Living Rock


Home Programs and Services Special Events Photos Mission Get Involved News Contact Us


Living Rock’s GPS: New Pathways for Youth

 

Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Centre

GPS targets youth between the ages of 13-25 years old that are high-risk of gang involvement. GPS offers them a new direction for their lives. The premise for this initiative is to identify and address five risk factors that affect their lives: individual choices, family concerns, peer relations, community relations, and schooling challenges. By identifying and addressing these factors, the risk   lessens for gang involvement and heightens the personal success of the youth.
The youth who enter this initiative come through community partnerships such as the Notre Dame Youth Shelter, Hamilton   Wentworth Detention Centre, street outreach programs and ‘Freestyle Fridays’ at the Rock. To determine eligibility for the program, each youth completes a Self Discovery Quiz. After eligibility and consent, the youth complete a Youth Survey to help identify their risk factors to be addressed during case management.  A Plan of Care is then developed with the youth by the coach which includes a educational (essential skills) and mental health assessment. Regular meetings and programming are then used to monitor progress.  The youth will participate in cooking, work crews, self-esteem programs, sports and  leadership retreats. A Post Survey is done every six months to continue to understand the personal growth of the youth and determine their needs for the program.

GPS is evaluated by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. (an independent national evaluation team) and the Community   Advisory Team (other community agency members). This is the largest initiative that the Living Rock has encountered to date.

The five objectives of this initiative:

1. To improve understanding surrounding youth-at-risk of gang involvement in downtown Hamilton, by providing training programs and information sessions for youth, their parents/guardians and other stakeholders.

2. To connect with youth who are gang members or at high-risk of joining gangs in order to provide positive       alternatives and activities to gang membership.

3. To reduce the level of risk factors associated with youth violence, aggression and illegal gun ownership.

4. To help youth-at-risk of gang involvement to develop positive social behavior skills, attitudes, and integration skills into the community.

5. To increase community knowledge and awareness about gun violence and gang involvement and its consequences.

 

 

Statistics 2009

253 Self Discovery Quizzes Completed for entry into GPS
108 youth eligible for GPS
102 youth consented to Case Management
55 Youth Surveys completed in 2009
22 Post Survey’s completed in 2009

Copyright © 2005 Living Rock Ministries