Services delivered: Restorative Justice and Conflict Mediation Program

Component: Prevention

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

Requirements

Disposition of records

1. In the event the Service Provider ceases operation, it is agreed that the Service Provider will not dispose of any records related to the services provided for under this contract without the prior consent of Ontario, which may be given subject to such conditions as Ontario deems advisable
2. For purposes of services provided pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) (Canada), and the Provincial Offences Act (POA), upon termination of services to the young person, the Service Provider will retain and ultimately dispose of records relating to the young person in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Canada), the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) 2017 and the policies and procedures of Ontario

Confidentiality

1. The Service Provider, its directors, officers, employees, agents and volunteers will hold confidential and will not disclose or release to any person other than Ontario at any time during or following the term of this contract, except where required by law, any information or document that tends to identify any individual in receipt of services without obtaining the written consent of the individual or the individual's parent or guardian prior to the release or disclosure of such information or document. Where the Service Provider is a municipality, or such other "institution" as defined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the provisions of such Act with respect to the disclosure or release of information apply
2. Where the Service Provider is providing services for the purposes of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) (Canada) and the Provincial Offences Act (POA) the Service Provider, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and volunteers will abide by the confidentiality provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) (Canada) and the policies and procedures of Ontario

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

• To respond to/address issues of youth who are engaged in conflict/violence through peer mediation using a restorative justice approach in a school setting
• To provide timely response to youth violence/conflict that impacts the school through partnerships between the school(s)/school board(s) and community agency
• To support youth to strengthen pro-social skills, provide linkages to community services/supports and an opportunity to take accountability for their behaviour

Service description

People served

• High-risk youth in high-needs communities aged 12 to 21 enrolled in elementary or secondary school engaged in conflict/violence that impacts the school community

Program/service features

Includes:

• Provision of training to peer mediators and school staff facilitators to support at- risk / high- risk youth involved in conflict/violence that impacts the school community
• Coordination of a peer mediation program designed to facilitate the reparation of harm and relationships
• Identification of the primary needs and risk of youth in the program, and appropriate intervention, i.e., peer mediation, referral to community services and supports to address issues that are underlying youth conflict/violence and linked to the probability of reoffending
• Capacity building within the school to address behavioural issues
• Development of relationships between school and youth to support continuity of learning and to support increased school engagement and achievement
• Program implementation is to be responsive to and inclusive of the diversity of youth in the family of schools participating in the program
• Program development, training and delivery will be based on evidence-based or evidence-informed practices
• Referrals may be made by a number of sources including partner school/school boards, the police, as part of a pre-charge preventative measure, probation, and community agencies

Individual planning and case management

• Provision of case management with youth, families, schools, police, and community partners, as appropriate, where no Ministry Case Manager is currently assigned
• Development of processes / protocols to support linkages through referrals to community agencies/resources for youth to manage longer-term issues
• Provision of any agreement developed during peer mediation that includes sanctions or measures by which a young person can demonstrate accountability and repair harm
• Provision of alignment with existing case management plans if Ministry Case Manager already assigned

Services will be

• Part of a youth centered delivery system that provides rehabilitative and reintegration programs and services to youth in conflict with the law
• Based on cognitive behavioural principles and interventions, best practices, consultation, evidence-informed and/or evidence-based programming and integrated with other services provided to youth within government and in the community
• 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
• The program/support is based on the youth’s needs, preferences and available individual, agency, community, and contracted ministry resources
• Aligned where appropriate to support the achievement of the Youth Justice Service Division’s four outcomes for youth
  • Improved functioning and positive social behaviour
  • Increased skills and abilities
  • Increased youth engagement with supports and
  • Decreased re-offending
• Aligned with Anti-Racism and human rights principles to challenge racism and oppression in all its forms

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.