Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative 2023

The Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative (ICCI) supports alternatives to custody and reintegration projects responsive to the unique circumstances of Indigenous people in Canada. ICCI projects provide culturally relevant services that may include counselling, treatment, life skills coaching, family reunification, and addressing the effects of residential schools and involvement with child welfare systems.

Applications may still be submitted but priority will be given to applications received prior to the close of the Call on June 12, 2023, at 23:59 PST and subject to availability of funds.

On this page

• Overview
• Program objectives
• Eligible applicants
• Eligible project participants
• Eligible types of project(s)
• Sustainability/Partnerships
• Available contribution funding
• How to apply
• Contact us

Overview

The Government of Canada launched the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism (FFRR) on June 22nd, 2022, which resulted from Private Members Bill C-228. As part of the FFRR, the Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative (ICCI), will act as an early intervention under its implementation plan. The ICCI supports alternatives to incarceration and reintegration projects responsive to the unique circumstances of Indigenous people in Canada by providing culturally relevant services that may include counselling, treatment, life skills coaching, family reunification, and addressing the effects of residential schools and involvement with child welfare systems. The ICCI will use a two-pronged approach by issuing both open and targeted calls for proposals to maximize the reach of the program by generating potential recipients and building on existing relationships.

All eligible applications received for this call will undergo a criteria-based assessment process (ICCI 2023 Call For Proposals - Application assessment tool) to ensure that applications are evaluated objectively against the same assessment criteria. Successful applicants will be required to adhere to a reporting and data collection schedule conditions and implemented projects will include an evaluation. Proposals will also be shared with Correctional Service of Canada, Parole Board Canada and Justice Canada to ensure there is no overlap or duplication.

Program objectives

The key principles listed below guide the Program in this solicitation. Applicants must apply all of these principles to their proposals when submitting a request for funding:

Public Safety Canada (PS), through the ICCI will work to:

• Facilitate and promote connections with provinces and territories;
• Conduct research and promote evidence-based best practices to reduce recidivism;
• Enhance data collection as part of the FFRR and Public Safety Quantitative Data Strategy to augment measurement of the effectiveness of correctional interventions;
• Implement approaches that speak to the unique needs of Indigenous groups who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system;
• Assess the unique needs of gender diverse Indigenous offenders to best support their unique needs and apply a trauma-informed approach; and
• Integrate the needs of victims in its approaches.

The ICCI will provide contribution funding to eligible recipients to develop tailored approaches that address gaps in services to Indigenous clients with the overall program objectives being:

• To support the development of alternatives to incarceration; and/or
• To provide reintegration support.

N.B. Funding applications that seek 5-year implementation funding will be asked to collect additional data for research and evaluation that will contribute to the knowledge base of what works for Indigenous offenders. The data collected will be used for sharing best practices and knowledge development, as well as tailoring the ICCI program to better support Indigenous-led efforts in delivering culturally appropriate services.

This research is not intended to evaluate individual recipients or the services they offer but to gain knowledge that will be shared broadly to provide communities and organizations with concrete examples of approaches that have had positive outcomes. To name a few examples, these approaches may consist of delivering counselling, addiction treatment, life skills coaching, family reunification, mental health support, etc.

Presently there is insufficient research and evaluation data to support the determination of efficacy of programs undertaken by organizations working with justice-involved individuals to develop and reinforce pro-social behaviours thereby reducing recidivism.

In the event that an insufficient number of applications are submitted that are designed specifically to address priority areas (e.g., women-centred, 2SLGBTQI+) Public Safety will undertake a targeted call for proposals to organizations working with underserved populations.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are:

• Indigenous not-for-profit organizations (on and off-reserve, First Nation, non-status Indian, Métis, Inuit and urban);
• Municipal and other local governments working in collaboration with Indigenous organizations and/or communities;
• Indigenous governments including:
  • A "council of the band" within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.I-5; and
  • A government of a First Nation, Métis, or Inuit community established or acknowledged by an act of Parliament or a legislature.
• Canadian universities and colleges.

An Indigenous not-for-profit organization is one that has been designed and developed by Indigenous people or Indigenous governments.

Crown Corporations, for-profit groups and individuals are not eligible for funding under the Terms and Conditions - Aboriginal Community Safety Development Contribution Program (ACSDCP).

Any other types of organization are not eligible for funding under this program (no exceptions).

Eligible project participants

Eligible participants are adult and young adult Indigenous offenders who are under federal, provincial or territorial jurisdiction.

Extended family members (including non-Indigenous if applicable) can also participate in family activities.

Non-Indigenous offenders are not eligible to participate as the goal of the ICCI is to address overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice system.

Eligible types of project(s)

Applications will be reviewed against selection criteria set out under each of the categories below.

Note, the following project types have different maximum duration time frames associated with the activities to be undertaken. It is recommended to select the project type that most closely aligns to the project activities and overall objectives sought. Applicants may submit multiple applications, for different types of projects, but the maximum contribution amount of $1,000,000 applies to all agreements ongoing with the same legal entity.

A. Knowledge Building (36 months maximum)

Supports issues of reintegration and alternatives to incarceration through identification of information gaps and assemblage of information:

• The extent to which the project contributes information on alternatives to incarceration or reintegration support;
• The extent of integration in the criminal justice system that the organization seeking support has; and
• The extent to which the project identifies knowledge gaps and contributes to the development of a knowledge base.

B. Knowledge Sharing (12 months maximum)

Supports the dissemination and communication of knowledge and information to enhance community readiness and capacity prior to the development of alternatives to incarceration or reintegration support projects:

• Will the project inform the development of community-based alternatives to incarceration or reintegration support projects?;
• The extent to which the project contributes to augmentation of knowledge, skill development and capacity enhancement in Indigenous communities;
• The extent to which the project can be disseminated to a diverse audience; and
• Will the activity(ies) undertaken contribute to public safety?

C. Capacity building (24 months maximum)

Supports the development of abilities and competencies in Indigenous communities to address alternatives to incarceration or reintegration support:

• The extent to which the project provides opportunities for communities to seek expertise, training and activities that leads to a strategic response to alternatives to incarceration and reintegration support;
• The extent to which the project will lead to the development of an implementation project or model; and
• The extent to which the project leads to community buy-in.

D. Implementation Readiness (24 months maximum)

Supports the development of implementation plans and enhance recipients' ability to support reintegration efforts (i.e., development of networks and relationships to support offenders or the development of alternatives to incarceration):

• The extent to which the project promotes internal and external partnerships;
• The extent to which the project leads to community readiness; and
• The extent to which the project supports federal government horizontality approaches.

E. Project Implementation (60 months maximum)

Supports alternatives to incarceration and reintegration support that can involve multiple partners including federal, provincial and community governments and organizations:

• The extent to which the project supports alternatives to incarceration;
• The extent to which the project provides reintegration support to offenders returning to the community; and
• The extent to which the project contributes to promising practices and tools that can be developed and widely circulated to other interested Indigenous communities.

Sustainability/Partnerships

ICCI funding is time limited and under the terms and conditions, PS can fund 100% of total eligible expenditures. Successful applicants are encouraged to find additional sources of funding, in order to sustain the project after PS funding has expired.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to build and formalize partnerships, establish and collaborate with federal, provincial, territorial organizations and other service agencies. Receiving a contribution from PS does not guarantee access to correctional institutions. Applicants are encouraged to connect with potential partners as early as possible to determine if proposed project activities are feasible and realistic.

A reminder, any individual that works for a federal agency/department participating on your board and/or advisory committee, must be referenced in the application to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Organizations who are ineligible to apply for ICCI funding, can partner with an eligible applicant. However, the eligible applicant, must be the signatory on the application submission, the agreement holder, and must hold and retain ownership of project activities as outlined in a contribution agreement.

Example:

• If an eligible applicant is using a third party (ineligible organization) to perform a certain aspect/part of the project that will allow the applicant to complete the project, professional fees are acceptable. Submissions under this scenario will be considered and assessed.
• If an eligible applicant is hiring a third party (ineligible organization) to perform a part of the project on their behalf, this is considered a redistribution of funds, and is not eligible under the Program Terms and Conditions. Submissions under this scenario will be not be assessed

Available contribution funding

The Program has received a total of $56,010,000 in funding over 5 Fiscal Years for this initiative and a portion of those funds have been set aside for this solicitation.

• 2023-24: $5.21M
• 2024-25: $12.7M
• 2025-26: $12.7M
• 2026-27: $12.7M
• 2027-28: $12.7M

The maximum amount of contribution payable to each recipient will be limited by the vote appropriated for this purpose and will not exceed $1,000,000 per recipient, per year. The assistance is provided only at the minimum level to further the attainment of the stated transfer payment program objectives and expected results.

How to apply

1. Complete the application ICCI 2023 Call For Proposals - Standard Application form and provide a budget outlining expenditures and all anticipated sources of funding, including in-kind, for each year that funding is requested;
2. A complete application consists of the three (3) following documents using the templates provided by Public Safety Canada:
   • ICCI 2023 Call For Proposals - Standard Application form
   • ICCI 2023 Call For Proposals - Workplan Template, and
   • ICCI 2023 Call For Proposals - Budget Template

   To obtain a copy of the Application form, templates, or for additional information about this funding program, please contact indigenouscorrections-correctionsautochtones@ps-sp.gc.ca.

3. Refer to the Terms and Conditions - Aboriginal Community Safety Development Contribution Program to verify eligible expense categories;
4. E-mail your application form and supplementary documents to indigenouscorrections-correctionsautochtones@ps-sp.gc.ca. The maximum file size for email attachments is limited to 10Mb. Or, you can mail your application, which must be time stamped prior to call closing, to:
   Public Safety Canada
   Crime Prevention Branch
   Program Development & Coordination
   Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative
   340 Laurier Avenue West
   Ottawa, ON K1A 0P8

Funding decisions will be made based on a review and approval process by delegated Departmental authorities. Decisions will be made based on a proposal's alignment with the Terms and Conditions of the Aboriginal Community Safety Development Contribution Program.

Priority will be given to proposals received by the closing deadline, but, conditional on fund availability, Public Safety may consider funding applications received outside of this call should they merit consideration.

Successful applications will be determined based on the results of a competitive review process and budgetary considerations. Funding will not be available before December 15th, 2023.

Applicants will be notified of the status of their respective applications upon completion of this process.

Contact us

Assistance is available in advance of the submission of an application to answer general questions by e-mail only and inquiries should be directed to: indigenouscorrections-correctionsautochtones@ps-sp.gc.ca.

Date modified:

2023-07-10