Component: Indigenous Services

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA), 2017 Youth Criminal Justice Act (CJA), 2003

Transfer Payment Recipients will follow the Youth Justice Services Manual (YJSM) that was first issued April 1, 2006, and all subsequent revisions. "Contents Applicable to All" and the "Transfer Payment Community Based Programs and Services" sections outline minimum requirements for the Transfer Payment Recipients.

Service objectives

  • Provide culturally relevant programming for Indigenous young persons
  • Provide diversion programming (pre-charge measures and/or post-charge sanctions), to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in the justice system by diverting them at the earliest opportunity
  • Through a Community of Practice, leverage expertise from community organizations, families, Elders, and the justice sector for expert advice on improving youth outcomes and opportunities
  • Enhance cultural connections by linking Indigenous youth to wrap-around services that are designed and delivered by Indigenous organizations
  • Promote partnerships and communication between community organizations and the justice sector to enhance referral and care pathways
  • Increase access to culturally grounded, strengths-based, family and community- oriented services for high-need Indigenous populations and communities

Service description

People served

  • Indigenous youth (12-17 years of age at the time of offence), who accept responsibility for participation or involvement in the commission of the offence

Program/service features

  • Services will be provided by an Indigenous service provider Provides an effective and timely response to offending behavior
  • Identification of the needs and risks of youth in the program and response with appropriate diversion supports, including referral to other community services and supports to address issues that are underlying risk factors linked to the probability of reoffending
  • Measures and/or sanctions are determined on an individual basis and encourage the Indigenous young person to demonstrate responsibility in the community, while providing an opportunity for the young person to recognize their skills and abilities and encourage constructive use of the leisure time
  • The program should be designed to encourage caregivers/ families, communities, and support systems of Indigenous young persons – including extended families where appropriate – and the community to become involved in the design and implementation of those measures and/or sanctions
  • Program Delivery will be supported through a Community of Practice (CoP) to
    • develop and share common tools, frameworks, and processes to support program development, implementation and evaluation and sustainability and
    • share and disseminate information, resources and lessons learned for planning and delivering Indigenous diversion programming between Indigenous organizations and across the youth justice sector

Program goals

  • Focus on targeted interventions to reduce reoffending behaviors and future involvement of client in the justice system
  • Programs are culturally grounded and trauma-informed and are based on guidance of Indigenous communities and organizations
  • They use a strength-based approach, which focuses on building a case management relationship with youth and their families to emphasize existing strengths, needs, ambitions, ascribed meaning to experiences, accumulated knowledge, and talents
  • They will involve the youth’s local community and contribute to long-term growth of knowledge and skills among clients and communities
  • Introduce concepts to provide greater understanding of the impacts of intergenerational trauma and violence, colonialism, and racism
  • Revitalize a youth's sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-value to help youth reclaim and take pride in their identity and strengthen their connection to their family, community, and culture
  • Disseminate new, evidence-informed research and best practices in providing targeted, culturally relevant services that can be shared to increase the capacity and responsiveness of Ontario’s youth justice services system over the long-term

Services will be (standard terms)

  • Part of a youth-centered delivery system that provides diversion programs and services to Indigenous youth in conflict with the law
  • Reflective and responsive to the youth, family and community strengths and needs
  • Accountable to the youth, family, and community
  • Sensitive to the social, linguistic, and cultural diversity of families and communities
  • Staffed by individuals with the appropriate range of skills, abilities, and cultural competency necessary to respond effectively to the needs of youth and families
  • Aligned where appropriate to support the achievement of the Youth Justice Division’s four outcomes for youth
    • Improved functioning and positive social behavior
    • Increased skills and abilities
    • Increased youth engagement with supports and
    • Decreased re-offending
  • The program/support is based on the youth’s needs, preferences and available individual, agency, community, and contracted Ministry resources
  • Aligned with Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppressive, Anti-Colonial and human rights principles to challenge racism and oppression in all its forms
  • Responsible for completing reporting requirements that demonstrate program metrics such as utilization, outcome achievement, evaluations and other reports as required by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.

# of Youth Referred by Probation (Pre-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous YouthThe total number of referrals sent to the agency from Probation in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

Service Data Name Definition

# of Youth Served (Prevention): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

 The unique number of youth (Prevention) who received this service in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs in which they participated.

# of Youth Served (Pre-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

 The unique number of youth who received this service (Pre-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs in which they participated.

# of Youth Served (Post-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The unique number of youth who received this service (post-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs in which they participated.

# of Youth Who Completed the Program (Prevention): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The unique number of youth who successfully completed this service (Prevention) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Completed the Program (Pre-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The unique number of youth who successfully completed this service (Pre-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Completed the Program (Post-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The unique number of youth who successfully completed this service (post-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

Youth Referred by Justice/Police (Prevention): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from Justice/Police in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Probation (Prevention): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from Probation in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Prevention). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Other Sources (Prevention): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from other sources (e.g., Community Agencies, Education, Health) in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Prevention). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Justice/Police (Pre- Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from Justice/Police in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Other Sources (Pre-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from other sources (e.g., Community Agencies, Education, Health) in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Justice/Police (Post- Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from Justice/Police in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (post-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Probation (Post-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from Probation in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (post-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Referred by Other Sources (Post-Charge): Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

The total number of referrals sent to the agency from other sources (e.g., Community Agencies, Education, Health) in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (post-Charge). If the same youth is referred to the agency multiple times, each referral is counted separately.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Access to Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Prevention)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased access to traditional and culturally relevant services (Prevention) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Access to Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Pre-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased access to traditional and culturally relevant services (Pre-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Access to Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Post-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased access to traditional and culturally relevant services (post-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Involvement with Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Prevention)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased involvement with traditional and culturally relevant services (Prevention) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Involvement with Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Pre-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased involvement with traditional and culturally relevant services (Pre-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Involvement with Traditional and Culturally Relevant Services (Post-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported an increased involvement with traditional and culturally relevant services (post-Charge) in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Improved Self-Confidence and Well-Being (Prevention)

The unique number of youth who self-reported improved self-confidence and well-being in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Prevention). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Improved Self-Confidence and Well-Being (Pre-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported improved self-confidence and well-being in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Improved Self-Confidence and Well-Being (Post-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported improved self-confidence and well-being in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (post-Charge). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Life Skills and Knowledges (Prevention)

 The unique number of youth who self-reported increased life skills and knowledges in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Prevention). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Life Skills and Knowledges (Pre-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported increased life skills and knowledges in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (Pre-Charge) The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

# of Youth Who Reported Increased Life Skills and Knowledges (Post-Charge)

The unique number of youth who self-reported increased life skills and knowledges in the reporting year (cumulative) for this service (post-Charge). The same person should only be counted once per year, regardless of the number of programs they completed.

Ministry-funded Agency Expenditures: Diversion Programming for Indigenous Youth

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).