Government of Canada Supports a School-Run Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program for Young Offenders in a Northern Community

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES--(Marketwired - Feb. 9, 2015) - Department of Justice Canada

Today, Ryan Leef, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of Justice Minister Peter MacKay, announced $460,000 in funding to the Deh Gàh Elementary and Secondary School in Fort Providence, to support a reintegration and rehabilitative program for youth involved in the youth justice system. Programming will include in-class assistance, tutoring and mentoring, physical activities, employable skills training, career planning, and various counselling sessions and activities to help address the use of, and addiction to, illicit drugs.

This project is funded by the Youth Justice Fund, which supports a broad range of projects with youth involved in the criminal justice system. The Youth Justice Fund provides grants and contributions to projects that encourage a more effective youth justice system, respond to emerging youth justice issues and enable greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada supports community-based groups working with vulnerable youth to provide alternatives to the criminal justice system.
  
  
• The funding of $460,000 is being provided over four years as follows:
  
  
  • $71,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015
    
    
  • $148,500 for fiscal year 2015-2016
    
    
  • $148,500 for fiscal year 2016-2017
    
    
  • $92,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018
    
    
• The Deh Gàh program will use the funding to provide a youth support program to reconnect youth currently involved in the youth justice system with the school and community.
  
  
• Programming will include in-class assistance, tutoring and mentoring, physical activities, employable skills training, career planning, and various counseling sessions.
  
  
• Programming also will be offered during school breaks, i.e., summer vacation, and outside school hours.
  
  

Quotes

"Our Government is taking further action to help at-risk youth who have been in trouble with the law and increase the safety and security of our northern communities. I am proud that our Government is supporting the Deh Gàh Elementary and Secondary School as they work to reintegrate youth into the community and school system. This funding shows our commitment to investing in Fort Providence's youth, and demonstrates our dedication to making our communities safer."

Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Programs like the Fort Providence Youth Wellness Program encourage community involvement in the youth justice system through innovative approaches to dealing with young people in conflict with the law. With the right community support, these youth have a much better chance of success at reintegrating into Canadian society."

Ryan Leef, Member of Parliament for Yukon

"Thanks to the Youth Justice Fund, the Fort Providence Youth Wellness Program will provide youth involved in the youth justice system with the support and the direction to develop their whole being (body, mind and spirit) in a positive, safe and caring environment. The Fort Providence Youth Wellness Program will help the youth to obtain the skills and the strategies needed to make productive choices in life and their community. Through the Youth Justice Fund, the Government of Canada shows their support to projects like the Fort Providence Youth Wellness Program that aims to prevent youth from re-entering the youth justice system."

Lois Philipp, Principal, Deh Gàh Elementary and Secondary School

Related Products

Backgrounder: Youth Justice Fund

Associated Links

Department of Justice: Youth Justice Fund

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BACKGROUNDER

Youth Justice Fund

The Youth Justice Fund was established in the 1990s as part of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative, and provides grants and contributions funding for projects across Canada. The Youth Justice Fund has a budget of approximately $4.5 million each year.

The Youth Justice Fund has three components:

• The Main Fund supports a broad range of projects relating to youth involved in the justice system. Current funding priorities include youth with mental health issues and/or cognitive impairments. The Main Fund can also provide support to respond to emerging youth justice issues.
  
  
• The Drug Treatment component supports drug treatment interventions for youth involved in the justice system who are dealing with drug abuse.
  
  
• The Guns, Gangs and Drugs component responds to youth involved in the justice system who are involved in, or vulnerable to, gun-, gang- and drug-related activities.
  
  

The Youth Justice Initiative is a multi-faceted approach that includes a legislative framework (the Youth Criminal Justice Act) and programming resources that:

• Encourage a more fair and effective youth justice system;
  
  
• Respond to emerging youth justice issues; and
  
  
• Enable greater citizen/community participation in the youth justice system by encouraging partnerships and innovations, and developing and sharing information and knowledge about youth justice.
  
  

Community organizations, Aboriginal organizations, and individuals are eligible for funding to help develop community-based programming options and partnerships that respond more effectively and in a more meaningful manner to youth in conflict with the law. Funding support is also used to advance changes in provincial/territorial policies and programs that are consistent with the intent of federal policy objectives.

The Youth Justice Fund supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of pilot projects that provide programming and services for youth in conflict with the law. It supports professional development activities, such as training and conferences, for justice professionals and youth service providers. Additionally, it funds research on the youth justice system and related issues.

Projects must target youth who are between the ages of 12 and 17 and currently in conflict with the law, or justice professionals and/or service providers who work with these youth.

To learn more about the Youth Justice Fund, please visit www.canada.justice.gc.ca/youth.