The provincial government is investing 50 thousand dollars into the Dauphin At-Risk Teens program.
Justice minister Cliff Cullen made the announcement this morning at the Dauphin Friendship Centre.
For the past 10 years, DART has helped high-risk young people aged 12 to 17 and their families get on a path to success and divert them from the justice system.
The program works with youth and their families to identify the issues at the root of the problems and develop a comprehensive plan to improve their lives. This could include addictions treatment support, mental health supports, probation services, or parenting supports.
Susie Secord, the President of the Dauphin Friendship Centre, says this is an important program that helps a lot of people.
“It certainly has diverted young people away from the criminal justice system. We find that a lot of times what youth and families need are advocates to get through, not only the maze of the justice system but school and all of those things.” She continues, “we’ve had kids graduate high school, that might have anyway, but, we’re not sure. They were at extreme risk to not graduate, sort of down the path they were heading, but now they’ve made it, and they’re out of our program.”
Minister Cullen spoke with us after the announcement and said this program helps those get on the right track.
“In broad terms, the program brings the key stakeholders to the table. And they, as a community, can identify people at risk in the community. That’s really the basis for this. If we can identify the at-risk people in the community, then we can make sure that they get the services that they require as individuals and as families. If we can make sure that those people have the right services early on they are not going to get involved in the justice system or other social services that we provide. So it’s really an intervention and how do we deal with them going forward.”
With the funding, DART is able to increase the program to help those up to 29 years old.
DART is modelled after the successful Selkirk Team for At-Risk Teens program, which was found to reduce youth re-involvement with police, improve their family and living situation, improve school attendance and participation, and ensure clients had successful safety plans, among other benefits.
DART will continue to receive a $5,000 annual grant from the Manitoba government in addition to its new funding.
