What is the system challenge?
Experiencing trauma in the first 18 years of life has been demonstrated to have significant impact on adolescent and adult medical and psychiatric disease, sexual behaviour, healthcare costs and life expectancy. Up to 90 percent of youth who come into contact with the law have experienced trauma at some point in their lives.
First Nations, Metis, and Inuit populations are overrepresented in the youth justice system, and are particularly vulnerable to the intergenerational trauma caused colonization, past government policy, the residential schools system, and other culturally specific traumas.
The Kenora-Rainy River Youth Justice Collaborative in Northwestern Ontario identified a need to promote a more inclusive youth justice system by improve screening and system navigation, as well as training in trauma-informed practice to meet the needs of justice-involved youth up to age 17, and reduce recurring involvement with the justice system.
What you need to know:
Youth with mental health and/or addiction issues face a daunting task when they interact with the justice system. Some of these problems may stem from childhood trauma, which has been shown to be a predictor future physical and behavioural health. Adverse conditions in childhood, such as abuse and neglect, may therefore compound the problem; and the evidence supports this as traumatic life experiences are more common with justice facing populations.
To try and close these gaps and improve the mental health system as it pertains to youth justice, the Kenora-Rainy River Youth Justice Collaborative brought a wide range of community stakeholders to the table to unite and address the issues. One of their primary objectives was to improve the system for First Nation, Metis, and Inuit populations, who tend to be overrepresented in the community youth justice system.
the number of service providers, representing mental health, justice, addictions, child welfare, education, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit sectors, attended the trainings to date.
of attendees say the workshops were helpful or very helpful.
of attendees say the workshops are having a positive impact on the system already.
Next steps
At a deputation to city council, Service Collaborative Co-Chairs Michelle Ott and Sheri Norlen, speaking on behalf of the 53 collaborative members and 35 organizations, explained the group’s mission to create an integrated service system built on a foundation of trauma-informed practice. They expressed the importance of gaining buy-in and in particular, the importance of understanding the trauma experienced by Aboriginal people as a result of colonization, past government policy, residential schools, and other culturally-specific traumas.
A positive outcome resulting from the workshops was the request from community organizations to have a trauma-based workshop for organizational leaders. The hope of doing this was to further instill the trauma lens throughout all organizations involved and help permeate the youth justice system as whole.
Although the group has made inroads, especially in Kenora, their work continues. The goal now is to venture out into other district communities, garner further support and implement the trauma-informed practices throughout the system.
Who is involved?
- Kenora Rainy-River Justice Service Collaborative
- Over 170 service providers, representing mental health, justice, addictions, child welfare, education, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit sectors
- CMHA Kenora Branch
- Klinic Community Health Centre of Manitoba
- Ontario Provincial Police – NW Region
- Dryden, Treaty #3, Nishnawbe-Aski and Lac Seul FN Police Services
- FIREFLY Northwest
- Portage Youth Centre
- Youth Services - Kenora
For more information, please contact:
TBC, Regional Implementation Coordinator