Diversion Programs: an effective intervention and alternative to incarceration for youth
The Black Lives Matter protests that peaked on June 6th 2020 across North America called for increased petitions to defund the police and place more focus on diversion and reintegration programming. Diversion programming allows the police or court to avoid a criminal record by mandating that participate in a community-based rehabilitation program to remedy the behavior leading to the original offence. Reintegration programs are designed to support formerly-incarcerated youth to obtaining job training and/or finding employment. Diversion and reintegration programming are key in supporting youth to avoid barriers they would otherwise face in the pursuit of their goals after involvement with the criminal justice system. At the For Youth Initiative, we know that a criminal record, even for a minor offence, can significantly impact a youth’s ability to find employment, pursue a career that can provide a living wage and can create a cascade of detrimental events in their lives. That is why we created the RISE program as part of our youth justice programming at FYI. RISE is a diversion and reintegration program that supports youth 12-29 years old who have had interaction with the criminal justice system. RISE focuses on helping youth find a positive sense of self that empowers them to develop and pursue positive and goal-oriented futures.
How RISE Works
Youth are assigned to a Youth Justice Social Worker to complete 16 individual or group sessions and explore aspects of their past, present, and future. RISE recognizes youth as individuals and uses a person-centered, strengths-based approach to understand a youth’s complex experiences and emotions to guide the creation of their goals. Youth will identify and create an individualized plan beginning with the self, family/peers, education, employment, and criminal justice. Facilitators collaboratively work with youth to highlight their strengths during the program and in all aspects of their lives. RISE
Brings the focus back to the youth as an individual navigating society, and empowering youth to use their voice.
Validates a youth’s lived experiences.
Teaches youth about their human rights.
Fosters resiliency and empowers youth through mentorship, conversation, and engagement.
Highlights the strengths and knowledge that exist within youth and teach youth how to apply these as tools to accomplish their goals.
Outcomes
Addresses and eliminates the isolation experienced by youth who have interacted with the justice system.
Increases educational and employment opportunities for youth who have interacted with the justice system.
Addresses challenges youth experience in their communities and society.
Youth complete 16 group sessions and explore aspects of their past, present and future. RISE recognizes youth as individuals and uses a person-centered, strengths based approach to understand experiences, feelings, emotions, opinions, and a voice that guides their goals. Youth will identify and create an individualized short term and long term goal plan beginning with the self, family/peers, education, employment, and criminal justice. Facilitators collaboratively work with youth to highlight their strengths during the program and in all aspects of their lives.
“Working as a RISE facilitator I was amazed at how well the youth connected RISE content to their own life and experiences. Youth made connections to oppression, privilege, youth justice and human rights. The youth were engaged and shared that they enjoyed having a space to share and connect with other youth.”
- Angelica Teles
Continuous Engagement
After engaging in RISE programming, youth are provided the opportunity to participate in leadership opportunities and support the facilitation/provide mentorship of future cohorts of RISE programming. All youth within the program are connected and referred to continuous programs that suit their interests, needs and goals.
COVID- 19 Response
In response to increased challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, For Youth Initiative continues to support youth and families in adaptive ways as they have needed to navigate the suspension of court cases and other services. With the support of a capacity-building grant from the Law Foundation of Ontario, we have been able to expand our Legal Advisory Committee, deepen our team training and develop strategic partnerships across the youth justice sector.
This has resulted in the creation of virtual intake and triage referral process, and the development of Victims of Violence services that include trauma-informed counselling for young people affected by violence within their community. All FYI Youth Justice programming and wraparound support service options have the ability to be facilitated virtually or in person.
Help us divert youth from the justice system and remove the systemic barriers that block their attempts to build better futures for themselves by donating to the FYI Future Fund.