Alberta Security Infrastructure Program

Brief Description

The Alberta Security Infrastructure Program (ASIP) Grant funds security assessments, related training, equipment, immediate response, and security infrastructure improvements to registered not-for-profit agencies and charities for their facilities that serve communities or identifiable groups at risk of hate or bias-motivated crimes or incidents on an ongoing basis. As of December 2023, this program was expanded to additionally include Islamic and Jewish faith-based alternative schools, as well as Arabic bilingual programs in Alberta.

Goals

The main goals of the ASIP Grant program are to support community agencies to:

• Provide adequate security of their facilities to deter further hate-motivated crimes or incidents against marginalized groups;
• Provide additional training and education for staff members or volunteers in specific areas including, but not limited to, first aid, de-escalation, conflict avoidance, hate crime awareness, and legal awareness; and
• Provide immediate response for a short-term need related to a high-risk hate or bias-motivated incident that had been reported to the police. This includes the cost of paying for additional security personnel for 30 days or less, or immediate repairs for damage done to the facility, including things like graffiti removal, lock replacement, and door repairs.

Clientele

Non-profit organizations, places of worship/ceremonial facilities, academic institutions, and community centres, cemeteries, or shelters can apply for the ASIP Grant program, which accepts applications on an ongoing basis. Applicants must serve one or more members of an identified group at risk of hate crimes or hate-motivated violence.

As there is no start or end date for the grant program, any space that could benefit from the program and are experiencing targeting of any kind are welcome to apply.

Core Components

The funded agency’s security needs and challenges may differ depending on the population served by each agency, and the needs of the area they are located within. These grants are provided based on an assessment of challenges and needs presented within individual proposals to aim to reduce or prevent further hate or bias-motivated crimes or incidents in their areas.

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: The program is open to all not-for-profit agencies across Alberta that have been targeted or are at risk of being targeted by a hate or bias-motivated crime or incident.
• Partnerships: Le programme est ouvert à tous les organismes sans but lucratif de l’Alberta qui ont été ciblés ou risquent d’être ciblés par un crime ou un incident motivé par la haine ou les préjugés.
• Training and technical assistance: Training/technical assistance needs are determined by each individual grant recipient.
• Risk assessment tools: The risk assessment tools required are determined by each individual grant recipient or their partners.
• Materials & resources: Needs related to materials and resources are determined by each individual grant recipient.

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

This program is administered by the Alberta Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Community Initiatives Support, and provides financial support to multiple grant recipients throughout the province of Alberta. ASIP began in 2021 and has funded hundreds of organizations since its implementation.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

Eligible non-profit agencies can receive one-time funding of up to $55,000 from the Alberta Security Infrastructure Program (ASIP) Grant as outlined below:

• Physical patrolling (up to $10,000)
• Security assessments (up to $10,000)
• Security enhancements (up to $25,000)
• Education and training (up to $10,000)

Eligible schools can receive one-time funding of up to $65,000 from the Alberta Security Infrastructure Program (ASIP) Grant as outlined below:

• Physical patrolling (up to $20,000)
• Security assessments (up to $10,000)
• Security enhancements (up to $25,000)
• Education and training (up to $10,000)

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Community Initiatives Support

Phone: 780-415-1819

Email: asip@gov.ab.ca

Website: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-security-infrastructure-program-grant