DFCC and the Murray McKinnon Foundation receive funding under the National Crime Prevention Strategy to develop and implement an Early Gang Intervention program.

In July 2007, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada announced, under the National Crime Prevention Strategy, from the Youth Gang Intervention project, that Durham Family Court Clinic was approved, in partnership with the Murray McKinnon Foundation, as a recipient of a five year grant to develop and implement an Early Gang Intervention program.

This Federally funded project supports youth who are involved, or at risk of becoming involved in gang activity. The project implements therapeutic interventions for youth and assists parents through family therapy and group support in the form of psycho-educational material in dealing with the youth's choices and behaviours related to gang involvement. The project will enhance the capacity of Durham Region's diverse community to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors related to the fear of crime and victimization by augmenting community assets to support high risk youth and reduce the presence of gang related activity in affected areas.

Intervention strategies and support services will address specific risk/protective factors for youth, their families and the community. Individual level risk factors include youth's: increased social and cognitive skills; increased self-esteem; involvement in pro-social community activities; increased conflict resolution skills; stronger self identity and ability to make positive choices; education and youth employment. Family risk/protective factors includes: increased positive relationship with families and greater family involvement with youth. Community risk and protective factors to be addressed include: awareness of the impact of gang related crime on victims and increased community response to the youth issue, including community initiatives that promote pro-social behaviours in youth.

In support of this new program DFCC, and its partners, are hosting a free Youth Gangs Forum for Service Providers on February 6, 2008. To learn more about the Forum and to access the Registration Form, please see the following link.