Backgrounder

Funding for Prince Edward Island's Attorney General Office, Community and Correctional Services Division

The Government of Canada is providing over $300,000 over 3 years in funding for the Community and Correctional Services Division of Prince Edward Island’s Attorney General’s Office.  The project supports Canada’s National Anti-Drug Strategy which focuses on: preventing illicit drug use in young people, treating people who have drug addictions, and combating the production and distribution of illicit drugs.

About the Youth Justice Fund – Youth Justice Anti-Drug Component:

Under the Youth Justice Fund - Youth Justice Anti-Drug Component, Justice Canada funds treatment opportunities designed to assist youth already in the justice system with their rehabilitation, as well as to create connections with community-based programs and services that will help youth make smart choices and resist drug use.  By supporting the rehabilitation and safe reintegration of young offenders back into their communities, the Government of Canada is working to maintain safe streets and safe neighbourhoods.

Starting in 2008/2009, the fund will provide just under $1.5 million each year to projects that will help youth in the justice system who are addicted to drugs.

About the Funding:

This project will help support salary costs for one full-time Youth Justice Addictions Manager and one part-time Addiction Community Youth Worker.  Their primary duties will be to participate on the Implementation Team of the Provincial Youth Addictions Strategy to ensure services, programs, policies and supports are developed to provide addiction services for youth in conflict with the law and to develop a protocol for young offenders to access addictions services in Prince Edward Island.

The project activities will include the development of in-house expertise on illicit substance abuse for youth justice staff, development of referral and assessment protocols, establishment of a relapse prevention program for youth with illicit substance abuse issues, and, lastly, an evaluation of the protocols and programs developed. 

This initiative is being implemented in conjunction with a broader provincial strategy on youth with substance abuse issues.  This strategy has been developed through an interdepartmental advisory group, chaired by the Department of Health, with representation from the Departments of Health, Transportation and Public Works, Social Services and the Office of the Attorney General.

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August 2008