August 21, 2014 Halifax, Nova Scotia Public Safety Canada
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced a total of $4.7 million in federal funding for two crime prevention projects in Halifax and North Preston.
Alternative Pathways, delivered by Halifax’s Bryony House, will offer life skills to girls in Halifax who exhibit social and behavioural challenges to help them make better choices, control impulsive and aggressive behaviours, and avoid becoming involved with the criminal justice system. This project will receive $3.4 million in federal funding. Alternative Pathways will use the Stop Now and Plan Program (SNAP) model. SNAP is an evidence-based, award-winning crime prevention model program developed in Canada by the Child Development Institute (CDI).
The second project announced today, Souls Strong will receive $1.3 million to help the Halifax Regional Municipality reduce violence in male youth aged 15-20 who are already involved with, or at high risk of involvement with criminal activity in North Preston. By combining a family and community focus, which is in keeping with African Nova Scotian traditions, Souls Strong will facilitate a more effective, whole-systems approach to crime prevention. More importantly, this combined approach will be tailored to meet the specific needs and cultural context of this particular African Canadian community. Souls Strong will target risks in all life domains (individual, peer group, school, family, and community), while working toward increasing protective factors that help youth and families cope and withstand the pressures associated with criminal-related activity.
Quick Facts
- From April 2012 to March 2013, the Government funded 105 active, multi-year community-based crime prevention projects through the National Crime Prevention Centre, in which more than 16,000 at-risk youth participated.
- The Crime Prevention Action Fund assists communities and organizations to develop and implement crime prevention initiatives that utilize model and promising programs to address known risks and protective factors associated with offending behaviour.
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Contacts
Jason Tamming
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-991-2924
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
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