Government of Canada Supports Employment Training Opportunities for Youth in Trouble With Law

HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 16, 2015) - Department of Justice Canada

Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced more than $100,000 in funding to the Wesley Urban Ministries for the Wesley's Moveable Feast project, which will provide employment training opportunities to youth involved in the justice system in Hamilton.

This project is supported by the Youth Justice Initiative, which encourages a fair and effective youth justice system, responds to emerging youth justice issues, and enables greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system, thereby promoting a holistic approach to helping youth.

Quick Facts

• Through a sustainable food truck/catering business, the project will foster independence, resilience, and skills in coping, decision making and employability. Training activities will provide opportunities for youth to acquire necessary skills to become active members in their communities and facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into Canadian society.
• The $100,425.27 in funding is being provided over two years as follows:
  • $27,663.00 for fiscal year 2014-2015
  • $72,762.27 for fiscal year 2015-2016
• The funding is being provided through the Youth Justice Fund, part of the Youth Justice Initiative, which supports a broad range of projects relating to youth involved in the justice system.
• The Government is taking a multi-pronged approach to crime, by supporting projects such as this one to reduce victimization by rehabilitating and reintegrating young offenders to help prevent them from reoffending.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud of the work we do with our partners to keep streets and communities safe across Canada. An important common objective with the Wesley's Moveable Feast project is to ensure that youth in conflict with the law learn coping, decision-making and employability skills that will support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society and provide opportunities for them to contribute in a positive manner to their communities."

Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Wesley Urban Ministries is pleased to be part of this announcement which will result in increased investments in youth justice supports for at-risk Hamilton youth. More importantly we look forward to realizing positive outcomes for our community."

Daljit Garry, Executive Director, Wesley Urban Ministries

Related Products

Backgrounder: Youth Justice Fund

Associated Links

Department of Justice: Youth Justice Fund

Wesley Urban Ministries

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Backgrounder

Youth Justice Fund

The Youth Justice Fund was established in the 1990s as part of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative, and provides grants and contributions funding for projects across Canada. The Youth Justice Fund has a budget of approximately $4.5 million each year.

The Youth Justice Fund has three components:

• The Main Fund supports a broad range of projects relating to youth involved in the justice system. Current funding priorities include youth with mental health issues and/or cognitive impairments. The Main Fund can also provide support to respond to emerging youth justice issues.
• The Drug Treatment component supports drug treatment interventions for youth involved in the justice system who are dealing with drug abuse.
• The Guns, Gangs and Drugs component responds to youth involved in the justice system who are involved in, or vulnerable to, gun, gang and drug-related activities.

The Youth Justice Initiative is a multi-faceted approach that includes a legislative framework (the Youth Criminal Justice Act) and programming resources that:

• Encourage a more fair and effective youth justice system;
• Respond to emerging youth justice issues; and
• Enable greater citizen/community participation in the youth justice system by encouraging partnerships and innovations, and developing and sharing information and knowledge about youth justice.

Community organizations, Aboriginal organizations, and individuals are eligible for funding to help develop community-based programming options and partnerships that respond more effectively to youth in conflict with the law. Funding support is also used to advance changes in provincial/territorial policies and programs that are consistent with the intent of federal policy objectives.

The Youth Justice Fund supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of pilot projects that provide programming and services for youth in conflict with the law. It supports professional development activities, such as training and conferences, for justice professionals and youth service providers. Additionally, it funds research on the youth justice system and related issues.

Projects must target youth who are between the ages of 12 and 17 and currently in conflict with the law, or justice professionals and/or service providers who work with these youth.

To learn more about the Youth Justice Fund, please visit www.canada.justice.gc.ca/youth.