MONTREAL, July 18, 2018 /CNW/ - Youth are Canada's most valuable resource. But there are many who are vulnerable and that is why the Government of Canada makes it a priority to support preventative programming for at-risk youth.

Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced $2,780,460 from the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) for the crime prevention project Strengthening Families Program delivered by the Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association.

The Strengthening Families Program provides parents and youth with tools and skills that will help strengthen family relationships and empower at-risk youth to make positive and healthy decisions.

The project is comprised of three core components:

• Child/youth classes that focus on developing communication, problem solving, and coping skills;
• Parent/caregivers classes that teach effective skills for supporting at-risk youth; and
• Family classes that allow children and parents to practice what they have learned through exercises.

The project, which began its work in 2018, is expected to reach up to 480 at-risk youth and their families in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough and surrounding municipalities and boroughs over five years.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada knows that building a safer society begins in our homes and in our streets. We also know that strong, community-led programs that make use of evidence-based models have proven effective in crime reduction. The Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association has been an incredible partner working with government and other non-profits to strengthen families in the community. The monies we are providing today to expand the Strengthening Families Program means that even more at risk youth in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and surrounding municipalities and boroughs will be given the tools needed to help lead to a better future for them and their families. Today's announcement is a significant investment in the youth and future of this community."

– Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament for Mount Royal

"Along with our partners, the African Canadian Development and Prevention Network, we have been delivering the Strengthening Families Program for over 12 years. This new project will help increase our capacity to continue to support black families and extend our expertise across various communities in Montreal. Our organization, with the support of federal and local partners, will connect more families to public and community resources, like health care and social services."

– Tiffany Callender, Executive Director, Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association

Quick Facts:

• From April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, the Government of Canada supported 77 community-based crime prevention projects across Canada.
• The National Crime Prevention Strategy provides national leadership on cost-effective ways to prevent and reduce crime among at-risk populations and vulnerable communities by intervening to mitigate the underlying factors that put individuals at risk of offending. 
• Up to $44.5 million has been committed in 2018-2019 to support NCPS in the implementation and evaluation of crime prevention programs.

Associated Links

National Crime Prevention Strategy

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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2018/18/c4088.html