youth from multicultural communities and youth in alternative education settings.

Kairos Community Resource Centre:
Kairos Youth Outreach Services

Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/01 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$87,393.00

The Recipient proposes to offer outreach services to approximately 14 youth with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) or with an FASD profile who will be referred to the program by a probation officer. The project staff meets youth in their community. They provide individualized services in which the specific needs of youth with FASD are taken into consideration. They participate in the development of individualized care plans which are designed to meet the individual needs of the youth by recognizing and supporting FASD-related disabilities while targeting the factors that put youth at risk of further criminal involvement. The project also aims at enhancing the bridges with other agencies/services involved in the development of the young person's care plan.

View the summary of the project evaluation

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board:
Champions for Youth Pilot Program Expansion

Location
Clarington and Northumberland, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/12 – 2009/01/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$227,829.00

The Recipient proposes to build sustainable community partnerships among justice, education, social and health organizations in Clarington and Northumberland to reduce the likelihood of further student involvement with the youth criminal justice system. Through this project, approximately 60 youth, ages 12 to 17, involved in low to medium-risk offences are matched with trained community mentors to improve their ability to make pro-social choices and offset risk factors of further involvement in illegal activities.

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia:
Youth Justice Information Projects for 2006/2007

Location
Nova Scotia
Duration
2006/10/30 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$49,323.00

The Recipient proposes to develop a youth justice web page on custodial supervision in the context of Nova Scotia's youth justice system for Nova Scotia teachers whose mandate includes law-related issues, and develop two youth justice mock-trial scenarios, to be made available in English and French, for eventual use in Nova Scotia.

Liberty for Youth:
Reintegration Strategy: Leadership Awareness, Character Development

Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/04 – 2009/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$95,674.00

The Recipient proposes to provide support for approximately 200 youth in conflict with the law, particularly those who are gang-involved or at high risk of gang involvement. Programming allows for youth to voluntarily participate for up to 39 weeks in a one-year period. Reintegration support is provided to assist young people in reconnecting to their community and circles of support. This involves counselling and programs that focus on interpersonal skills development, budgeting, occupational /source of income development, restitution and introspective activities. Referrals are taken from police, probation officers, custody and detention facilities, lawyers and sureties.

Men's Effort for Child Abuse Prevention and Women Protection (Mecapaw):
Teaching Social Values and Life Skills to At-Risk Black Canadian Youth

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/01 – 2007/11/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$50,000.00

The Recipient proposes to teach life skills, social values and practices to approximately 50 at-risk Black Canadian youth who are involved in, or at-risk of involvement, in a gang. Youth are referred to the program through community leaders who are aware of at-risk youth returning to the community after a period of custody as well as youth who are referred through court-based referral programs in Toronto.

Moncton Youth Residences Inc.:
Youth Inclusiveness

Location
Moncton, New Brunswick
Duration
2007/01/05 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$25,000.00

The Recipient proposes to host a workshop on March 20-21, 2007 on youth inclusiveness and on the specific threat of gang culture. Roundtable discussions and panel speakers explore how communities can bring together vital organizations and resources that serve youth as well as review programs that have been successfully implemented. The workshop examines youth gang culture and the identification of ways that the Great Moncton community can effectively work to minimize gang involvement and activity in the community as well as within the justice system including youth returning to the community after custody or those serving a sentence in the community.

National Association of Friendship Centres:
National Association of Friendship Centres Drug Prevention Consultation

Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/12 – 2007/06/30
Total Youth Justice funding
$287,330.00

The Recipient proposes to organize and deliver a consultation on drug intervention and prevention for Aboriginal youth with an emphasis on youth in conflict with the law. This consultation includes representatives from each Friendship Centre, Provincial and Territorial Association, the National Senate, the National Aboriginal Youth Council, the National Association of Friendship Centres and key experts in the field. The consultation provides an opportunity to discuss best practices in drug intervention and prevention and related youth justice programming, highlight success stories of local Friendship Centres and share programming knowledge.

Owen Sound Family YMCA:
Youth Mentoring Program

Location
Owen Sound, Ontario
Duration
2006/11/16 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$86,152.00

The Recipient proposes to run the YMCA Mentoring Program (a multi-year project) which is a voluntary program that complements and enhances the existing extrajudicial measures and extrajudicial sanctions diversion programs at the Owen Sound and Area Family YMCA. The mentoring program provides one-to-one support for youth involved in the justice system by matching youth with a positive role model from their community. The program is based on the concept that building positive community connections deters crime and reduces offending behaviour. Mentoring provides youth with an opportunity to make a healthy connection with an adult role model who can assist them in making meaningful changes in their lives.

Partners for Youth Inc:
A Solution Oriented Youth/Community Partnership

Location
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Duration
2006/12/04 – 2008/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$56,428.00

The Recipient proposes to run a multi-year project entitled "A Solution Oriented Youth/Community Partnership" which strives to bring all stakeholders together with youth to communicate challenges and create a framework for community-based youth justice interventions. One urban and one rural community (Fredericton and St. Stephen) will challenge themselves to identify innovative ways to address:

  1. bail support and supervision;
  2. supporting links between the justice system and appropriate services for high risk youth; and
  3. special needs and emerging youth justice issues. As a result of the community forums, Partners for Youth, in collaboration with other partners, choose one project from each region to pilot. These projects are to be volunteer driven and supported by project staff from Partners for Youth Inc.

Pauingassi First Nation:
Youth Justice Program - Development Phase

Location
Manitoba
Duration
2006/11/06 - 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$45,000.00

The Recipient proposes to support the Pauingassi First Nation community in the development of a Youth Justice program based on three key directions: prevention, meaningful consequences and rehabilitation/successful reintegration of youth into the community, with particular attention on FASD and the known over-representation of affected youth in the criminal justice system. The project builds on the significant progress that has been made to date for the adult population and supports capacity building efforts in the community.

Peacebuilders International Inc.:
Peacemaking Circles Around Youth

Location
Toronto, Ontario
Duration
2006/12/01 – 2008-11-30
Total Youth Justice funding
$299,247.00

The Recipient proposes to run a multi-year pilot project to implement a Peacemaking Circles Model for youth in the City of Toronto aged 12 to 17 who are gang involved or at high risk of gang involvement and are identified primarily by youth justice system officials. In addition, the project explores, develops and implements the use of Circles as an alternative to pre-trial detention. The project is undertaken in partnership with St. Stephen's Community House, which is responsible for intake assessments and providing referrals to other community programs and resources to assist the youth in avoiding further involvement with the youth criminal justice system.

View the summary of the project evaluation

People's Law School, Public Legal Education Society of British Columbia (The):
Youth Justice Provincial Tour 2006/2007

Location
British Columbia
Duration
2006/08/18 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$44,000.00

The Recipient proposes to promote, co-ordinate, produce and deliver 40 youth justice school presentations and community youth justice forums throughout Vancouver Island and in other British Columbia communities between September 2006 and March 2007.

Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick:
Promoting Understanding, Trust and Participation in the Youth Justice System 2006-2007

Location
New Brunswick
Duration
2006/10/11 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$50,000.00

The Recipient proposes to undertake the following activities in both official languages: a) update and reprint existing youth justice PLEI products, including a snapshot publication of services available to youth in New Brunswick; b) deliver youth justice presentations in classrooms throughout New Brunswick; c) develop new interactive youth justice PLEI products targeted at youth; d) promote and distribute youth justice PLEI materials to various agencies; e) work with various partners to promote knowledge about youth justice throughout the province.

Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland:
Youth Justice Activities for 2006-2007

Location
Newfoundland
Duration
2006/09/28 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$68,570.00

The Recipient proposes to translate and adapt their "For the Record" youth justice publication into Innueimun and Inuktitut, and re-print the French-language version of "For the Record" to meet the current demand.  It also proposes to give youth justice presentations to two groups: youth in schools (with a focus on reaching Aboriginal youth, youth in remote and rural areas of the province, and French-speaking youth) and the broader community, including youth who are not in school, youth justice stakeholders and members of the public, through community forum type presentations in the communities visited for the in-school presentations. The presentations focus on programs and services in Newfoundland and Labrador that are available to youth in conflict and youth at-risk as well as general information about the youth justice system.

Rain & Shine Behavioural Counselling Services Ltd.:
Detention Alternative Programme

Location
Chatham, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/12 – 2009/01/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$204,100.00

The Recipient proposes to reduce the frequency of use of pre-trial detention for youth in conflict with the law. The project addresses issues such as breaches of recognizance, personal accountability, meaningful consequences, and support the family and youth in the pre-trial process by clarifying the parameters and restrictions outlined in recognizance orders to ensure the young person and the parent(s) understand how each party is responsible and by offering young persons the opportunity to acquire and enhance appropriate, pro-social skills.

St. Leonard's Society of London:
Alternative Sentencing Program under the YCJA - "Attendance Centre Program"

Location
London, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/12 – 2009/01/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$144,973.00

The Recipient proposes to provide aftercare supports to approximately 150 high-risk youth that have completed the Attendance Centre Program disposition. An Aftercare worker is to be involved in the discharge phase of the youth's disposition and maintains this involvement for 3 to 6 months after contact has ended with the Centre. The Aftercare worker will maintain the established community supports, develop problem solving skills with the youth and be the liaison person between the youth and the probation if required, education, family and other community supports. The St. Leonard's Society of London has identified a gap between the services provided to high-risk youth in conflict with the law through the Attendance Centre Program and services made available to them after they are discharged of the Program.

University of Ottawa, Human Rights Research and Education Centre:
International Conference on the Rights of the Child

Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Duration
2006/10/30 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$25,000.00

The Recipient proposes to organize a conference on the rights of the child.  The objective of this bilingual conference is to generate an international interdisciplinary discussion about the different issues covered by The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force on September 2, 1990. Specifically, this conference attempts to become an 'open forum' to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this legal instrument from different disciplines and geographical locations. The conference is expected to draw participants and attendants from different countries from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Vancouver Police Department:
Vancouver and Surrey FASD Collaborative Roundtables

Location
Vancouver, British Columbia
Duration
2006/12/01 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$88,400.00

The Recipient proposes to support the continued efforts of the Vancouver Police Department to build upon work already undertaken to achieve a coordinated, youth- centered response to FASD youth in conflict with the law. This phase of the project strengthens cooperation, collaboration and information sharing for both the Vancouver and Surrey Collaborative Roundtables on FASD in order to draft and implement protocol agreements for each site that will assist in providing a seamless inter-sectoral response to better meet the needs of youth with FASD who are in conflict with the law in those communities.

Vancouver Police Department:
Strategic Response to Aboriginal Youth Violence in Vancouver - A Community Partnership Approach

Location
Vancouver, British Columbia
Duration
2007/01/02 – 2007/03/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$50,000.00

The Recipient proposes to bring together youth, elders and community stakeholders in an Aboriginal Youth Violence Strategy Council, to review current trends related to Aboriginal youth gang activity and violence; catalogue current services; identify gaps in services; and listen to insights and experiences of community stakeholders in Vancouver. The Council then produces a report that provides an analysis of the current situation and offers a set of recommendations for advancement.

Youth Justice Partnership Committee of Halton Region:
Background Research and Direction Setting to Address Youth Gang Issues in Halton Region

Location
Milton, Ontario
Duration
2007/02/01 – 2007/08/31
Total Youth Justice funding
$30,000.00

The Recipient proposes to collect background information about gangs and gang activity, including gang violence and best practices in addressing gangs, gang activity, and gang violence, especially prevention activities, to provide knowledge and understanding to justice services providers. The project also includes development of approaches in addressing the developing gang presence in Halton Region. The project is implemented through a collaborative partnership of justice and human service providers in the Halton Region who deal with youth justice clients and clients at risk of involvement in the youth justice system.