CRED is a unique program that provides critical support for gang-involved youth or those at risk of gang involvement.
Kids as young as 12 years old are being recruited for criminal activities.
Kids who do not have strong family relationships or friendships are most vulnerable to exploitation. It is so important to reach these youth before they become entrenched in circles of crime. The counsellors at Pacific Centre Family Services are trained and keen to provide prevention services such as one-on-one counselling and life skills support, peer-to-peer interaction, family counselling, awareness building, and access to educational groups.
Access to the CRED program is through direct contact with the CRED Program Coordinator by police, probation, schools, MCFD Social Worker, community service providers, parents and caregivers, or the youth themselves. To connect with PCFSA's Crime Reduction & Exploitation Diversion Program, please call 250-478-8357.
Background
CRED: well established and strengthening community bonds!
In August 2012, the CRED program was established by Pacific Centre Family Services (PCFSA) with funding from the BC Ministry of Justice. This program began as a two-year pilot project, to provide prevention, intervention, and mentorship to youth who have come to the attention of the law or who are vulnerable to exploitation or becoming involved in criminal and gang activities. In 2014 contract funding concluded but PCFSA has kept the program running, under reduced hours through grants from The Ministry of Justice’s Civil Forfeiture Fund, Capital Regional District Family Court Youth Justice Committee, the Municipalities of Sooke, Esquimalt, Colwood, North Saanich, View Royal, Metchosin and investment from PCFSA funds.
Goals and Core Strategies…
The overall goal of the CRED program is to prevent youth involvement in gang activity in the Capital Regional District (CRD) by providing targeted intervention and support to youth at high risk of gang involvement, youth displaying gang-related behaviours and youth who are gang-entrenched.
Core strategies of the program include:
CRED is making a difference…
The CRED Program is making a difference by way of positive outcomes in our communities. The program has seen a direct reduction of youth engagement in violent or gang-activity because of their participation in the program. Program staff have noted an increase in the wellbeing of youth and their families, and friends. With support of the CRED program, institutional partners, and community groups, youth have been able to successfully exit gangs. The program’s impact has been felt by peers and those members of the community who work with youth at risk.
The Fentanyl crisis and sexual exploitation…
PCFSA CRED Coordinator, Mia Golden writes (May 2017), “The Fentanyl crisis is not going anywhere. In 2016 in BC we had 917 deaths due to Fentanyl, and the numbers are increasing early into 2017. Additionally, every week we have multiple non-fatal overdoses due to Fentanyl. Despite these overdoses, youth are continuing to use. The world of social media has given predators and exploiters a valuable tool to lure youth into the world of exploitation, and with the presence of Fentanyl that risk has now increased to numbers we have- not seen before. Exploiters are using various successful strategies to introduce Fentanyl to youth (often covertly) and once addicted they can exploit these young people into the sex trade”.
CRED
Definition: Sexual Exploitation is the exchange of any sexual act, by someone under the age of 18 for money, drugs, food, shelter, transportation, love acceptance or any other offer.
Gang activity in the region…
Gang presence in Southern Vancouver Island is on the rise. There is a clear need for the CRED program. Gang-related violence and risks for youth within and across the 13 municipalities of the CRD region are real and growing. While many Vancouver Island residents are not aware of their presence, multiple gangs – with extensive networks in Seattle and Vancouver and beyond – have made inroads into our communities.
Victoria News Article on the CRED program:
http://www.vicnews.com/news/victorias-youth-targeted-for-gang-recruitment/
Collaborative model with other organizationsDuring the initial stages of developing the project, a Monitoring and Evaluation Committee was established, consisting of representation from the Great Victoria School Districts, Victoria Police, Probations, MCFD, and Youth Community Intervention Programs. The committee was established to support planning for the project and to provide critical input on selection of an assessment tool.
Mobile Youth Service Team (MYST)
The Mobile Youth Service Team (MYST) was created 14 years ago to address the issue of Sexually Exploited Youth in the CRD. The MYST officer is a member of a local police detachment.
Ongoing Partnerships
Referrals to the CRED program
Access to the CRED program is through direct contact with the CRED Program Coordinator by police, probation, schools, MCFD Social Worker, community service providers, parents and caregivers, or the youth themselves. The referral request is responded to within 5 – 7 business days. In this process, an initial screening and assessment takes place to assist with prioritization. The time from referral to assessment is usually minimal, often occurring 3 days after initial referral. The average length of time current participants in the program have been in the program is 6 months, with the longest-term participant having been in the program for 15 months and the shortest-term participant less than one month.
Referrals and the numbers of youth involved in the program continually increase as service providers, schools and police are now familiar with the program.
Program Coordination
The Program Coordinator uses a range of strength and needs-based approaches to conduct comprehensive assessments of participants, and to help guide plans for ongoing engagement and support. Individualized plans have been created for each of the youth the program has engaged thus far. These plans include, but are not limited to:
Youth Groups
In collaboration with PCFSA’s Youth Services Program, the CRED program offers groups for youth who are attending the Westshore Learning Centre. The groups provide space for youth who are at risk for gang related behaviour and/or sexual exploitation to meet, engage in pro-social activities, and learn/talk about a range of issues related to risk and safety, Groups focus on crime reduction and exploitation prevention, including empathy, emotion management, identity, forward thinking and the impact of choices.
Connection with PCFSA Youth Services Team
The CRED Program Coordinator meets regularly with our Youth Services Team to discuss youth program specific issues and provide each other with case consultation. In addition, clinical supervision and support is offered by the program director and external clinical consultants.
Program Accessibility, Efficiency, and Effectiveness
Throughout all program activities, whether liaising with agencies as part of case management or as outreach to identify available services, the CRED Coordinator is sharing information on an ongoing basis with frontline service providers, educators and youth programmers.
Services and supports accessed
“I get to start fresh”
Testimonial from a youth who was supported by
the CRED program to successfully exit from a leadership role in a CRD-based gang.
With CRED program support, the youth also participated in a restorative justice healing circle with members of his community, and has since become an active and contributing member of that community.