Department of Justice
Youth Justice Fund

Youth Justice Anti-Drug Component

2008-2009

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Background on Youth Justice Fund

The Department of Justice Canada administers the Youth Justice Fund, a program designed to enhance citizen and community participation to promote a fair and more effective youth justice system.

Objectives of the Drug Treatment Action Plan

The goal of the National Anti-Drug Strategy is to contribute to safer and healthier communities through coordinated efforts to prevent use, treat dependency and reduce production and distribution of illicit drugs through three action plans:  prevention, treatment and enforcement.

The Youth Justice Fund will play a role in supporting the Drug Treatment Action Plan of the National Anti-Drug Strategy.  The objective of the Drug Treatment Action Plan is to support effective treatment and rehabilitation systems and services by developing and implementing innovative and collaborative approaches.

Resources are available through the Youth Justice Anti-Drug Component to fund treatment opportunities designed to assist youth already in the justice system with their rehabilitation, including the development of pro-social skills, and to create connections with community-based programs and services that will help youth make smart choices and resist drug use.  Due to the connection to the justice system, projects will be undertaken primarily in collaboration with provincial and territorial ministries responsible for youth justice to identify and test treatment activities and programs.  A portion of the resources is also directly available to community-based organizations for staff training opportunities or other activities that will encourage community-based organizations in enhancing existing infrastructures to support youth in contact with the justice system to develop pro-social skills, make smart choices and address their drug use.

Program interventions could take place at various points in the youth justice system including the front end as a diversion away from the formal court system, during reintegration, or during a custody and supervision order.  Successful rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders back into their communities are key principles associated with maintaining safe streets and safe communities.

Funding Priorities

1. Test and promote effective drug treatment programming for youth in the justice system.
2. Introduce, pilot and evaluate drug treatment options for youth involved in the justice system.
3. Share knowledge of piloted programs and/or promising practices with provinces/ territories and interested stakeholders.

Eligible Activities

Activities eligible for funding support could include:

• Activities that contribute to the development of better linkages between the health care system and the justice system to ensure better access to drug treatment programming for youth in contact with the justice system. 
• Activities that connect youth in contact with the justice system with community-based programs and services that will help them develop pro-social skills, make smart choices and address their drug use.
• Activities that facilitate knowledge development and transfer between provincial/territorial governments and/or organizations interested in drug treatment approaches for youth.  This could include the sharing of best practices or the development of training and resource materials. 
• Projects that support community-based rehabilitative or reintegration strategies designed to assist youth with addiction issues coming out of custody.
• Projects that increase the capacity (i.e., training) to deliver drug treatment programs for youth in a custodial setting.
• Projects that support the development, implementation and evaluation of community-based drug treatment options for youth involved in the youth justice system.
• Research activities which advance the current body of knowledge relating to drug addiction and treatment options for youth in the justice system in Canada.

Who Can Apply

Within the parameters outlined in the "Funding Priorities" section, any of the following may be eligible for funding:

1. Non-profit community organizations, societies, and associations which have voluntarily associated themselves for a non-profit purpose;
2. Canadian institutions/boards of education;
3. Bands, First Nations, Tribal Councils, local, regional and national Aboriginal organizations;
4. Provincial, territorial and municipal governments and their agencies and institutions;
5. Private sector organizations as long as such organizations will not make a profit on the work performed;
6. For-profit enterprises, research/evaluation organizations and individuals are eligible for funding to conduct research and evaluation activities; and
7. Individuals.

For further information, please contact:

Deborah Auger
Program Analyst
Youth Justice Fund, Youth Justice Policy
Department of Justice Canada
180 Elgin Street, 7th Floor
Ottawa, ON     K1A 0H8
Phone: 613-952-8353
Fax:     613-954-3275
Email:  dauger@justice.gc.ca