Y Crime Program

Brief Description

The Y-Crime Program is youth-focused, voluntary, held in a safe place, and individualized dependent on each situation. The program’s target population includes youth at risk of committing violence and youth who have had repeat contacts with the criminal justice system. Interventions focus on reducing the harmful factors that lead youth to get involved in violent criminal activity by providing one-on-one support, group workshops focusing on life management and essential skills development, and connecting youth to formalized/community supports.

Goals

The main objectives of the Y Crime Program are to:

• Increase access to and participation in individualized supports/interventions
• Increase access to and participation in prosocial activities
• Increase community awareness about the risks of youth involvement in criminal activity
• Prevent reoffending
• Ensure youth have the skills needed to address the underlying causes of their involvement in the criminal justice system and building protective factors
• Provide youth with connections to formalized supports and community resources
• Reduce the number of interactions youth have with the youth justice system

Clientele

Y Crime Program participants include youth ages 12-24 at risk of committing violence and youth who have had repeat contacts with the criminal justice system.

Core Components

Y Crime Program core components include YMCA Youth Workers who support with:

-       Development of personal self-management skills

-       Development of general social skills

-       Assistance with financial management

-       Assistance with addressing mental, intellectual, and cognitive challenges/disabilities

-       Connecting youth with cultural/gender supports

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: Limited information on this topic.
• Partnerships: Crown Prosecutors Office, Medicine Hat Police, RCMP, Victims Assistance, Probation Office, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Medicine Hat School District 76, Medicine Hat Catholic School District, Prairie Rose School Division, Grassland Public Schools, Root Cellar, Mustard Seed, Medicine Hat Family Services, Recovery Alberta, Psychologists
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• 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

YMCA of Southeastern Alberta operates the Y Crime Program, servicing the following areas in Alberta: Medicine Hat, Brooks, Bow Island, Burdett, Seven Persons, Schuler, Ralston, Dunmore, Foremost, Oyen, Redcliff

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Website:

https://medicinehatymca.ca/

Rachel Didychuk, Director of Community Programs

Rachel.didychuk@medicinehatymca.ca