Abbotsford Youth Crime Prevention (AYCP) Program

Brief Description

The Abbotsford Youth Crime Prevention (AYCP) Program was based on the Wraparound approach^Footnote1 in order to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors to steer youth away from criminal/gang involvement.

The AYCP Program was centered on community consultation and crime prevention; outreach services; and mentoring training and support.

Goals

The main goals of the ACYP Program are to:

• Increase the South Asian community’s capacity to prevent crime by taking action when youth are “hanging out”, not attending school, or not acting appropriately;
• Immediately address Abbotsford South Asian and street involved youth issues related to gangs and crime by facilitating individualized wraparound plans and services; and
• Promote alternatives to crime/gang/street involvement through training and supporting one-to-one mentors of youth at risk of entering gangs/crime or who are exiting from gangs/crime.

Clientele

The ACYP Program works with two distinct groups of youth in Abbotsford, British Columbia: street entrenched, sexually exploited or homeless youth at-risk of gang and criminal involvement and South Asian youth who are at-risk of joining or who already participate in gangs, gang like behaviour and/or criminal activity.

Youth participants are identified through self-referrals or referrals from family, police, and/or community members.

To participate in the program, youth must already be in a gang and want to get out or they must be at-risk of getting involved in a gang or criminal activity. Youth may also be at-risk of becoming or are already involved in street activities, sexual exploitation, or homelessness.

Core Components

The AYCP Program consists of:

• Addictions, family, and/or individual counselling such as anger management and conflict resolution;
• Outreach support to youth and their families such as life skills support, crisis management, and accompanying youth to legal/medical appointments;
• Educational support (i.e., support with homework); and
• Access to positive recreational activities such as sports/sporting activities and religious support.

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: The facilitator position requires a person who is capable of making strong links with the youth through building trusting and non-judgmental relationships. The facilitators are also extremely active in supporting the youth in achieving their goals.
• Partnerships: The success of the AYCP Program depends on its partnerships with police services, schools, health services, youth centers, and other community-based organizations.
• Training and technical assistance: Staff must be trained in the Wraparound approach. Additional training is provided throughout the program to meet training needs as identified by program staff and management.
• Risk assessment tools: Youth are evaluated using the Youth Level Service / Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), as well as an extensive genogram for the youth’s family history of three generations.
• Materials & resources: An electronic information case management system is used – Client Tracking System (CTS).

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

Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy provided funding to implement the AYCP Program in the community in Abbotsford (British Columbia) between 2009 and 2014. The AYCP Program was implemented by the Abbotsford Community Services through South Asian Community Resource Office (SACRO) and Wrapping Abbotsford Youth with Support (WAYS) program within the Youth Resources Centre (YRC).

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study^Footnote2 of the AYCP Program was conducted from 2009 to 2011 by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. Data was collected from interviews, case notes and progress reports from time of entry into the program with one or more follow-ups at 12 months, 18 months or more. It was not possible to obtain data for a comparison group.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• Increased awareness about youth gangs among schools, police, and community partners; and
• Program participants experienced improvements in many of the risk areas identified.

For more information, refer to the National Crime Prevention Centre’s (2013) publication.

Cost Information

Between 2009 and 2011, the average cost per participant in the AYCP Program was $11,404.23 (CAD) (R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., 2011).

References

National Crime Prevention Centre. (2013). Abbotsford Youth Crime Prevention Project. Crime Prevention in Action. Ottawa, ON: Public Safety Canada. Available from: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/bbtsfrd-yth-prvntn/index-eng.aspx

R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. (2011). An Evaluation of the Abbotsford Youth Crime Prevention and Surrey Anti-Gang Wraparound Projects. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to the National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

For more information on this program, contact:

Abbotsford Community Services
2420 Montrose Avenue
Abbotsford, British Columbia V2S 3S9
Telephone: (604) 859-7681
E-mail: mailto://info@abbotsfordcommunityservices.com
Website: http://www.abbotsfordcommunityservices.com/