LaSalle, mon quartier, ma gang, mon choix

Brief Description

The LaSalle, mon quartier, ma gang, mon choix (LaSalle-Wrap) is a program that uses the Wraparound approach^Footnote1 to target youth between the ages of 12 and 24 who reside in the LaSalle area, and who are already gang-involved or at a high risk of becoming involved.

The program is centered on academic support; after school; community mobilization; conflict resolution; counselling and social work; job employment; leadership and youth development;  mentoring – tutoring; school-based strategies; skills training; social emotional learning; substance prevention/treatment; and truancy prevention.

Goals

The main goals of the LaSalle-Wrap program are to:

• Increase protective factors;
• Decrease risk factors;
• Provide a constructive environment in order to lure youth away from criminal/gang lifestyle.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for the LaSalle-Wrap program is boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 24 who are already gang involved or who are at a high risk of gang involvement.

Youth are referred to the program by partner organizations such as police services and schools.

Core Components

The LaSalle-Wrap program consists of:

• Individualized intervention;
• Employment aid (access to resources, support for efforts);
• Pro-social activities (access to audiovisual production studio, financial support for sports);
• Educational aid; and
• Personal development.

In the first few months of intervention, a facilitator accompanies the individual 3-5 hours a week, and thereafter 2-3 hours a week. 

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: The lead organization must ensure that at least one coordinator and five facilitators are able to work together to administer the LaSalle-Wrap program.
• Partnerships: Organizations should collaborate with school boards, local schools, and other community-based organizations in order to ensure the proper implementation of the LaSalle-Wrap program.
• Training and technical assistance: Staff must be trained in the Wraparound approach.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

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 LaSalle-Wrap program in LaSalle (Quebec) between 2013 and 2018.The program is being implemented by the Boys and Girls Club of LaSalle in Quebec.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

The LaSalle-Wrap program has been selected for a process and outcome evaluation by Public Safety Canada. As the evaluation is currently in progress, results are not yet available at this time.

Cost Information

As LaSalle-Wrap is currently being implemented, only the cost information for year 1 is available. A more accurate assessment of the cost per youth and the cost per year will be included at the end of the project. For more information, communicate with the Research Division.

References

Lafortune et al., (2015). Rapport d’évaluation du programme «La Salle, mon quartier, ma gang, mon choix». Annual Evaluation Report. Submitted to the National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

For more information on this program, contact:

Boys and Girls Club of LaSalle
8600 Hardy Road
Montreal, Quebec H8N 2P5
Telephone: (514) 364-4661
E-mail: info@bgclasalle.com
Website: http://bgclasalle.com/