The Youth Diversion Program

The Youth Diversion Program is a charitable organization which has offered a variety of programs and services to youth in the Kingston area since 1974. The goals of the organization focus on helping youth help themselves:

• encourage youth to take responsibility for their behaviour.
• reduce the number of youth involved in the young offender system.
• reduce the number of people victimized by youth in our communities
• involve the community in youth corrections.

The Program offers two young offender services which hold youth accountable for their actions, by giving them the opportunity to make amends to their community. The Youth Court Committee meets with first time offenders, their parents and victims to mediate an appropriate response to the crime. By participating, the youth does not go through the formal Youth Court System. The Community Service Order Program ensures that youth complete the volunteer hours of work ordered by the Youth Court Judge. This work is performed in the community, and last year represented almost 5,000 hours of work in the community.

Recently the Program has started two new initiatives to prevent crime. REBOUND is a 10 week program for adolescents. Each week, young people attend a 2 ½ hour session working on such skills as communication, decision making, anger management and conflict resolution. A recent evaluation conducted by a noted psychologist shows that REBOUND has a promising effect on reducing crime, and parents report improvements in their children’s attitudes and behaviours.

The Student in Need Attendance Program is designed to assist students from local schools who have been suspended for violence, aggression and opposition to authority. Rather than spend the rest of the suspension period at home, students attend our Program for the duration of their suspension where they receive tutoring on school work, anger management, and other social skills training. Upon their return to school, students and the school receive a report of the youth’s performance, as well as recommendations for continued assistance.

Common to all programs is the extensive use of volunteers. Over 100 people provide direct service to young people during the year, in all aspects of the program. This past year, over 400 youth received support through the Youth Diversion Program’s services. The commitment by people in the community is the element that makes the quality of the programs so high. Community support for these initiatives is intrinsic to each program’s success. The support to date has been incredible, with various service clubs, private citizens and corporations donating money and services to assist the Program to continue the operation of these programs in the community.

www1.kingston.net/~ydp

Exchange your home with other Canadians anywhere in Canada

The Council for Canadian Unity (CCU) has launched the Canada Residence Exchange, which will provide vacationing Canadians with the opportunity to exchange their homes amongst themselves. By eliminating accommodation and other costs, adult Canadians can travel within the country at an affordable price, all the while learning about Canada and meeting other Canadians.

WWW.RESIDENCE-EXCHANGE.COM

Faites un échange avec d’autres citoyens n’importe où au pays

Le Conseil pour l’unité canadienne (CUC) a lancé le programme Échange résidences Canada. Il donne aux vacanciers canadiens l’occasion d’échanger leur domicile. En éliminant les frais d’hébergement et d’autres dépenses, les adultes peuvent voyager partout au Canada sans que cela ne leur coûte cher. Ils en apprennent davantage sur leur pays tout en rencontrant des concitoyens.

WWW.ECHANGE-RESIDENCES.COM