DUNCAN, COWICHAN PILOT SUPPORTS, ENGAGES AT-RISK YOUTH

DUNCAN – A community-based crime prevention pilot program, designed to support at-risk and vulnerable youth in Duncan and the Cowichan Valley, will be launched next week, announced Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen.

The Youth Inclusion Program, funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, delivered by the Hiiye’yu Lelum Society, and supported by a community advisory board, is specifically targeted to youth aged 10 to 14 who are at risk for – or may be engaging in – criminal behaviour.

“Preventing and reducing crime in our vulnerable youth population is not something we can accomplish alone,” said Christensen. “It’s a task that governments and communities need to work on together. Programs like the one we are launching today focus on bringing key partners in a community together to identify youth who are at the greatest risk, while we work in partnership to find and implement locally-tailored intervention and prevention methods that work.”

A co-ordinator and two youth outreach workers will work with school districts, RCMP and community agencies to identify 30 youth who are considered to be the most at-risk and may benefit from the program. Criteria used to identify young people include: behaving in socially unacceptable ways that may require a multi-agency response, at risk for offending and/or anti-social behaviour including substance-related crimes, and at risk for substance use or abuse. Participation in the program is voluntary.

Youth participants will be connected with an outreach worker to create an individual plan, which will focus on the interest and strengths of the youth and the needs of his or her family. Community resources and programs will be used to engage participants in five to 10 hours per week of gender- and age-appropriate pro-social activities. Activities could include: education and tutoring, after-school support, workshops, cultural activities, life skills, recreation and sports, and more. Programs and activities will be culturally sensitive to suit the needs of the individual.

“I am excited about the possibilities with this prevention program and the impact we can have supporting young people to reach their potential,” said Debbie Williams, executive director of the Hiiye’yu Lelum Society. “I appreciate the leadership of the Ministry of Children and Family Development to bring these additional resources to the community, recognizing the challenges local youth are facing. This leadership and the support received from community partners will contribute to the success of the program.”

Representatives from a wide array of community agencies in Duncan and the Cowichan Valley have been invited to participate on the advisory board, to help continue to shape the direction of the program.

In December, the Ministry of Children and Family Development announced funding to support the creation of six community-based crime prevention pilot programs across the province. The Youth Inclusion Program is the fifth to be launched. The ministry’s Vancouver Island region will provide approximately $180,000 during the 2009-10 fiscal year for the program.

The crime prevention pilot programs are supported by the Criminal Justice Reform Secretariat. More information is available at www.criminaljusticereform.gov.bc.ca.

A community event celebrating the launch of the program will take place at the Hiiye’yu Lelum (House of Friendship) Society Youth Centre (107 – 5462 Trans-Canada Highway, Duncan) on April 9 at 3 p.m.

For more information on this event, please contact the Ministry of Children and Family Development at (250) 334-5820.

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Media contact:	Carolyn Heiman Manager, Media Relations Ministry of Children and Family Development 250 356-1639 250 888-3545 (cell)	Debbie Williams Executive Director Hiiye’yu Lelum (House of Friendship) Society 250 748-2242

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