Component: Prevention

Legislation: Cannabis Act, 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 provide youth (ages 12-18) with an interactive online digital experience course that promotes and educates the risks associated with cannabis use to their stage of development and providing them with foundational knowledge that promotes confidence towards embracing greater understanding of Canadian and Ontario laws specific to cannabis, self-awareness, and positive choices

Service description

People served

Young persons aged 12 to 18 who are in contravention with section 10 of the Cannabis Act, 2017 that states the following

  1. “No person under 19 years of age shall possess, consume, and attempt to purchase, purchase, or distribute cannabis
  2. No person under 19 years of age shall cultivate, propagate, or harvest, or offer to cultivate, propagate, or harvest, cannabis.”

Young person’s aged 12-18 who are referred to a youth education, prevention, and program referral under section 20 and 21 of the Cannabis Act, 2017.

  1. “A police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who is under 19 years of age has contravened section 10 may refer the person to an approved youth education and prevention program.
  2. A prosecutor may, in exercising a power to stay a proceeding under subsection 32(1) of the Provincial Offences Act a right to withdraw a charge, refer a person who is charged with a contravention of section 10 of this Act to an approved youth education or prevention program.”

Section 21, “A power that may be exercised under this Act by a police officer, other than a power set out in section 19, may also be exercised by a person designated under subsection 1 (3) of the Provincial Offences Act for the purposes of this Act.”

Program/service features

Includes:

  • The program is an e-course offered to prevent, delay, and reduce the harms associated with cannabis use among youth
  • Services are designed to increase pro-social behaviour by teaching skills necessary to assist young persons to be healthy, self-aware, and informed to make positive choices
  • Program promotes enhanced skill development to support prevention, harm reduction and awareness regarding the impacts of cannabis use among youth
  • Referral is by law enforcement personnel (e.g., Police Officers, Designated Provincial Offenses Officers, First Nations Constables, and Special Constables etc.), Provincial Prosecutors, Courts, and any other designated powers under Section 21 of the Cannabis Act, 2017
  • The program will create a unique identifier for each youth referred
  • Services are designed to ensure the youth is contacted within five days to provide access and supports to participate in the program
  • Services will also provide follow-up reminder(s) to youth prior to the 30-day completion timeline
  • Program will forward a program completion notification to Courts and Prosecutors, as mandated under the Cannabis Act, 2017, as well as respond to any law enforcement inquiries about youth’s program completion
  • The program coordinates services to provide a facilitated session of the program to youth, when requested
  • Program provides additional referral supports for youth and responds to youth and/or referral source inquiries

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 prevention and diversion programs and services to youth
  • Based on best practices and evidence-informed programming the e-course provisions are captured within five modules
    • Definition of Cannabis, The Law and What It Means to You
    • Why Youth Use Cannabis and Why They Don’t
    • Assess The Impacts of Cannabis To You
    • Ways to Protect Yourself From Using Cannabis
    • The Impacts of Driving When Impaired by Cannabis
  • Aligned where appropriate to support the achievement of the Youth Justice 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
  • Programming reflective and responsive to the youth, family and community strengths and needs
  • Accountable to the youth, family, and community and
  • Sensitive to the social, linguistic, and cultural diversity of families and communities
  • 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.

Service Data Name Definition

# of Youth Referred (Post- Charge): Youth Diversion Programming for Cannabis Related Offences

The total number of youth referred into the program as a result of a post-charge sanction. Prosecutors and courts have the ability to refer youth into the program that have been formally charged for cannabis related offences.

# of Youth Served: Youth Diversion Programming for Cannabis Related Offences

Number of youth who are the recipients of the approved service in a residential or non-residential program during the fiscal year (April 1st - March 31st).

# of Youth Referred (Pre-Charge): Youth Diversion Programming for Cannabis Related Offences

The total number of youth referred into the program by a police officer or by-law enforcement officer. Police and by-law enforcement officers have the option to divert youth directly into the program rather than laying a formal charge and/or fine.

# of Successful Completions: Youth Diversion Programming for Cannabis Related Offences

The number of young persons who complete the program as directed/established by the program.

Ministry-Funded Agency Expenditures: Youth Diversion Programming for Cannabis Related Offences

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