Working Together for a Common Purpose (Ikajuqtigiinniq)

Brief Description

The Government of Nunavut, in partnership with schools and local District Education Councils, the Department of Health, the RCMP, and community wellness organizations, are implementing the Working Together for a Common Purpose (Ikajuqtigiinniq) program. The program applies knowledge from the Mapping the Way program,^Footnote1 which has shown promising results in other northern remote communities.

The program is centered on conflict resolution; counselling and social work; family therapy; leadership and youth development; parent training; skills training; social emotional learning; and substance prevention/treatment.

Goals

The main goals of the Working Together for a Common Purpose program are to:

• Increase academic achievement, attendance, and attachment to school;
• Provide workshops to increase awareness on bullying and spousal abuse;
• Reduce substance abuse; and
• Reduce antisocial, violent, delinquent, and criminal behaviour.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for the Working Together for a Common Purpose program are youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are at-risk of engaging in substance abuse or violence. The parents of these youth are also eligible to participate.

To participate in the program, youth must be of Aboriginal descent.

Core Components

The Working Together for a Common Purpose program consists of:

• Parenting programs: These programs aim to strengthen positive interactions between parents and children and establish family meetings;
• Family support groups: These groups help parents with skills and techniques to resolve conflicts in the home. It builds on family strengths and enables families to create action plans;
• Anti-bullying activities: These activities include awareness campaigns involving presentations, workshops, special events, and training to address the realities of the bullying, violence, and aggression children and youth face;
• Substance abuse prevention: This prevention initiative includes educational sessions on topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, decision making, and planning for change; and
• Spousal abuse prevention: The spousal abuse program focuses primarily on alcohol and drug addictions and rehabilitation, trauma, grief, anger, parenting, relationships, and family issues.

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: The lead organization must monitor each component of the program on an ongoing basis. It must also ensure proper analysis of community needs and knowledge of existing services, resources, and organizations.
• Partnerships: The success of the program depends on its partnerships with family services, schools, health services, youth centres, the RCMP, and other community-based organizations.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• 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 Working Together for a Common Purpose program in Iqaluit (Nunavut) between 2015 and 2019. The Working Together for a Common Purpose program is being implemented by the Government of Nunavut.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study of the Ikajuqtigiinniq project was carried out between September 2015 and April 2020. The evaluation methodology followed a repeated measures design where formal (e.g. community-level pre/post questionnaire form) and informal (e.g. communications with project facilitators and community members) data collection practices occurred at various intervals of the project. 

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• When investments were made in social cultural development and Inuit decision-making, positive trends were observed in relation to community wellness and crime reduction. 
• Communities with strong leaders had the most success and consistency with the programs and services funded by the Ikajuqtigiinniq project.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

Mitchell, T., & Burns, N., (2020). Ikajuqtigiinniq. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to Public Safety Canada. (Unpublished report).

For more information on this program, contact:

Community Justice Division, Department of Justice
PO Box 1000, Station 510
Iqaluit, Nunavut XOA OHO
Telephone: (867) 975-6363
E-mail: Community.Justice@gov.nu.ca
Website: www.gov.nu.ca/justice/information/community-justice