The Durham Family Court Clinic worked in partnership with the Murray McKinnon Foundation on a six year gang intervention project. The project, funded by the National Crime Prevention Centre, concluded in March 2012. The team worked with Lush Brothers Entertainment to produce a series of 3 videos that follow the life of the DYGS project click here to view. We thank the community for embracing and supporting this much needed service. DFCC is fortunate that the Ministry of Children and Youth Services recognizes the need for community service for gang involved youth and have initiated a pilot project as of April 2013. See below for details.
Durham Youth Gang Strategy (DYGS)
Contact: Vickie Jennings, Program Director 905-436-6754 ext. 230 or vjennings@dfcc.org
The Durham Youth Gang Strategy provides one-to-one reintegration and intervention services and is a clinical, community-based program designed to reduce crime related to youth gangs. The program will provide youth with meaningful opportunities, encourage pro-social skills and establish healthy community and family attachments. The program provides therapeutic, evidence-based interventions for youth in dealing with the youth’s choices and behaviours related to gang involvement.
Participants in the program may experience various risk factors such as:
• Past history of delinquency and/or family members with criminal history
• Lack of strong family ties and problem solving skills
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Education and employment
• Lack of strong family ties and family structure
• Trauma and victimization
• Emotional vulnerability to gang peer pressure and feelings of disconnection from family, schools, community
The program focuses on:
• Youth 12-17 years of age who are gang involved and wish to exit gang life, or are at high risk of gang involvement; and
• Through DFCC's Violence Prevention Program, provides school based gang awareness workshops for students.
This is currently a pilot project funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) - Youth Justice Branch.
Referrals can be accepted from specific referral sources, as approved by MCYS including, Brookside Youth Centre, Murray McKinnon Foundation, Kennedy Detention Centre, and Youth Justice Probation Services.
