The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program

Brief Description

The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program is based on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Comprehensive Gang Model, and uses its comprehensive, three-pronged approach to reduce youth gang activities. The program runs under the existing In It Together program.

The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth project is centered on community mobilization; recreation; mentoring; parent education mediation; outreach; support; counselling for families; school support; employment readiness; and skills development.

Goals

The main goals of the Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth project are to:

• Increase the capacity of the South Asian Community Resource Office (SACRO) youth gang prevention and intervention work with female South Asian youth ages 12-22.
• Reduce the crime and gang involvement of the female South Asian youth participating in the new project
• Increase support available for South Asian youth (male and female) ages 11-18 with low-moderate risk for crime and gang involvement by matching with screened/trained South Asian volunteer mentors.

Clientele

The project primarily serves female South Asian youth ages 12-22 in Abbotsford who are high risk of involvement or are currently involved in youth crime or gang activity.

The project also focuses on South Asian youth (male and female) ages 11-18 who are referred to the project; have a low-moderate level of risk for criminal and gang involvement; are requesting to be matched with a mentor.

Core Components

The intensity and duration of the Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian youth program is matched to needs. Typically, this will involve weekly meetings with youth and parents. The program components include the following:

• Primary prevention: Prevention advice and age-appropriate developmental and social expectations are given to parents. Individual support for parents is also available;
• Secondary prevention: at-risk youth (12-18 years old) who have already had contact with police are identified for skill building and pro-social recreational activities, one-on-one services with an outreach worker, and individualized case management;
• Tertiary prevention: at-risk youth (11-14) who are involved in gang activity with interventions individualized based on client needs including one-on-one support and advocacy for the youth and family members, support for criminal proceedings (visits, court accompaniment), and advocacy;
• Interventions for gang affiliated youth: youth and youth adults (12-22 years old) with a history of gang affiliation, or those known to police, receive more intensive services.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: The lead organization must ensure that the program is in line with community needs.
• Partnerships: The success of the Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program depends on its partnerships with the Abbotsford Police Department, Abbotsford School District, health services, and social services.
• Training and technical assistance: Archway Community Services provides risk assessment and policy/procedures training to all staff members. Staff must also be trained about the OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model.
• Risk assessment tools: Youth are evaluated using the ASSET tool.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) provided funding to implement The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program in Abbotsford, British Columbia (over 5 years, from 2019 to 2022). The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program is implemented by Archway Community Services.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

The Enhancing Crime Prevention with South Asian Youth program has received funding in 2019 and evaluation is in progress.

Cost Information

The total program costs over 3 fiscal years are $225,000 (2019-2022).

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Archway Community Services

2420 Montrose Avenue

Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 3S9

Telephone: (604) 859-7681

E-mail: Hello@Archway.ca

Website: https://archway.ca/