Services delivered: Redesign: Black Youth Justice Services

Component: Community Partnerships

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

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 Description

As part of the YJ Services Redesign for Black Youth – the Call for Proposals (CFP) programs / services will address the overrepresentation of Black youth in the justice system by taking action against systemic racism and impacts of colonialism, reducing disparities, and promoting equitable outcomes through the delivery of culturally relevant and sustainable system responses, that are informed, co-developed and co-delivered by Black organizations, communities, and partners.

Programs / Services will

• Prioritize community-based prevention and diversion to reduce the number of Black youth who become involved in the justice system
• Improve the quality, accessibility, and availability of appropriate programs and services, to meaningfully address justice-involved Black youth's unique strengths and needs
• Strengthen supports for Black youth's families, caregivers, and communities, to promote connectedness and well-being, and
• Effectively support Black youth as they exit the justice system, to set them up for future success and reduce further justice involvement

People served

At-risk and justice-involved Black youth 12-17 years of age at the time of the offence, where applicable), their families / caregivers, and communities.

Program / Service Features:

• Black-led, designed, and developed (including youth, families / caregivers, communities, where appropriate)
• Culturally relevant, community-based, and individualized
• Provide an effective and timely response to offending behaviour
• Identification of the needs and risks of Black youth in the program and responds with appropriate supports, including referral(s) to other community services
• and supports to address issues that are underlying risk factors linked to the probability of re-offending
• Provide an opportunity for the youth to recognize their skills and abilities
• Enhance cultural connections by linking Black youth to wraparound services that support Black peoples / communities/ organizations
• Increasing access to strengths-based, trauma-informed, family and community-oriented services for Black populations and communities, and
• Introduce concepts to provide greater understanding of the impacts of inter-generational trauma and violence, colonialism, and racism (where appropriate)

Program Goals

• Focus on targeted interventions to reduce reoffending behaviors and future involvement of Black youth in the justice system
• Culturally grounded and based on principles such as Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Oppression and Anti-Colonization
• Use a strength-based approach with youth and their families / caregivers / communities (where appropriate), to emphasize existing strengths, needs, skills, ambitions, knowledge, and talents and
• Revitalize youth 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

Ministry expectations

• Services helps Black youth and their families / caregivers / communities, and increases their resiliency by building their skills and competencies
• Services are designed to counter or mitigate significant risk factors without stigmatizing the youth
• Services are based on Black knowledges and cultural practices / perspectives, evidence-informed, and integrated with other services provided to youth within government and in the community
• Review youths' progress on a regular basis and adjust services, as needed
• Will provide information respecting existing community services and supports that may be suitable and, where appropriate, support youth in accessing these services
• Will be delivered by individuals with an appropriate range of skills, abilities, and cultural competency necessary to respond effectively to the needs of children, youth, and their families
• Sensitive to the social, linguistic, and cultural diversity of youths, families / caregivers, and communities
• The intervention/treatment process will promote youth involvement, partnership, and shared decision-making so that all parties understand the goals and desired outcomes
• Will bring key partners in multi-disciplinary service delivery together, where appropriate, to provide an integrated and coordinated service response to help meet the needs of youth and their families / caregivers
• Aligned with Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppressive, Anti-Colonial and human rights principles to challenge racism and oppression in all its forms
• Aligned where appropriate to support the achievement of the Youth Justice Division’s Outcomes Framework for youth
  • Improved functioning and positive social behavior
  • Increased skills and abilities
  • Increased youth engagement with supports and
  • Decreased re-offending
• 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.