Living Rock’s GPS: New Pathways for Youth

National Crime Prevention Centre Public Safety;

Living Rock’s GPS initiative targets youth aged 13-25 years old that are of high risk of gang involvement and offers them new direction for their lives. This initiative is unique and comprehensive in design and is based on the   premise that addressing risk factors will have a positive impact on them as well as the community, preventing these risks from becoming larger societal problems. The targeted risk factors for this initiative are family, school, individual, peer and community factors.

GPS is based on a case management model aiming to work with 200 youth per year. Each youth complete a Self Discovery Quiz to determine eligibility for this initiativeAfter eligibility and consent, the youth then complete a Youth Survey to help identify risk factors to be addressed during case management.  A Plan of Care is then developed by the Coach with the youth and regular meetings with the youth are used to monitor progress. Part of their Plan of Care includes a personality, educational/ essential skills and mental health assessment.   The program is evaluated by R.A. Malatest & Assoc. an independent national evaluation organization and the Community Advisory Team.  The youth are involved work crews related to cooking and inventory control; sports and leadership retreats.  In order to connect with youth there are off-site partnerships, including Hughson Street Basketball, STAR Program, Notre Dame Youth Shelter, Hamilton Wentworth Detention    Centre, street work and ‘Free Style Fridays’ at the Rock.

There are five objectives to this initiative and they are as follows:

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

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

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

Objective #4 – To help youth at-risk of gang involvement developed pro-social behaviours, positive social attitudes, and alternatives for positive integration into the community.

Statistics 2008