RRS is a collaboration of youth-led initiatives and leaders that are currently doing work with criminalized Canadian youth in the priority neighborhoods of Toronto. The unifying factory of this collaborative is the culturally specific services model. The groups involved all are experienced in delivering varying elements of reintegration and have an ability to engage and identify with Canadian youth in underserved communities across Toronto. RRS aims to build resiliency, self-determination and provide young people with the tools to effectively navigate organizations and institutions. The vision of RRS is to empower young people to develop a positive outlook towards their reintegration into their community and develop a healthy and active role in critical self-evaluation. The holistic approach to service delivery will increase the effectiveness of helping youth to overcome the systemic barriers that impact the broader social determinants of health. RRS will support culturally appropriate peer mentorship as an engagement and service delivery tool and support young people who have been through the criminal justice system to inform or act as agents in the reintegration process. The members of RRS have developed and implemented an innovative model of service that will allow others to collaboratively utilize expertise and resources to support youth through their reintegration process. Based on the individual’s need, this process will include supports such as: education, employment, ethnic racial and cultural identity, mentorship, housing, mental health substance abuse, legal, gender-specific supports, recreation and rebuilding of positive family relationships. The RRS initiative will:
• Increase access to quality resources and reflective programming within the community for marginalized youth
• Improve coordination of youth services at a neighborhood level, and
• Increase the capacity of youth parents, and community organizations to advocate and plan for the successful reintegration of young people
The youth challenge fund is providing funding, capacity building and administrative supports to develop and implement an effective governance structure, pay trustee fees, hire staff, secure appropriate office and programming space, equipment and supplies, and support other general program design and operating costs. For further information please contact:
Jody Dunn
Redemption Reintegration Services
116 Industry Street,
Toronto, ON
M6M 4L8
e-mail jdunn@redemptionservices.ca
phone: 647-409-4078
