Rainbow Youth Centre - Youth C.A.R.E. (Creating a Respectful Environment)

Brief Description

The Raibow Youth Centre – Youth C.A.R.E is an initiative providing services to youth aged 11-19 years, using a holistic and well-being approach. Services are prevention-based and respond to the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects of young people. Activities are delivered in a structured environment that promotes physical and emotional safety, are group based, and use experiential learning techniques.

The program is centered on components such as: free suppers; drop in recreation/support; skill-based learning activities/programming; volunteer opportunities; completion of community service orders;  and case work.

Goals

The main goals of the Youth C.A.R.E. program are to:

• Provide opportunities for youth to be involved in crime prevention programming, to reduce youth crime in Regina;
• Provide support services to youth (includes mentoring; problem solving; networking; advocacy, resource referrals, case planning) especially for youth who are exposed/vulnerable to family addiction, family/peer criminal behaviour; and
• Provide after school activities and structured group learning activities during evening hours for youth five days/week (includes recreational, cultural, social, educational and developmental programming).

Clientele

Clients are any youth aged 11-19 referred either by other community service agencies, or they/their family can self-refer.

Core Components

The program components of the Youth C.A.R.E. program include the following:

• Free Supper – 4:45 pm on Tuesdays-Fridays;
• After School Drop-in (recreation games, board games, free computer time), 3:30-6:30 Tuesdays-Fridays;
• Skill Based Learning Activities/Evening Programming:  6:45-8:45 pm Tuesdays-Fridays;
• Taking C.A.R.E – Saturdays, 12:30 pm-4:30 pm – provides youth with volunteer experience in the community; and
• Case Work – Supportive counselling provided on an individual, as/needed basis to address mental health and wellness issues.

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: Lead/parent organization is a long-standing community non-profit agency. The organization has stable management and board, and benefits from the confidence the community has in the programming and support it offers. Youth C.A.R.E. program is carried out by five YouthCARE Workers and one Project Coordinator. The program is supervised by the Director of Programming of the Rainbow Youth Centre. 
• Partnerships: Local churches (preparation of evening meals); local boxing club (donation of VIP event tickets); local safe shelter (youth create care packages for women/children residing there); COBS Bread (donates bread); neighbourhood schools (attend stakeholder meetings; participate in activities together); Regina Pride Parade (staff/participants participated in the annual pride parade); Regina Humane Society (donated toys to this agency); Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (participants made care packages for children in treatment); Various Summer Camps; Sk. Ministry of Justice (funder); Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger (REACH) Funder; United Way (funder); and the City of Regina (funder).
• 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

The Youth C.A.R.E. is implemented in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Rainbow Youth Centre
977 McTavish St.
Regina, Saskatchewan, S4T 3V2
Telephone: (306)757-9743
E-mail: info@rainbowyouth.com
Website: www.rainbowyouth.com