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Youth Research Review - BC Crime Prevention Association |
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Over the past year, BCCPA has been working on the completion of a research project that has reviewed over 20 youth programs from across the province of British Columbia. The “Youth Crime Prevention Projects – What Works?” resource tool is aimed at both funding organizations and programs operating for at-risk youth, providing useful information based on experience. The programs reviewed in this tool range in their delivery focus to include: Mentoring, Youth Camps, Train the Trainer, Drop-in/After School, Outreach, Workshops and Aboriginal based programs.
This tool is designed be used at program start up to gain insight into what other programs have indicated as success factors as well as potential challenges. The research involved conducting focus groups with both program administrators and youth participants to assess the program impact on youth. For the purposes of this research impact is defined in terms of increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors in the lives of the youth participants.
The programs in this research are geared to a crime prevention through social development approach and do not directly measure the impacts on crime rates. They do however highlight the personal changes seen in the youth which serve to act as protective factors for at-risk youth with the intention of leading to a reduction in criminal and deviant behaviour.
Main highlights of the research indicate the need for programs to be flexible in program structure while remaining clear in their goals and expected outcomes. For example, programs want to understand that working within other organizations may change certain aspects of how lessons and activities are delivered; however, this should not change the overall function of those activities.
Programs acknowledge struggles with resources and funding as common, indicating the need for early community involvement. This commitment at the program start-up phase is beneficial for gaining in-kind donations, extra funding support as well as infrastructure related resources. Additionally, each partner brings its own set of stakeholders, networks and skills, further contributing to program success.
Once the program is established many things are noted among the programs as useful in increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors among the youth participants. These factors include aspects of positive role models, teaching life skills and encouraging a sense of community among the youth.
For more details on the information gained from this research please visit our website www.bccpa.org and click on the programs link.
Lisa Barnum
Coordinator -Youth Research Review
British Columbia Crime Prevention Association
#275 - 6450 Roberts Street
Burnaby, BC V5G 4E1
Tel: 604-291-9959 ext. 233
Fax: 604-291-9951
People... Partners in Prevention ~ Working together to improve community safety through the reduction of crime. |
